July 19 edition

Greetings from the arena! While things are quiet on the entertainment front this summer, we have been busy with various projects and activities over the past month.
• Rascal Flatts spent eight days here working on their stage set for this year’s tour, and we spent every day working on their handlers to bring that tour to Tupelo for all of their local fans! While we don’t have anything to announce at this point we remain optimistic that we will be able to bring the trio back to town for a performance in the coming months.
• In anticipation of our upcoming basketball game featuring the University of Memphis and LSU, we purchased and installed two new Spalding basketball goals. Our existing goals were seventeen years old and, while still functional, needed to be replaced. Our plan is to host more basketball games in the future so that the new goals will be put to good use.
• Last weekend we hosted roughly 1,000 returning active duty troops and their families for a two day program entitled “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon”. The purpose of this event was to help soldiers and their families with the transition from their overseas deployment back to civilian life. We’ll be hosting another installment of this event in August.
• Along with the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau and the city Parks and Recreation department we welcome the Dizzy Dean 9 year old World Series and the USSSA youth slow pitch World Tournament to Tupelo with opening ceremonies in the Arena. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait for a table in area restaurants this weekend!
And earlier this week we announced an upcoming performance by Jason Aldean with special guest Luke Bryan. Tickets for their September 24 concert will go on sale Friday, July 30 at 10AM. We anticipate a sellout crowd for the show so get your tickets early.