Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre Hosts Jerry Seinfeld, Don Henley In Grand Opening

SUGAR LAND, TX -- Officials in Sugar Land hosted the grand opening Saturday for the city’s newest entertainment venue.

After months of hype, the curtains were pulled back and the spotlights were turned on at Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre as the first acts to grace the stage performed for anxious crowds that have anticipated the grand opening.

"It seems like they're bringing all different types of concerts here so we just have to drive down the street versus driving all the way into (Houston),” Linda Kirk told KPRC. “We have it in our backyard. I think it's awesome."

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld and music legend Don Henley were the first to take the stage this weekend at the $84 million performing arts center.

The new world-class venue for performing arts, music, comedy, family entertainment and other activities is like no other in the Houston area.

On Jan. 7, the city hosted a behind the scenes tour of the new complex, which features retractable walls that can expand and contract to create four different seating capacities that range from an intimate setting of 3,000 seats to a maximum of 6,400.

The 200,000-square-foot, indoor climate-controlled venue also includes 14 luxury suites, corporate hospitality areas, and the latest sound, light and video technology, space to house up to 14 trucks and buses, as well as 2,500 guest parking spaces.

The venue, which is located near University Boulevard and Interstate 69 is expected to spur additional commercial and retail growth in the area that will further establish Sugar Land as one of the strongest economies in the region.

Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman told KPRC that he’s hopeful that the Smart Financial Centre will be an economic boom for the city.

"The economic impact will not only be hotel rooms, but it will be restaurants. It could also be some of the bars we have in Sugar Land Town Square ," he said.

The entertainment schedule over the next several weeks at the Smart Financial Centre include the stage performance of Dirty Dancing on Jan 20 - 22, an evening with Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds on Jan. 25, Reba McEntire on Jan 27, and an evening with Kristin Chenoweth on Jan. 28.

For tickets or to view a list of upcoming performances, log onto http://www.smartfinancialcentre.net/

Image: Jeff Dlouhy via Flickr