Katy Perry

I am not sure where to begin with the Katy Perry Blog so before I start I wanted to let everyone know that Katy Perry had one of the best performances and set deigns that I have seen in a long time. If you like shows that keep the fans involved and you want to see a display of fireworks, foam, and lasers then this is the show for you!


Just hours before the show Katy Perry put on her twitter account “I AM SO EXCITED FOR TONIGHT I MIGHT ESPPPPPPLOAAAAD #ATLANTDREAMS.” From then on I knew this concert was going to be one of a kind and I quickly thought about what things may be in store since we were the first show on her North American tour. I was out taking pictures of Katy’s fans hours before the show started and the one thing I noticed was how incredibly excited every fan was to see Katy perform. It’s you the fans who drive these shows and make a magical experience for everyone at the arena.


The crowd roared and girls screamed when Katy took the stage in her white dress flowing with moving peppermint candies as she broke into one of her hit song Teenage Dream. Katy, an energetic superstar whose costumes fit the tour, cd, and songs perfectly did not let her fans down when she broke into I Kissed A Girl, Hot n Cold, and E.T. The music terrific, but that was not the highlight of my evening. The highlight of my evening was during one of her breaks when she started talking to the audience. She asked if she could be our Georgia peach for the night and then stated something I was not expecting. “If I had the choice of an In-N-Out burger over the Chick-fil-A, I would not do it. I would pick the Chick-fil-A.” Katy then pointed on how great their Polynesian sauce is.


Another high point of my night was getting to see Katy interact with some of her biggest fans. I was down stairs of the arena for Katys meet and greet and was blow away by her beauty and her loyalty to her fans. She was not only interested in her fans, but more than willing to sign an autograph or take a picture and for that I commend Katy Perry.




Please check out some of our fan photos at www.facebook.com/gwinnettcenter or www.gwinnettcenter.com/photogallery

Professional Bull Riding

Hey everyone!

My name is Greg and I am the marketing intern at the Gwinnett Arena. I have never written a blog, but I am extremely excited to start this summer. Gwinnett Arena has some great shows coming up this summer and I cannot wait to let everyone know how they were.

My very first show at the Gwinnett Arena was Professional Bull Riding. At first I was not sure what to think, but after being in the arena for Friday and Saturday’s show I cannot explain how great a PBR event is. The interaction that PBR has with the patrons is unbelievable and how can anyone pass up the opportunity to watch pro bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco ride a 1,500-pound bull called Deja Blu?

If you have never been to a PBR show then take it from me… Go to one! The introduction is incredible and you will not find a more welcoming bunch of riders and entertainers anywhere in the world. Saturday started off with a bang when PBR flashes fire and pyrotechnics while welcoming the riders to the ring, the next thing you know the crowd screams when Ochocinco walks through the arena.

During the show you can’t help but wonder how these riders can last 8 seconds on a bull. We have all heard the horror stories of what can happen within 1 second on a bull and luckily no one was seriously injured. The one thing that really separates PBR from other events is the riders. These riders show true passion and love for their jobs, how many people would be willing to ride a 2,000 pound bull every weekend? Another part of PBR that people don’t typically ask about are the ranchers who move the bulls from their cages to the chutes. When I spoke with a PBR representative, she described them as “bull-whisperers.”  She stated that “sometimes they do not even have to touch the bulls, it’s almost like they are talking to them.”

The best part of the event was obviously watching Chad Ochocinco ride Deja Blu. Many people who have not seen the event missed Ochocinco get on the bull for the first time which in turn caused the bull buck at him. He instantly stood up and what looked like he was rethinking his decision. However, Ochocinco proceeded with the challenge and lasted 1.5 seconds. I personally believed the risk was greater than the reward, but there is a reason behind Ochocinco’s madness and I for one would like to know more about it and him. 

Get Ready, Gwinnett!

This weekend, The Revolve Tour returns to The Gwinnett Center for Dream On. There are still a few seats left, and trust me, you DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Revolve is a one-of-a-kind inspirational weekend for 6th to 12th grade girls that combines award-winning bands, dramas, and speakers with real, relevant messages.

 

But Revolve is much more than just a fun time for girls. Since it began, more than 35,000 girls have indicated they made first-time decisions for Christ at a Revolve Tour event. More than 16,000 children have been sponsored through World Vision as a result of The Revolve Tour. This year’s event, Dream On, will feature speakers Chad Eastham, Jenna Lucado Bishop, Kathryn McCormick, Jamie-Grace Harper, and Courtney Clark Cleveland; compelling dramas; and be highlighted by musical artists Hawk Nelson, Britt Nicole, and Group 1 Crew. Not only is The Revolve Tour a great event but they also have wonderful resources for you and the girls in your life. You can find more information The Revolve Tour blog and also find books and other products, designed specifically for reaching the teenage girls in your ministry, here.



For more information, please call 877.9.REVOLVE (877.973.8653) or visit http://www.revolvetour.com/.

Ethan Bortnick and Ben Folds

Straight from the stage of "The Sing Off," Ben Folds hangs out with Ethan Bortnick before performing a benifit show in Nashville, Tennessee.

Check out a little of what the audiance was graced with when Ethan Bortnick and Ben Folds hit the stage together!

4 Times the FUN!

Game-changing 4-pointer will make its mark at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 12

The Harlem Globetrotters, who have contributed more innovations to the game of basketball than any other team in history, have implemented the first-ever 4-point shot as part of all of its games on the team’s 2011 “4 Times the Fun” North American tour, the team’s record 85^th season of touring.

From the alley-oop to the slam dunk to the behind-the-back pass, the Globetrotters have long brought innovations to basketball that are now staples of the game, and the 4-point shot is sure to change the game of basketball going forward.

Check out the video!

This game-changing innovation will be on display when the Globetrotters take on the Washington Generals at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 12! 

Every Globetrotters game will now feature two designated 4-point shooting spots on each side of midcourt, each located 35 feet from the basket (the spots are 12 feet beyond the NBA’s official 3-point line). The 4-point option is expected to further open up the playing floor for the Globetrotters as well as their opponents, the Generals, and is expected to generate even more high-scoring action and competitive play.