By Matt Payne
Sports fans, concertgoers, rodeo enthusiasts, and more: rejoice. Fort Worth's Dickies Arena will be open to the public in a matter of days, culminating a years-long wait for a modern-day, multipurpose venue in the city.
The future home of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo held an exclusive tour for media Monday morning, providing a behind-the scenes look inside Dickies Arena. Fort Worth businessman and philanthropist Ed Bass, chairman of the not-for-profit operating entity for the arena, personally guided media throughout the 560,000 square-foot facility, expanding on the exquisite architecture designed to celebrate Texas history.
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By Matt Payne
Fort Worth businessman and philanthropist Edward P. Bass conceived and helped develop the architecture at Dickies Arena. There was major focus on the pedestrian experience in order to make it "easy and fun."
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By Matt Payne
Edward Bass stands before the customizable viewing pavilion outside Dickies Arena. Removable walls allow the viewing pavilion to be tailored for a variety of events.
Notes of carefully crafted tributes to the Fort Worth area and Lone Star State pervade throughout Dickies Arena. Both the pedestrian experience on the exterior and the ornate design of the interior make for a venue never before seen in Cowtown.
"We have a flexibility that's very, very unusual. We wanted to make the pedestrian experience easy and fun," Bass says. Immediately noticed upon walking outside Dickies Arena is the Fort Worth skyline just beyond the Trinity River, something event-goers for years to come at Dickies Arena will always be able to enjoy.
More than $450 million from both taxpayers and private investors has been poured into the project; Dickies Arena involved Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and those in the private sector. And while Fort Worth was able to foot $225 million without impacting property taxes, Bass assures Dickies Arena will operate like a business, "lessening the burden of government."
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By Matt Payne
The interior of Dickies Arena is seen configured for basketball. Rodeo events will feature a dirt-covered ground.
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Dickies Arena staff presented a model of the interior when configured for rodeo events. The openness of the railing and wall space help to amplify the "rodeo culture."
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By Matt Payne
Many sections within Dickies Arena will provide easy access to bars and concessions while maintaining excellent viewing angles.
The interior of Dickies Arena was specially designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of events, including a major emphasis on "rodeo culture." The arena was configured for basketball Monday morning, but will often tout the classic dirt floor found at stock shows and rodeo events.
"People love the seating and getting dirt kicked in their hair. It's a real thing," Bass said as he presented a replica rodeo box for such events. "This is true Texas vernacular in architecture."
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By Matt Payne
A motif of rustic, prairie-land Texas pervades the interior of Dickies Arena. Patterns within the walls and flooring incorporate wildflowers, rope, cowboy gear, and more.
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By Matt Payne
A sense of openness and ease of access was a guiding goal in the development of Dickies Arena. Edward Bass says he hopes guests will be able to easily explore and seat themselves.
Chandeliers inspired by the Prairie Rose flower and terrazzo floor comprise the overarching motif of the Texas prairie life. Deeper inside Dickies Arena, guests will notice the minutia of leather panels with bug-and-wrinkle stitching in tribute to saddle and boot makers.
The two clubs — Avion Club and Reliant Club — are premium seating that offer ease of access for concessions while also maintaining pristine viewing angles. "We like people to see what's what and where to go," Bass says. "As you walk around the building ... every time you turn the corner, you're reoriented."
Matt Payne
Bass, when asked why he invested so heavily in Dickies Arena, said using his wealth for the benefit of the community is a responsibility, not a privilege.
"I could make plans for that wealth after I die, make plans for foundations, for charitable giving, and those things are very important to me ... but it occurred to me, 'Why make all this planning, wait til you die, and worry that whoever is in charge of this will not follow instructions?
"I am giving to the people of Fort Worth ... I am giving a piece of my wealth at a time where it is immediately useful, when I can participate, and I can help guide it the way that I envision."
The arena will hold a grand opening at 10 a.m. Saturday on the east side of the arena, in which Mayor Betsy Price, Ed Bass and The Beck Group CEO Peter Beck will help welcome the arrival of the long-sought facility. Various time-slots can be reserved here.
