The Dort Financial Center (originally IMA Sports Arena and formerly Perani Arena and Event Center) is a sports, entertainment and convention venue located in

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

, United States. It opened in 1969 and is the home of the

Flint Firebirds The Flint Firebirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The team plays home games at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, and operates as a member of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team began play for the 2 ...

who play in the

Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overag ...

Facilities

Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center - Exterior

The main

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

of the complex, the largest exhibit hall of complex, features of space and can accommodate 4,021 for

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

and 6,069 for

concerts A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or musical band, band. Concerts are held in a w ...

, plus 400 in standing room. The second arena in the complex features of space. Both arenas are frequently used for trade shows, hockey games and other sports. In addition, the main arena is used for concerts. Initially named the IMA, an acronym for the

Industrial Mutual Association The Industrial Mutual Association of Flint (commonly known as the Industrial Mutual Association or by its abbreviation IMA) was a 501(c)(4) organization, 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization whose focus was to benefit the workers and families of worker ...

. Being the second such complex in Flint, MI called the IMA, The IMA Auditorium was turned into part of the AutoWorld complex. The complex was named for

Bob Perani Robert "Bob" F. Perani (August 7, 1942 – April 15, 2012) was a professional ice hockey goaltender for the Flint Generals in the International Hockey League. He was also the founder of Perani's Hockey World sports retail chain in 1976, and own ...

, owner of Perani's Hockey World, a sports equipment retailer in Flint. Perani's Hockey World paid for naming rights to the complex. Bob Perani was a goalie for the Flint Generals from 1969 to 1974. His jersey, #1, is one of only five numbers retired by the team. In 2020, the Dort Financial Center underwent renovations and updating. Renovations included updated seating in the main arena, as well as LED ribbon panels that would encircle the entire arena. The updated black leather seats, as well as the LED panels, were both acquired from The Palace of Auburn Hills before it was demolished. The renovations gave the arena a uniform seating appearance, while the LED panels are capable of displaying advertisements and sports scoreboards simultaneously. Dort Financial Center 2022

Tenants

Current

On January 13, 2015, the Plymouth Whalers of the

announced they would relocate to Flint and play at Dort Federal Event Center, with OHL approval. That team is now known as the

. Local high schools and colleges use the arena for their commencement ceremonies. Dort Financial Center is also usually the first stop for the

Shrine Circus The Shrine Circus is a circus founded in Detroit, Michigan on Woodward Avenue in 1906. It travels to roughly 120 cities per year in the United States and a separate unit travels to about 40 in Canada. It is affiliated with the former Ancient Ara ...

every year. The arena also holds the General RV Show every year.

Former

Previous tenants of the arena include the Flint Generals IHL hockey team from 1969 to 1985, the Flint Spirits hockey team from 1985 to 1990, the

Flint Bulldogs The Flint Bulldogs were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan, from 1991 to 1993. They were a part of the Colonial Hockey League (CoHL) and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They compiled an overall record of 47–66–7 () ...

hockey team from 1991 to 1993, the

Flint Fuze The Flint Fuze were a professional basketball team located in Flint, Michigan, United States, in 2001. They were a part of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. Former National Basketb ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

team from 2001 to 2002 and the Flint Flames indoor football team which only lasted the 2000 season. The most recent iteration of the Flint Generals moved into the arena in 1993 and departed in 2010. From 2010 through 2015, the arena was the home of the

Michigan Warriors The Michigan Warriors were a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The Warriors played in the North American Hockey League's North Division. Previously known as the Marquette Rangers, the Warriors played their home games at ...

of the

North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...

. From 2015 to 2016, the arena was also home to Waza Flo of the Major Arena Soccer League. The

Michigan Pirates The Port Huron Pirates were a professional indoor American football, indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a charter member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL) joining the league in 2006 Great Lakes Indoor ...

of the Continental Indoor Football League (formerly based in Port Huron) played their first and second-round playoff games at the Perani Arena, hoping Flint would be a potential relocation site. After the Pirates folded, Perani Arena was home to the CIFL expansion team

Flint Phantoms The Flint Phantoms were a professional indoor football team based in Flint, Michigan. The Phantoms joined the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2008 as an expansion team. They were the second professional indoor football team to be ba ...

for the 2008 season.

References

External links

* {{Coord, 43, 0, 40, N, 83, 38, 31, W, type:landmark_region:US-MI, display=title Basketball venues in Michigan Buildings and structures in Flint, Michigan Convention centers in Michigan Indoor arenas in Michigan Indoor ice hockey venues in Michigan Indoor soccer venues in Michigan Event venues established in 1969 Sports venues in Michigan Tourist attractions in Flint, Michigan 1969 establishments in Michigan Sports venues completed in 1969