Brad Paisley to headline Intrust Bank Arena’s debut concert

bradWICHITA — Country singer Brad Paisley will be Intrust Bank Arena’s opening act on Jan. 9.

Paisley will perform with Justin Moore and Miranda Lambert.

“For us to have an A-list artist of that caliber is not the easiest thing to do,” says Chris Presson, arena manager.

“It’s all about who’s on tour, when they’re on tour, and that has a big portion to do with any time of the year that you’re booking an act,” he says. “We’re obviously not a large city, and (Paisley) probably could have gone many different places and made more money.”

Tickets go on sale Nov. 14. Prices haven’t been determined yet.

Although Presson is calling Paisley the debut act, he says there’s still a chance other acts could be named for Jan. 7 or 8.

“We’re just always looking to push the envelope,” he says.

That doesn’t mean he’s not satisfied with Paisley as the inaugural act.

“He’s won virtually every country music award imaginable,” Presson says. “We’re pumped about Brad, and I don’t know if we could have done much better.”

Want to express your thoughts on the opening concert? Check out our poll.

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  • HappyHeathen

    I didn’t know who he was either but I still hope it is a sell out. For you that like country go support the event.

  • bkb831

    Oh Yeah, one other thing. I’m surely glad all of us don’t like the same type of music and entertainment. I couldn’t stand the thought of 300,000 people enjoying a Chris Brown concert, or Little Jimmie Dickens and Porter Wagner. But I’m sure we’d all love to see Snoop Doggy and Eminem with Celine, Cher, Madonna, and Barbara Streisand!! HA HA HA HA. You go see who you want to see when they’re here and I’ll choose to see who I want to see.

  • dawgs

    I really wish that the people of Wichita would quit whining about every damn thing that happens or dosen’t happen around here. This city has the worst identity crisis in the world! You want a “River Walk” like San Antonio, you want casino’s like Las Vegas and arenas and stadiums like those in Atlanta or L.A. Ya’ll cry until you get something and then all band together to boycott it and bring it down!

  • bth

    I hope they are able to sell this concert out. While I am not a country music fan I do recognize that it is the #1 music genre in this region. However, I stand by my prediction of 10,000 people unless they paper the house.

  • stuckinks

    Some FYI, scott.neal@smgwichita.com is one of the booking agents, why not just email him about what we feel this way your notes can go directly to them.
    As for the country thing, I am not at all pleased with that as a opening act. I am not originally from wichita and my own tax dollars went to this. I remember in the beginning it was said that they were going to take a poll from the community to get an idea of what WE wanted as a first act. Since WE did pay for it. So either two things are up here. One, noone wants to come here! or Two, our purchasing agents for the Arena just can’t do the job right! A opening act for an arena lasts a lifetime. You only get once chance to do it right, thats why you want a big name. our little part city hartman arena, does a better job starting out then brad paisly. another wichita let down, how sad to be a wichitian.

  • stuckinks

    remember, the only reason why it would sell out is because its the first concert and everyone will want to see what the stadium looks like, sad thing is wichita will do what it always has done, go once and remember that it really was not something to remember after all because it could have been better, since they are starting off like this we all know this is as good as it gets, thats when we just will not go anymore. reality is… you get once chance with us, then its over. no more hype, just a empty wanna be arena with big hopes riding its doom on a pony to nowhere…

  • stuckinks

    ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS COMMENT!

    countvalek
    Posted October 7, 2009 at 1:55 pm | Permalink
    I guess this is now they solve the parking problem….bring in an act that won’t need too much parking…

  • Emmommy

    Looks like Taylor Swift is coming too, in April!

  • bone

    Your negativity tell’s everyone about the type of person you are inside. The venue is very nice and adaquite for our needs. Go to the Jacksonville arena web site. That city is 3 times our size, and there arena holds up to 15,000, built in 2003, and is hosting the 2010 men’s ncaa basketball 1st and 2nd round games. Omaha’s Quest center is almost a carbon copy of IBA, only built in 2000. And the Jacksonville Arena is the only arena for that area. Now there 76,ooo seat NFL stadium is another story.
    Stop crying!!! stuckikns

  • mtucker3

    Really people? Brad Paisley’s a great artist! So what if it’s not Metallica, Tech N9ne, Elton John, Billy Joel, AC/DC or the Eagles…He can play guitar better than any of them, and he is one of the biggest stars in country. And Monday Night Raw?!?!?! Are you freaking kidding…who watches that stuff??!?! Why don’t people just shut there mouths and show up, you may not be a country fan now, but I guarantee if you check the concert out, you’ll have a change of heart. And just give it time with the NCAA thing. The place is just opening! How many new arenas or stadiums actually pull a major sporting event like that? And if there are, I guarantee they’re in a much bigger city than Wichita, and they probably have several professional teams. Anyways, back to Brad…what else could you possibly have better to on a Saturday night in January?? This is definately going sell out!!

  • bone

    Lay it on’em mtucker3, way to go!

  • Dizzi1209

    everyone on here who is talking bad about country should look out their window and remember where they live. KANSAS. I am a Jersey girl, born and raised, and i pesonally love brad. Anyone who thinks that the “atists” thast come to the cotilion are oh so special need to realize something. Brad is headlining his own tour.. and is coming here to an ARENA that can seat up to 15,000, not a little place that should hold 1500 but shoves 2000 in it. Bigger artists, like Bon Jovi, will eventually be here in time. Brad was most liekly the only one that could come by on his way through to another city. its how these things work.

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