Queen are undoubtedly one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring bands of all time – their performance at Live Aid 1985 is hailed as one of the greatest musical performances in history, and hits such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’ are loved all over the world.
After sitting at the top of the music industry for 21 years, the band suffered a devastating loss in 1991 when superstar frontman Freddy Mercury passed away after a long battle with AIDS.
Fans weren’t sure how the band would continue without Mercury on lead vocals. However, after a 14-year hiatus, the band returned to touring in 2005 as Queen + Paul Rodgers for their ‘Return of The Champions’ and ‘Rock The Cosmos’ tours between 2005 and 2011.
From 2012 onwards the band teamed up with American Idol star Adam Lambert under the moniker Queen + Adam Lambert.
FAST FACTS
- Cost more than $180 million in private funds to build across 21 months
- Site Acreage: 45 acres
- Square Footage: 675,000
- Opened October 1, 1999 with Celine Dion in concert
- The Grand Atrium sculpture weighs 2,000 pounds, cost $75,000 and is 1.5 times life size
- It takes over 1,000 staff members to run an event
- Owned and operated by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
SEATING AT BALL ARENA
- Concerts: 20,000+ depending on stage configuration
- Basketball: 19,520
- Hockey: 17,809
- Lacrosse: 17,809
- Special Events: 21,000
- Suites: 95 luxury suites that can accommodate 12 – 16 people
COLORADO AVALANCHE
- There are 149 panes of .5" thick glass that surround the hockey rink, weighing between 50 and 250 pounds apiece. It takes 2 forklifts and 8 people 45 minutes to "hang" the entire rink.
- Each net hung on the ends of the rink has a lifespan of only 33 games.
- For other events in the building, the ice is covered with approximately 600 pieces of a 1" thick fiberglass board.
DENVER NUGGETS
- Cost of the basketball court is $105,000.00.
- Each basketball stanchion weighs approximately 3,300 pounds and is anchored into the basketball floor to prevent it from being tipped over.
- Each net on the basketball goals is replaced every 5 games or as needed.
- There are 233 pieces to the basketball floor - each weighing approximately 185 pounds. The total weight of the entire basketball floor is 41,625 pounds.
COLORADO MAMMOTH
- The Mammoth carpet consists of 14 - 15' wide rolls of Astroturf and is .75" thick.
- It takes 12 people only 25 minutes to lay the field.
VENUE MANAGEMENT
Denver-based Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is one of the world’s leading ownership, entertainment and management groups. As owners and operators of Ball Arena, Paramount Theatre, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Mammoth (NLL) and Colorado Rapids (MLS), KSE’s sports and entertainment assets are second to none. Additional properties under the KSE umbrella include Altitude Sports & Entertainment, a 24-hour regional television network and Altitude Authentics, the company’s official retail provider.Denver, CO 80204
