Caption: Ramp from Lower Level of New Building to WR Watt Drive. All photos courtesy of the City of Fort Worth
If you had a chance to visit the Will Rogers Complex in Fort Worth, TX, during the 2011 Reichert Celebration last month, you might have noticed that there was quite a bit of construction underway. In addition to an entirely new building, that will house 740 stalls and two covered exercise arenas, construction is currently moving along on a network of underground tunnels, that will connect the John Justin, Coliseum and Watt arenas.
While the major portion of the project will be completed in time for the Fort Worth Stock Show next spring, there are several facility improvements that exhibitors will be seeing in time for the upcoming Appaloosa and APHA World Championship Shows.
We spoke with Kirk Slaughter, the Director of Public Events for the City of Fort Worth, who was able to give us some information about a few of the exciting improvements.
“This is consistent with what we’ve been working on for the last couple of years,” Slaughter says. “What people will be seeing now is some of the new construction improvements to the complex. When this new building is completed, it will have stalls on the lower level. We were also able to add in, on the east side of the John Justin arena, a canopy that will cover the area between the John Justin and new stalling area. That area has always been used as a make-up pen, and now that whole thing will be covered.”
Caption: New Equestrian Multi-Purpose Facility- West Face.
“That will connect to the 740 stalls on the lower level. Then, up on the second level, there will be two covered exercise arenas, 100 by 200 in size, which is really going to be a huge thing for us. One of the things that we kept hearing from the Paint Horse people, Appaloosa people, and NCHA, is the need for more covered exercise areas.”
When this new part of the facility is completed, it will connect, via a network of underground tunnels, to the John Justin, Watt arena and Coliseum.
“Literally, people will be able to get to all three of our performance arenas through underground tunnels, so they don’t have to get outside in the elements,” he says. “That is going to be a huge thing, especially for the NCHA cutting events. This will allow the cattle to be moved completely underground, so people will never see the cattle being transferred from the Coliseum to the practice pens.”
Caption: Underground Tunnel Entrance from Equestrian Multi-Purpose Lower Level to Watt Arena, Coliseum, and John Justin.
The entire construction project will not be completed until next spring. However, Appaloosa and Paint Horse exhibitors will be able to enjoy several new amenities, like new arena footing, an extended outdoor exercise arena outside of the John Justin, the on-site La Espuela restaurant and new Ambassador Program, this fall during their World Championship Shows.
“The Appaloosa and Paint Horse exhibitors will be able to enjoy all of the new footing at their World Shows, that we have been working hard with Kiser Arena Specialists on,” he says. “We have put in all new footing for the John Justin arena and the Coliseum.”
“Also, some of the new stalls, that we have purchased from Priefert, will be available during the Appaloosa and Paint World Shows. Those stalls will eventually be set up in the new complex, after it is finished being constructed.”
In an effort to further enhance the “guest experience,” the City of Fort Worth has created an new Ambassador Program, to help welcome exhibitors to the Will Rogers Complex. These ambassadors were easy to spot at the Reichert Celebration in their bright red t-shirts, offering complimentary bottled water, chilled hand towels, and even dog biscuits to exhibitors and their four-legged friends at the show.
“The new Ambassador Program is something that people will see during the Appaloosa and Paint World,” he says. “When people are hauling horses in from eight hours away, we want to be able to help them out with certain things, like directing them to a hotel, finding a good place to eat, or letting them know what’s going on in the museums. We are trying to develop a better guest experience.”
Caption: Expanded Outside Exercise Arena ‐ 110’ x 290’
Another new amenity on the complex grounds is the La Espuela restaurant, which is located on the show grounds in the Watt building. At this casual Mexican restaurant, exhibitors can enjoy a quick bite to eat, while still keeping up with what’s going on in the show arenas, via multiple full screen TVs.
As the construction is nearing completion, Slaughter would like to express his gratitude to APHA Executive Director, Lex Smurthwaite, for all of his valuable input on the project.
“Lex has been so instrumental in helping to show us what an equestrian show really needs, and in particular what APHA needs,” he says. “We will also be looking at putting some 100 new RV spaces in north of the Justin arena, which he helped tremendously with. He has been working with us on this project for the past four years and needs to be recognized for his hard work.”
