At its Feb. 14 meeting, Fort Worth’s City Council approved the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act Revenue Recovery funds to renovate the Will Rogers Memorial Center Coliseum concourse and restrooms, grand lobby entrance and the Backstage Club, according to a news release.
The Coliseum concourse supports concessions and product vendors as well as foot traffic to the historic arena, where more than 30 equestrian events are held annually for an average of 260 event days. The combined economic impact of those shows in 2021 was $74.2 million. Prominent Fort Worth business leadercommissioned the facility for the 1936 Frontier Celebration during the Texas Centennial.
“Will Rogers is a premier equestrian facility that welcomes horse lovers from around the globe,” said, executive director of the Fort Worth-based American Paint Horse Association, in a prepared statement. “As a longtime client, we’re pleased to know the historic Coliseum will represent Fort Worth as a best-in-class asset and draw even more visitors here.”