By Cathy Maestri
InstantRiverside.com

Ontario’s $150 million Citizens Business Bank Arena makes its official public debut on Friday with an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and on Saturday hosts the first home game from the city’s equally new hockey team, the Ontario Reign.

The music begins next month, with performances by country singers Carrie Underwood,  Alan Jackson and Trace Adkins. Metallica is slated for December and Neil Diamond for January.

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The venue, which can hold just over 11,000 for concerts, will be used for everything from rodeos and equestrian competitions to boxing and community events, according to marketing director Sue Oxarart. There are two levels of seating in addition to the floor and 36 suites.

The Inland Empire already boasts the nation’s largest permanent concert venue in the San Manuel Amphitheater (previously known as the Glen Helen Pavilion) in Devore, which theoretically maxes out at 65,000. And while there are a number of small performance spaces, the Citizens Business Bank Arena fills the gap in between. Previously, area residents have been forced to drive to Los Angeles or Orange counties to see mid-sized shows.

The arena is not only owned by the City of Ontario, but it’s already paid for — the venue sits on part of the parcel that belonged to the old Ontario Motor Speedway, and the city used profits from sales from other parts of the land (including the nearby Ontario Mills), according to Oxarart.

What’s more, the glassed-in corners offer grand views of the surrounding mountains as well as jets gliding into Ontario International Airport.

The 37-acre site also includes 35,000 parking spaces; parking fees are included in ticket prices, which should make the process quicker and smoother. The venue is just north of Interstate 10 between Haven and Milliken avenues. For directions, click here.

Box-office hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays; it’s closed on Sundays, unless there’s an event that day. Tickets are also available via Ticketmaster.

For information on Reign home games, click here. Other scheduled events include:

Oct. 24 — LA Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Oct. 31 — TNA Wrestling Live!

Nov. 5 — Fiesta de Comida benefit featuring Poncho Sanchez, tickets available via the Ontario-Montclair YMCA at (909) 986-5847.

Nov. 9 — Carrie Underwood

Nov. 18-19 — “Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music”

Nov. 22 — Bill Gaither and Friends

Nov. 23 — Alan Jackson and Trace Adkins

Nov. 29 — HBO Live Boxing featuring Riverside’s Cristobal Arreola vs. Travis Walker

Dec. 11 — Larry the Cable Guy

Dec. 12 — Metallica, Lamb of God and the Sword

Jan. 4 — Neil Diamond

Jan. 18 — “Playhouse Disney Live!”

Feb. 3-4 — “Thomas and Friends”

Feb. 16 — Harlem Globetrotters

For more information, call (909) 484-2020; online, go to www.cbbankarena.com

Filed under News A3, Voxpop, Entertainment

Thursday, October 23, 2008

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