Dort Financial Center

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Perani Arena)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other

The Dort Financial Center[1] (originally IMA Sports Arena[2] and formerly Perani Arena and Event Center[3]) is a sports, entertainment and convention venue located in Flint, Michigan, United States. It opened in 1969 and is the home of the Flint Firebirds who play in the Ontario Hockey League.

Facilities

File:Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center - Exterior.JPG
Exterior

The main arena of the complex, the largest exhibit hall of complex, features Template:Convert of space and can accommodate 4,021 for ice hockey and 6,069 for concerts, plus 400 in standing room. The second arena in the complex features Template:Convert of space. Both arenas are frequently used for trade shows, conventions, 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. Being the second such complex in Flint called the IMA, The IMA Auditorium was turned into part of the AutoWorld complex.

The complex was named for Bob Perani, 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. [4]

File:Dort Financial Center 2022.jpg
Dort Fincancial Center, 2022

Tenants

Current

File:Niagara IceDogs vs. Flint Firebirds December 2024 15 (face-off).jpg
Niagara IceDogs vs. Flint Firebirds game at the Dort Financial Center
File:Flint Firebirds Locker Room.jpg
The Flint Firebirds Locker Room

On January 13, 2015, the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League announced they would relocate to Flint and play at Dort Federal Event Center, with OHL approval.[5][6] That team is now known as the Flint Firebirds.[7]

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 hockey team from 1991 to 1993, the Flint Fuze basketball 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 of the North American Hockey League. From 2015 to 2016, the arena was also home to Waza Flo of the Major Arena Soccer League.

The Michigan Pirates 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 for the 2008 season.[8]

Events

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

The arena has also annually hosted Really Cool Comic Con since 2021.

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Flint, Michigan Template:OHL Arenas Template:Authority control Template:Coord

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named dtfp150113
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named codt150114
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fljo150316
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Dort_Financial_Center&oldid=1334979"