Bismarck Event Center

{{Short description|Multi-purpose facility in Bismarck, North Dakota, USA}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Bismarck Event Center | nickname = | former_names = Bismarck Civic Center (1969–2014) | image = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_label = | location = 315 South 5th Street, <br /> Bismarck, ND 58504 | public_transit = {{Bus icon}} [[Bis-Man Transit]] | seating_capacity = 10,100 | broke_ground = 1967<ref>"Bismarck Civic Arena and Parking Ramp" [Special Section], ''The Bismarck Tribune'', January 2, 1969.</ref> | opened = 1969 | closed = | demolished = | architect = [[Ritterbush Brothers]]<ref>"Arena Bids Well Below Limit Set," ''The Bismarck Tribune'', June 7, 1967.</ref> | builder = Anderson, Guthrie & Carlson<ref>"City Awards Contracts For Downtown Arena," ''The Bismarck Tribune'', June 28, 1967.</ref> | owner = | operator = | surface = | tenants = [[Dakota Wizards]] ([[International Basketball Association|IBA]]/[[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]/[[NBA Development League|NBA D-League]]) (1995–2012)<br>[[Bismarck Blaze]] ([[Indoor Football League (1999–2000)|IFL]]) (2000)<br>Bismarck Roughriders ([[National Indoor Football League|NIFL]]) (2002–2003)<br>[[Bismarck Bucks]] ([[Champions Indoor Football|CIF]]/[[Indoor Football League|IFL]]) (2017–2022) }}

The '''Bismarck Event Center''' (formerly '''Bismarck Civic Center''') is a 10,100-seat multi-purpose facility located in [[Bismarck, North Dakota]]. It was known as the Bismarck Civic Center until September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hot975fm.com/bismarck-civic-center-officially-changes-name-poll/ |title=Bismarck Civic Center Officially Changes Name [POLL] |publisher=Hot 97.5FM |date=September 26, 2014}}</ref> [[Ritterbush Brothers]] received an Award of Merit for the design from AIA North Dakota in 1970.<ref name=award>"Celebrating over 50 Years of Great Design. A complete listing of AIA North Dakota award winners from 1963 - 2019," AIA North Dakota, 2019.</ref>

The land was purchased from the Wachter family of Bismarck, who also donated land for parking lots adjacent to the civic center. The Wachters then developed the adjacent [[Kirkwood Mall]] on their land south of the arena.<ref>Bill Tillottson, "Plaza South of City. Plans Announced for $4 Million Shopping Center," ''The Bismarck Tribune'', September 4, 1968.</ref>

It was the home of the [[Dakota Wizards]] of the [[Continental Basketball Association]] and [[NBA Development League]]. It also hosted the [[2002 Ford World Men's Curling Championship]]. For several years, the [[Professional Bull Riders]] (PBR) has hosted a Touring Pro Division (minor-league division, formerly known as the Challenger Tour) event at the Civic Center; in 2004, it was voted as the top PBR Challenger Tour venue.

The venue hosted a number of professional boxing events in the early 1990s, headlined by WBA light heavyweight champion, Virgil Hill, who grew up in North Dakota. Hill hosted eight title defenses in the Civic Center, which he considered to provide a significant 'hometown' advantage.

In 2017, the event center became the home to a new professional [[Indoor American football|indoor football]] team in [[Champions Indoor Football]] called the [[Bismarck Bucks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://965thefox.com/bismarck-is-getting-an-indoor-football-team/ |title=Bismarck is Getting an Indoor Football Team |publisher=96.5 The Fox |date=September 26, 2016}}</ref> The Bucks joined the [[Indoor Football League]] for the 2019 season.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.bismarckeventcenter.com/ Bismarck Civic Center website]

[[Category:Convention centers in North Dakota]] [[Category:Sports venues in North Dakota]] [[Category:Dakota Wizards]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Bismarck, North Dakota]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Bismarck, North Dakota]] [[Category:Rodeo venues in the United States]] [[Category:Basketball venues in North Dakota]] [[Category:Indoor arenas in North Dakota]] [[Category:1969 establishments in North Dakota]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1969]]