The sunshine-splashed accesso ShoWare Center stood silent last week as its electronic readerboard promoted July events. The coronavirus pandemic has cancelled many games and events at the financially-challenged arena. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

The sunshine-splashed accesso ShoWare Center stood silent last week as its electronic readerboard promoted July events. The coronavirus pandemic has cancelled many games and events at the financially-challenged arena. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Kent’s ShoWare Center continues to lose events because of coronavirus

Jurassic World Live Tour cancels June 4-7 shows

The Jurassic World Live Tour scheduled for June 4-7 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

It is one of several events that has been cancelled or postponed at the city-owned arena that has lost money each year since it opened in 2009. Two Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey games and a Tacoma Stars Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) game also were cancelled. In fact, the Western Hockey League on Monday cancelled its 2020 playoffs, which the T-Birds had qualified for and would have played at least a couple of games at home. The MASL has cancelled the rest of its regular season.

The Rend Collective concert scheduled for April 29 has been postponed with a new date yet to be determined. Rend Collective is an Irish Christian folk rock band. The group has postponed all concerts in the U.S. through May.

“Due to COVID-19 and Gov. (Jay) Inslee’s ban on public gatherings we continue to work with postponed or cancelled events on potential future dates,” ShoWare General Manager Tim Higgins said in a Monday email. “ASM Global is examining all options on how to best manage through this situation during this unprecedented time.”

Los Angeles-based ASM Global is the company that manages the arena through SMG.

Jurassic World Live Tour promoters cancelled all shows across the nation through June 7.

Higgins declined to answer questions about the economic impact on the ShoWare Center of losing two hockey regular-season games, a soccer game and the Jurassic World Live Tour. Higgins also declined to answer questions about steps being taken to combat the lost revenue because of the coronavirus. The arena has lost a total of $5 million since it opened, with financial losses each year on its income statement.

On Monday, ShoWare Center officials announced they will close the arena box office, 625 W. James St., until further notice for the health and safety of the public and ShoWare staff.

Ticket purchases can be made 24/7 online at accessoshowarecenter.com.

If you have questions regarding tickets purchased for events that have been canceled or postponed, email the arena at tickets@accessoshowarecenter.com or call 253-856-6777 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Representatives will respond as soon as possible – please allow up to 72 hours for an email response.

ShoWare Center officials will update the arena’s website with future schedule changes. So far, several concerts scheduled for July and August remain on.


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