Memories run deep at storied ‘flying saucer’ arena

Memories run deep at storied 'flying saucer' arena

Published on September 06, 2026

In many ways, the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena has been the city's principal indoor entertainment and sports venue for generations. The unmistakable circular silhouette of the Arena survived nearly six decades as its surrounding downtown was transformed.

The Arena's history is somewhat different from that of the convention center around it: While the exhibit halls and meeting rooms were built for the convention business, the Arena became an honest-to-goodness civic auditorium, concert hall, sports arena and downtown landmark.

How many of these events do you remember?

Many Fort Worth folks have fond memories of events in the Arena: high school graduations, tagging along with Grandpa to the circus, old-fashioned revivals and even tractor pulls.

Concerts have included performances by notable artists who have now gone the way of the eight-track tape: Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Duke Ellington, Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney. In later years, performers ranged all the way to Cher and K-pop sensations BTS.

The arena has an especially significant place in rock history: the Stones performed two shows there in June 1972, and footage from those performances was used in "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones," a concert film documenting the band's '72 American tour.

Sports events included an All-Star basketball game, Fort Worth Fire hockey, boxing and the 20th World Gymnastics Championships. One of its more interesting early connections was to professional basketball. During the 1970-71 ABA season, the Texas Chaparrals - the franchise that eventually became the San Antonio Spurs - played in the Arena as part of the team's experiment with a broader Texas identity and multiple home locations.

Over the years, the Arena's role as a flexible civic sports venue gradually waned as the Metroplex developed larger, more specialized facilities.

Award events included the Miss Teen America and Miss Texas pageants and the Country Music Review. Other diverse events included Ice Capades, corporate rallies and Disney on Parade.

Hell's Half Acre no more

Tarrant County Commissioners set April 25, 1964, for a bond election for a proposed convention center and a stadium in Arlington. The Convention Center Committee had selected a 16-block site bounded on the north by Ninth Street, on the east by Commerce, on the west by Throckmorton and on the south by 15th Street.

County voters overwhelmingly approved the $16.5 million bond issue for the two proposals: $15 million for the convention center in Fort Worth and $1.5 million for the stadium.

The convention center rose on a portion of a 14-block site (no longer 16 blocks) whose negative perception dated back to when it was known as Hell's Half Acre for its saloons and brothels that catered to the cowboys filling the frontier town.

Demolition began June 29, 1965. Ninety buildings fell to make way for the downtown convention center. The landmark Majestic Theater at 1101-07 Commerce Street was on the final block and was the last building approved for demolition due to owner objection and lawsuits.

A groundbreaking and celebration for the start of construction was July 14, 1966. The $16 million facility (construction costs had increased from the original $15 million) officially opened on Sept. 30, 1968. In a brief ceremony in the 10,000-seat Arena, John Cadenhead and Bill Childs of Cadenhead and Childs, the builders, presented the keys for the facility to the center's manager, Louis Owen.

The grand-opening gala, held Nov. 21-24, 1968, included a production of "La Traviata," "The Bob Hope Show," Rowan & Martin of "Laugh-In" fame, and Eddy Arnold.

Saucer touches down

The building was designed by a team of architects comprising some of the most preeminent architects in Fort Worth, including Preston M. Geren Sr.

The complex is an excellent example of Mid-Century architectural style, expressed in the unique saucer shape of the Arena, the only remaining major structure from the original construction. The form of the saucer reflects a fascination with space exploration that gripped America in the 1960s and inspired artists and architects alike.

The Saucer, as it is affectionately known by locals, rests on a circular single-story base that juts out past the edges of the arena. The base makes it appear as though the Saucer has set down on a landing pad.

Unlike a conventional rectangular arena, its shape is visually dramatic - but that same design eventually became one of its practical disadvantages. The building was not especially easy to adapt to the increasingly elaborate production requirements of modern concerts and conventions.

Final farewell to an icon

The City of Fort Worth is preparing to say farewell to the "flying saucer" arena that has defined aerial views of downtown since 1968.

With free admission for attendees of all ages, a family-friendly Sunday afternoon event, "It's Goin' Down," will commemorate 58 years of memories of the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena with a festival atmosphere, historical exhibit and activations, commemorative merchandise, concessions and live music by renowned tribute group Emerald City Band and a DJ spinning hits by arena performers throughout the decades.

The event will spotlight the convention center's impact on the city's history, cultural fabric and economy while looking forward to the evolution of what's next: Phase 2 of a $701 million convention center expansion and modernization. It will be the last public event inside the arena before closing for remediation and demolition in early 2027.

Photo: The Mid-Century Modern design for the Arena was born from the diverse architectural practices of five prominent firms.

Photo: This marquee sign welcomed visitors to the south end of downtown Fort Worth for decades. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections)

Photo:Beneath the Arena's 28,000-square-foot circular dome is seating for 10,680, expandable by 4,000 seats on the arena floor. The dome peaks at 105 feet from the floor to the cupola and is the highest point in the complex.

Photo: Beloved comedian Bob Hope was part of a star-studded opening gala for the Arena.

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