Plans & Designs

The new 290,000 sq. ft. Ford Center is designed to accommodate a wide variety of events and to be aesthetically pleasing, fan-friendly and unmistakably an Evansville landmark.

Browse the maps, renderings and floor plans to learn how its elements fit together to form a cornerstone for continued revitalization in Downtown Evansville as well as regional economic growth. Details on design statistics can be found on our Quick Facts page.

The exterior design of the Ford Center incorporates curved forms that reflect the City’s horseshoe bend in the Ohio River. The use of native Indiana limestone salutes the City’s civic buildings. The generous areas of glass give the spectators a feeling of place and those outside a glimpse of the activity within.

Located adjacent to the Evansville Auditorium and Convention Centre and the governmental Civic Center and facing Main Street, the Ford Center will take its place at the hub of Downtown.

In succeeding Roberts Stadium, the Ford Center will solve many of the old structure’s problems. Its roof will have a rigging capacity of 180,000 pounds over the stage. The floor will be 85 feet by 200 feet, large enough to accommodate a regulation National Hockey League ice sheet and just about any traveling concert or show.

The Ford Center will be configurable for basketball and hockey as well as center-stage and end-stage events. Spectator areas will include club seats, loge seats and suites as part of a maximum capacity of 11,000. Athlete and entertainer accommodations will include a total of nine locker rooms, three loading docks and one food service loading dock.

The Ford Center is designed to afford complete access to persons with disabilities, exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Features include convenient elevators and “family” restrooms that give greater privacy to those assisting children or persons with disabilities.

Planners used current sustainable design standards with the goal of achieving Silver Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The strategies employed include using locally and regionally sourced materials as well as recycled materials; control of storm water from the site and roof; taking advantage of natural light and more.

Just inside, this new, modern structure will present its visitors with memorabilia from the Roberts Stadium Foundation’s Corridor of Champions, refreshed and reinterpreted.