The nagging question of who might perform at the new Intrust Bank Arena finally got some impressive answers this week, with the official announcement that Brad Paisley will open it Jan. 9 and the unofficial report that Taylor Swift will play there April 1. Though Paisley has been here before, selling out a scaled-down Kansas Coliseum in 2005, his stature in country music has soared since. And for star power, it’s hard to match country-pop singer Swift, the nation’s biggest-selling album artist of 2008 (and the target of Kanye West’s infamous bad behavior at last month’s MTV Video Music Awards). After so much speculation about the arena’s opener, it’s useful to remember that its real value to the economy and quality of life will be long term. Those unhappy with these acts should be patient. (No one could have predicted a Swift show when Sedgwick County voters approved the arena way back in 2004, as she was only 14 and her debut album was two years away.)
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- Regular on Open thread 11/22
- Regular on Open thread 11/22
- Rage on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Chas on Open thread 11/22
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- Boxlock20 on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- JimJohnson on Open thread 11/22
19 Comments
Correction: When about 1/2 the voters approved the arena, after being lied to by then current County Commissioners and arena cheerleaders. It’s estimated that approval has since dropped to 5%, most of whom have since moved away.
This is so small town.
Apparently Jason Priestly (or whoever he is) is a big-time country music star. Maybe he can sell out the Intrust Arena debut. But I see a disaster coming.
It’s gonna be in January (not quite Wichita’s “tourist season”) and will subject a brand new building and a brand new crew — from spotlight operators to Pepsi dispensers — to what might be the building’s forever record high attendance.
What could possibly go wrong?
Acts will be country crowd-pleasers
I may as well live in Hooterville.
So this is why they didn’t worry about parking? They plan for everyone going to the arena to be riding a horse?
How sad MH & BJ don’t like our small town. I suggest that you try to find someplace else to live.
The only thing I find questionable (Jwink’s focus group of 5% approval aside) is that Martina McBride is playing the coliseum about 4-weeks prior to the Intrust Bank opening.
I think she has more cross-over hits and with being a native Kansan and all you’d think SMG would have had the pull to push her back a few weeks and open a new arena in her home state.
Where’s Crowson? And why haven’t you’ve written a song about the White Elephant? Come on dude! Get your banjo out and start picking.
January. The whole year’s snow-removal budget could be expended to make sure people can navigate the streets both with their cars and on foot from those ample parking spaces.
It’s just one blunder after another.
For those of you care, Paisley has a huge reputation within the music industry for his guitar work. I don’t listen to country music much, but that’s the word from several musicians I know.
He’s a far cry from a Buck Owens, Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson or a Jerry Reed. Maybe, just maybe Paisley would be qualified to tune one their guitars…but I doubt it.
Oh and Roy Clark too…
one very positive aspect..bj has claimed he will never go to an event at the arena. This obviously means the audience will be just that much more civil, mature, and tolerant. sounds like a positive to me.
PLEEFER… Anyone who has ever actually heard Paisley play the guitar would NEVER make the claims you have. I suggest that you go online and listen to Brad’s “PLAY: the Guitar Album” before making such misinformed comments. On that album Brad proves he is the PREMIER GUITARIST in Country Music today! He not only shines in his chosen genre, but proves to be quite capable in several others, including Rock, Blues, Jazz, Surf and Metal! That jaw dropping album has silenced a lot of critics who claim that guitarist only play country music because they’re not good enough to play other types. Brad is GREAT enough to play ANY kind of music but has chosen to stretch the jaws of country music fans instead!
Alright! A whole one act booked, and maybe two! And only three whole months between acts. The city’s making a killing on bookings. I am like totally impressed!
Yipeeee.
Wake me when they get Tool here (or maybe a lesser but still listenable band to check out the acoustics-to watch Tool in Kansas Coliseum is to witness a travesty).
I mean, I’m glad they got big name country acts, but I certainly hope they end up being more broad based than that.
I mean, I’m glad they got big name country acts, but I certainly hope they end up being more broad based than that.
Brad Paisley may not be everyone’s favorite choice to open the arena, but he is major star in the industry. Yeah, there are many acts I would rather have seen on the stage, but Paisley is one of the hottest country stars today.
U2? Springsteen? John Legend? Led Zep reunion? Nickelback? Usher? Coldplay? Allica Keys? B B King? Kid Rock?
Yeah, those are just a few I would pay to see, but let’s face it – County is King in Wichita.
The solution to those that have a problem with Brad Paisley opening the arena – don’t buy a ticket.