{{Short description|Hockey arena in Flint, Michigan}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Dort Financial Center | image = The Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center.jpg | image_size = 250px | pushpin_map = Michigan#USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Michigan##Location within the United States | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_label = Dort Financial Center | former_names = IMA Sports Arena {{small|(1969–2003)}}<br>Perani Arena {{small|(2003–15)}} | address = 3501 Lapeer Rd<br>Flint, MI 48503-4500 | broke_ground = 1967 | opened = October 1969 | owner = IMS Hockey Corp. | operator = IMS Hockey Management, LLC | surface = | cost = $10 million<br>{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|10000000|1967}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}} | architect = | capacity = 4,421 {{Collapsible list|expand=|framestyle=|titlestyle=|title= Concerts |liststyle=|hlist=|bullets=|General admission: 6,469|In the round: 4,800|End stage: 4,567}}{{Collapsible list|expand=|framestyle=|titlestyle=|title= Sports |liststyle=|hlist=|bullets=|Boxing: 5,109|Basketball: 4,421|Hockey: 4,365}}{{Collapsible list|expand=|framestyle=|titlestyle=|title= Other |liststyle=|hlist=|bullets=|Circus: 4,821|Ice show: 3,535|Banquet/reception: 2,000}} | tenants = Flint Generals {{small|(IHL) (1969–85)}}<br>Flint Spirits {{small|(IHL) (1985–90)}}<br>Flint Bulldogs {{small|(CoHL) (1991–93)}}<br>Flint Generals {{small|(CoHL/UHL/IHL) (1993–2010)}}<br>Flint Flames {{small|(IFL) (2000)}}<br>Flint Fuze {{small|(CBA) (2001–02)}}<br>Flint Phantoms {{small|(CIFL) (2008)}}<br>Michigan Warriors {{small|(NAHL) (2010–15)}}<br>Flint Firebirds {{small|(OHL) (2015–present)}}<br>Waza Flo {{small|(MASL) (2015–16)}}<br>Flint Monarchs {{small|(GWBA) (2016&ndash;23)}}<br>Flint United {{small|(TBL) (2021&ndash;25)}} }}

The '''Dort Financial Center'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://flinttownshipview.mihomepaper.com/articles/ims-hockey-unveils-dort-federal-credit-union-event-center/ |title=IMS Hockey unveils Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center |last1=Pope |first1=Brandon |date=July 16, 2015 |website=Flint Township View |access-date=November 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129083009/https://flinttownshipview.mihomepaper.com/articles/ims-hockey-unveils-dort-federal-credit-union-event-center/ |archive-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref> (originally '''IMA Sports Arena'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/12/a_timeline_of_perani_arenas_hi.html |title=A timeline of Perani Arena's history in Flint and teams that have called it home |last1=Dresden |first1=Eric |date=January 20, 2019 |website=MLive Media Group |publisher=Advance Publications, Inc. |access-date=November 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191129085827/https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/12/a_timeline_of_perani_arenas_hi.html |archive-date=November 29, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and formerly '''Perani Arena and Event Center'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Former-Perani-Arena-now-known-as-The-Dort-Federal-Credit-Union-Event-Center-312920941.html#:~:targetText=The%20building's%20owner%2C%20IMS%20Arena,Federal%20Credit%20Union%20Event%20Center. |title=Perani Arena gets new name |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=July 9, 2015 |website=WJRT-TV |publisher=Gray Television |access-date=November 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191129084349/https://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Former-Perani-Arena-now-known-as-The-Dort-Federal-Credit-Union-Event-Center-312920941.html%23:~:targetText=The%20building's%20owner,%20IMS%20Arena,Federal%20Credit%20Union%20Event%20Center.#:~:targetText=The%20building's%20owner%2C%20IMS%20Arena,Federal%20Credit%20Union%20Event%20Center. |archive-date=November 29, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>) is a sports, entertainment and convention venue located in Flint, Michigan, United States. It opened in 1969 and is the home of the Flint Firebirds who play in the Ontario Hockey League.

==Facilities== thumb|200px|left|Exterior The main arena of the complex, the largest exhibit hall of complex, features {{convert|29280|ft2|m2}} of space and can accommodate 4,021 for ice hockey and 6,069 for concerts, plus 400 in standing room. The second arena in the complex features {{convert|27206|ft2|m2}} of space. Both arenas are frequently used for trade shows, conventions, hockey games and other sports. In addition, the main arena is used for concerts.

Initially named the IMA, an acronym for the Industrial Mutual Association. Being the second such complex in Flint called the IMA, The IMA Auditorium was turned into part of the AutoWorld complex.

The complex was named for Bob Perani, owner of Perani's Hockey World, a sports equipment retailer in Flint. Perani's Hockey World paid for naming rights to the complex. Bob Perani was a goalie for the Flint Generals from 1969 to 1974. His jersey, #1, is one of only five numbers retired by the team.

In 2020, the Dort Financial Center underwent renovations and updating. Renovations included updated seating in the main arena, as well as LED ribbon panels that would encircle the entire arena. The updated black leather seats, as well as the LED panels, were both acquired from The Palace of Auburn Hills before it was demolished. The renovations gave the arena a uniform seating appearance, while the LED panels are capable of displaying advertisements and sports scoreboards simultaneously. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2020/12/flints-dort-financial-center-undergoing-2-million-renovation.html#:~:text=The%20upgrades%20included%20new%20concession,box%20to%20accommodate%20NHL%20scouts.&text=The%20new%20renovations%20include%20the%20LED%20ribbons%20that%20circled%20The%20Palace | title=Flint's Dort Financial Center undergoing $2-million renovation | date=9 December 2020 }}</ref>

300px|thumb|right|Dort Fincancial Center, 2022

==Tenants== ===Current=== thumb|left|Niagara IceDogs vs. Flint Firebirds game at the Dort Financial Center thumb|left|200px|The Flint Firebirds Locker Room On January 13, 2015, the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League announced they would relocate to Flint and play at Dort Federal Event Center, with OHL approval.<ref name="dtfp150113"/><ref name="codt150114"/> That team is now known as the Flint Firebirds.<ref name="fljo150316"/>

===Former=== Previous tenants of the arena include the Flint Generals IHL hockey team from 1969 to 1985, the Flint Spirits hockey team from 1985 to 1990, the Flint Bulldogs hockey team from 1991 to 1993, the Flint Fuze basketball team from 2001 to 2002 and the Flint Flames indoor football team which only lasted the 2000 season. The most recent iteration of the Flint Generals moved into the arena in 1993 and departed in 2010. From 2010 through 2015, the arena was the home of the Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League. From 2015 to 2016, the arena was also home to Waza Flo of the Major Arena Soccer League.

The Michigan Pirates of the Continental Indoor Football League (formerly based in Port Huron) played their first and second-round playoff games at the Perani Arena, hoping Flint would be a potential relocation site. After the Pirates folded, Perani Arena was home to the CIFL expansion team Flint Phantoms for the 2008 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flintphantoms.com/ |title=Flint Phantoms Professional Indoor Football<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221190622/http://www.flintphantoms.com/ |archive-date=2007-12-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Events== Local high schools and colleges use the arena for their commencement ceremonies. Dort Financial Center is also usually the first stop for the Shrine Circus every year. The arena also holds the General RV Show every year.

The arena has also annually hosted Really Cool Comic Con since 2021.

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="dtfp150113">{{cite news |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |title=Report: Plymouth Whalers to announce move to Flint |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/2015/01/13/plymouth-whalers-news-conference/21703871/ |date=January 13, 2015 |access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="codt150114">{{cite news |last=Bartkowiak |first=Dave |publisher=Click On Detroit |title=Plymouth Whalers to relocate to Flint |url=http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/hockey/plymouth-whalers-move-to-flint-to-be-announced-wednesday-reports-say/30682314 |date=January 14, 2015 |access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="fljo150316">{{cite news |first=Aaron |last=McMann |newspaper=The Flint Journal |via=MLive.com |title='Flint Firebirds' unveiled as name for Flint's new OHL team |url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2015/03/flint_firebirds_unveiled_as_na.html |date=March 16, 2015 |access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref>

<!--unused<ref name="fljo150929">{{cite news |first=Eric |last=Woodyard |newspaper=The Flint Journal |publisher=Booth Newspapers |location=Flint, MI |title=Major Arena Soccer League team moves home games to Flint's Dort Federal Event Center |url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2015/09/major_arena_soccer_league_team.html |date=September 29, 2015 |access-date=October 29, 2015}}</ref>--> }}

==External links== * {{url|dorteventcenter.com|Dort Event Center}}

{{Flint, Michigan}} {{OHL Arenas}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|43|0|40|N|83|38|31|W|type:landmark_region:US-MI|display=title}}

Category:Basketball venues in Michigan Category:Buildings and structures in Flint, Michigan Category:Convention centers in Michigan Category:Indoor arenas in Michigan Category:Ice hockey venues in Michigan Category:Indoor soccer venues in Michigan Category:Event venues established in 1969 Category:Sports venues in Michigan Category:Tourist attractions in Flint, Michigan Category:1969 establishments in Michigan Category:Sports venues completed in 1969