Emerald City Entertainment Center

Emerald City Entertainment Center (formerly known as the **Galactic Arena** and the **Emerald SuperArena**) is a indoor multipurpose arena in Emerald City, Cowell. It is owned by the Matsushita family and operated by SMG. It opened on April 1, 1925. It was the first indoor arena in Cowell and is part of the Cowell International Sports & Expo Complex.

The facility costed ¥360,000 ($101,775 in 2018 dollars) to build and it was designed by Jay Mothersbaugh & Sons Ltd. and built by Obayashi Corporation, Mitsui Construction, and Lemminkäinen with a original seating capacity of 13,200 that was raised to 17,000 in it's 1971 renovation and 24,500 in it's 2000 renovation. Renovations were carried out in 1971 and 2000 by Obayashi Corporation.

It is home to the Soccer Jerseys, the COWBA's Cowell City Hawks, the COWHL's Emerald City Shredders, and the Cowstraliga Cowell's Sparta Emerald City.

The venue also has a Cowell Cinemas 10-screen site and a small indoor mall in the basement.

## History

It was built in February 13, 1911-March 30, 1925 as the **Emerald SuperArena**, and opened on April 1, 1925, on April Fools Day. The first match was a BFL match with Emerald City and Logrant in April 2, 1925.

When the center was first opened, the metal cladding of the exterior was originally colored lavender. It was later repainted into white during the 1971 renovation.

It has a roll-out ice rink which was installed during the aforementioned 1971 renovation, that replaces normal melting/temporary removal/coverup of the ice for multipurpose events. It was a technological marvel when it was installed, and still is to this day.

## Events

### Concerts

The Beatles performed at the venue in 1966. It was the first ever concert to be held at the Emerald Entertainment Center (then named the Galactic Arena).

In 1977, The Wiggles Experience first performed at the venue on their 1977 tour.

Devo performed at the venue in 1978 on their *Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!* tour. The concert was originally scheduled to occur at the Stuartsville Supper Club. The band returned for concerts in 1980 (*Freedom of Choice* tour), 1981 (*New Traditionalists* tour), 1988 (*Total Devo* tour), and 2012 (*Something for Everybody* tour).

It also held Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" live concert in Cowell in 1993.

New Zealand band Six60 performed at the arena in 2013, 2015, and 2018.

Rinava have performed at the arena every year since 1981 with their yearly Pachinko Pachinko COWC concert.

### Circuses

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed at the venue several times in the mid-1980’s. During these performances, SMG and the local authorities set up a "free speech zone" for animal rights activists to protest inside in an alleyway beside a Kenny Rogers Roasters across the street.

### Motorsports

The World Championship ICE Racing Series began racing at the arena in 2016.

The arena is the home of the motorcycle speedway team Sparta Emerald City of Cowstraliga Cowell.

### Live Shows

In 1993, it hosted the *George Lucas' Super Live Adventure* stage tour.

### Soccer

The Soccer Jerseys play their home soccer games at the arena

### Sports

The Emerald City Hawks of the COWBA and the Emerald City Shredders of the COWHL play their home games at the arena.

Throughout its history, the Emerald City Entertainment Center has been a host to professional wrestling. In the 1980s, the Entertainment Center hosted a number of WWF / Pacific Promotions co-produced cards, featuring both WWF stars of the day and famous Aritonazcan wrestlers of the day such as James Sommerfelt, which were taped for CTC 1's *Sporting*. The Entertainment Center still hosts an annual WWE Live show, and has hosted *Raw* and *SmackDown* at various times. It also hosts regular Aritox Archipelago Pro-Wrestling (AAPW) events.

### Other

The COWEC is famous for it's masquerade balls.