George Strait will return to Wichita to help celebrate arena’s 10th anniversary

Country legend George Strait will return to Wichita on Jan. 24 of next year to perform at Intrust Bank Arena, officials announced at a press conference on Monday morning.

Strait was last in Wichita in 2014, performing as part of what was billed then as his farewell tour. Since then, Strait has been performing special engagement shows like this one, said A.J. Boleski, the arena’s general manager.

Like the last time Strait performed in Wichita, this concert will be performed in the round, meaning that the stage will be in the center of the floor and all of the arena’s seats will be available.

Asleep at the Wheel will open the show.

Ticket will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 17. Tickets will range from $79.75 to $249.75 and will be available at www.selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 and at the Select-A-Seat box office at Intrust Bank Arena.

Strait held the record for the largest ever single-night concert attendance until earlier this year, when Metallica broke it. Strait drew a crowd of 14,680 fans in 2014 and Metallica had 15,690 in March. Strait also performed at the arena in February 2010 and sold the venue out then, too.

Boleski said at Monday morning’s press conference, attended by county officials, that the venue is planning a “concert series” throughout 2020 to celebrate the anniversary. It will include big-name acts that have never been to Wichita as well as some that have — including some that performed during the arena’s first year.

Intrust Bank Arena officially opened on Jan. 9, 2010, with a concert by country artist Brad Paisley.

This story was originally published May 6, 2019 at 9:11 AM.