Countdown over – Events center opens

Today is the day.

On time and on budget, the $68 million Independence Events Center is ready for the public viewing starting at 10 a.m. today. City officials want the community to know one aspect: This is your Independence Events Center.

With the help of those who were closely associated with its development, as well as our own observations during a recent personal tour, The Examiner has compiled a Top 10 list of activities and favorite components of the facility.

Residents may use it as a guide today during their first exposure to the state-of-the-art facility – and they’ll surely develop a favorites list of their own.

10 Today’s festivities – open to the general public.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. outside. The doors open at 10:30 a.m. Free public ice skating will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Load up the family, and travel to 19100 E. Valley View Parkway.

9 Holiday tradition.
The holiday spirit will be evident in several upcoming events, including two concerts and public skating. Mannheim Steamroller, the 35-year-old group that is celebrating 25 years of performing Christmas music this year, will perform at 8 p.m., Dec. 17. One day later, country music legend Charlie Daniels and his band will perform holiday music at 7:30 p.m. Visit independenceeventscenter.com for more information about ticket prices. Holiday public skating will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 23 and 24 at the events center, with digital snow falling on the main arena’s 360-degree ribbon board.

8 Special touches.
The concourse area features local Independence photography that the city’s tourism and communications departments selected. The main arena also features a wrap-around ribbon board that totaled $1 million. These special touches aim to make the visitors’ stay more enjoyable at the events center.

7 Centerpoint Medical Center Community Ice.
Centerpoint Medical Center recently signed a 10-year agreement for the sponsorship of the arena’s second sheet of ice. The hospital also will provide the primary health care for the Missouri Mavericks hockey team. Skating instructors will be available from noon to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, offering free skating lessons. Skate rentals are available for $2 per person for all ages, or residents may bring their own.

6 Missouri Mavericks.
Everyone knows the story of the Missouri Mavericks hockey team by now, but not everyone may have their swag yet to support the local team. Visit the team store and box office for hats, T-shirts, jerseys and tickets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday on the events center’s northeast side. They’ll have extended hours on event days.

5 Presidents Club – everyone’s suite.
OK, so originally this area was to be privately closed off, but the events center staff wanted everyone to have a VIP experience. Located on the building’s south side, a lounge area complete with seating, a full-service bar and concession stand will be open to everyone, regardless of where your seats are located. Suite!

4 Free parking.
More than 2,000 parking spaces are available on the building’s south side. Oh, yeah, did we mention that they are always free? I mean, who wants to scramble in their pockets for a $10 bill for parking? And no one likes to worry about keeping track of a stub that indicates how long you used the facility. “I think that speaks highly of our desire to have families come out and participate,” Independence Mayor Don Reimal said.

3 Location, location, location. 
The Independence Events Center stands prominently near the intersection of interstates 470 and 70 – and Interstate 435, one of the Kansas City metropolitan area’s busiest highways, is about 10 minutes away. It also is conveniently located near the Independence Center, the Hilton Garden Inn and Independence’s “restaurant row,” which adds to the shopping, lodging and dining experience. “My parents in Leawood (Kan.) can be there in 27 minutes. My friends in Brookside can be there in 25 minutes,” said Sarah Miskew, the events center’s director of marketing. “I feel the location lends itself well to getting there quickly and easily, and I think that will be an aspect that people gravitate toward.”  

2 Not a bad seat in the house.
As a smaller venue with 5,800 seats for hockey games and 6,800 seats for in-state events, as well as a capacity of up to 7,800 seats, the phrase “not a bad seat in the house” has come up once or 10 times. “It’s homey. It feels like a living room,” Miskew said. “I’ve worked on concerts at pretty much every venue in town (Kansas City), and it’s been the most intimate and it has the best sight lines, which is important when you’re presenting shows.”

1 An at-home atmosphere.
Those surveyed agreed that their No. 1 favorite aspect of the Independence Events Center is the friendly feeling upon entering the facility. City officials want you to feel as though you’re experiencing the event from your own living room. “It’s warm. It’s inviting,” Reimal said. “The whole décor of the events center has been based around a family-friendly atmosphere. We have tried very hard to make the feeling as you walk in and the feeling when you go to your seats that this is somewhere you can bring your family and enjoy.”