The MetroCenter at 1323 W. Pioneer Parkway (
Spur 303) in
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal c ...
, opened in 2005. The 98,000 square-foot venue has hosted concerts, theatrical productions, conferences and other community events, and is also used by Fielder Church as a
place of worship
A place of worship is a specially designed structure or space where individuals or a group of people such as a congregation come to perform acts of devotion, veneration, or religious study. A building constructed or used for this purpose is s ...
. It was built by the church for $17 million,
and seats 1,700. As of 2024, the MetroCenter continues to host the annual MLK Youth Musical Extravaganza honoring
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
History
The MetroCenter is an extension of Fielder Church and was conceived by former Senior
Pastor
A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...
Dr. Gary Smith and former Executive Pastor Mike Wierick. Plans were made as late as 2002, and costs were estimated to be around $21 million. Half of the money was raised by December 2002.
It was designed by Beck Group Architecture and constructed by
Manhattan Construction Company
The Manhattan Construction Company is an American-owned construction company founded by Laurence H. Rooney in Chandler in Oklahoma Territory in 1896. Today, the firm operates under its parent company, Manhattan Construction Group with affiliat ...
. Acoustic Dimensions designed the high end audio and video system and Ford Audio and Video handled the installation. Phase two of its construction was expected to add an addition 1,450 seats,
but plans were scrapped.
The MetroCenter was officially deemed ready for occupancy on January 6, 2005, with its first service being held on January 16.
It was built and is advertised as a multi-purpose facility, the MetroCenter housed symphony, stage, musicals, conferences and rock concerts.
In January 2009, the MetroCenter was ranked #2 Top Performing Arts Venues in
Tarrant County
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas with a 2020 U.S. census population of 2,110,640, making it the third-most populous county in Texas and the 15th-most populous in the United States. Its county seat is Fort Worth. T ...
by seating capacity by the ''Fort Worth Business Press''.
In 2010, Symphony Arlington announced that it would be moving to a new facility after being there since May 12, 2005,
stating that the MetroCenter had been a problematic venue for classical musicians and audiences.
See also
*
List of concert halls
A concert hall is a cultural building with a stage (theatre), stage that serves as a performance venue and an auditorium filled with seats.
This list does not include other venues such as sports stadia, dramatic theatres or convention ...
Notes
References
{{reflist
External links
Fielder ChurchFord Audio and VideoBeck GroupAcoustic Dimensions
Concert halls in Texas
Theatres in Texas
Performing arts centers in Texas
Buildings and structures in Tarrant County, Texas
Tourist attractions in Tarrant County, Texas