The Family Arena had three quarters of a million people come through the doors in 2007, a first for the St. Charles County Government operated venue.
Several first-time events helped increase the overall attendance, including the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo, Wide Open Bike Show, and a charity all-star basketball game hosted by Nelly, St. Louis’ own hip-hop music sensation.
The Family Arena also played host to some memorable concerts last year, such as Hank Williams Jr., The Cheetah Girls, Dierks Bentley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blue October, Alice Cooper, Casting Crowns, Cheap Trick, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Soul Asylum, Chris Tomlin, Yellowcard, and George Thorogood.
In addition, the Family Arena was also a great place for action with such events as Mixed Martial Arts, a nationally televised Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay per view event, AMP Motor Sports Monster Trucks, and Army Boxing Championships.
True to its name, the Family Arena also had several events for families _ Disney Channel’s The Doodlebops, Disney on Ice Presents Disney/Pixa’s Finding Nemo, My Little Pony LIVE, and a new circus benefiting Siteman Cancer Center. NBC’s Last Comic Standing live tour and The Smothers Brothers filled the house with laughter during their stops here as well.
Moreover, the Family Arena held another sold-out WinterJam concert featuring Steven Curtis Chapman. The Moolah Shrine Circus, Xtreme International Ice Racing, and The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions also returned with their events.
Once again, WIL 92.3 brought its annual sold out Jinglefest concert featuring Taylor Swift, American Idol finalist Bucky Covington, and Eric Church. And the RiverCity Rage Arena Football team again called the Family Arena home as it played nine home games in the St. Charles arena. The Rage had a successful season and made it to the playoffs, and Arena Football will return to the building this spring.
In December, the Family Arena capped off another successful year with a Kenny G holiday concert and the National Cheerleading Championships.
This year, many outstanding events already are on the calendar. The Longhorn Rodeo was held last weekend, and there will be football, boxing, wrestling, cheerleading, circuses and much more returning to The Family Arena in 2008.
Disney On Ice will also return this fall with exciting ice and stage shows. Tony La Russa’s annual fundraiser to help rescued animals is on tap for Sunday evening (Jan. 20). In addition, concerts featuring B.B. King, Tom Jones, Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson are already booked.
And the Missouri Valley Conference will also hold its women’s basketball tournament at the Family Arena in March.
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