Shakira will be my last memory at old arena

By Jim Abbott, SOUNDBOARDSeptember 23, 2010

Shakira will return to town on Tuesday to close the old Amway Arena and I'm looking forward to the show. In 2006, her hip-shaking show was a splashy production that wasn't too hard on the eyes.

And, yes, I'm looking forward to moving into a new era at the soon-to-be-opened Amway Center, the new $480 million dollar building that now casts a shadow on rush-hour hostages on I-4 next to Division Avenue and Church Street.

The new place has improved dining options, a big video board, loge seating and other sparkling new amenities. There's the promise of more legroom, which is something I was eager for last Sunday at Marc Anthony's arena show. The knees-in-your-back, coach-seating vibe in the old hall is one of the things I won't miss.

Nor will I recall fondly the unbelievable congestion around the concession stands or the long lines for the restrooms. I can't wait to walk around the new place when the music starts to unfold with an Oct. 7 show by the Eagles and an Oct. 8 concert by Vicente Fernandez, the king of Mexican ranchera music.

But I'm not without my soft spot for the old Amway, which has pretty much been my satellite office for the past decade. I saw terrific music, obviously, but there are some faces I will miss, too.

Anyone who has gone to show with me knows that I always look for my favorite ticket-taker, Earlene. Usually posted at the arena's north entrance, she offers the most ego-lifting salutation as she scans your stub: "You are very special and very beautiful."

Yeah, she says it to everyone, but who doesn't need that kind of love? Earlene's in the AARP demographic and has some health issues, so when I chatted with her recently she wasn't sure she was going to make the transition to the new building. I'm hoping that she does! . I need the boost.

Veteran arena-goers also will remember the face of O.J. Simpson look-alike Lionel Bradshaw, who turned the football star's tragedy into a few minutes of fame as a peanut-tosser in the mid-1990s.

Yeah, there are favorite shows, too.

On top of the list: Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., John Fogerty and Tracy Chapman on stage together for the Vote for Change show in 2004. Their candidate didn't win, but the audience at that show did.

I saw Beyonce fall down the stairs. I saw bunches of 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys shows. Watched Merle Haggard on a bill with Bob Dylan. I saw Springsteen call Roger McGuinn on stage to do "Turn Turn Turn," only days after the unexpected death of E Street keyboardist Danny Federici.

I reviewed my first show for the Sentinel there in 1992, a Reba McEntire concert. It was raining outside and I had seats on the floor.

On Tuesday, I'll be back for the last time. Say what you want about the old place. I'm still going to miss it.

A busy fall

In addition to all the big happenings at the new arena, there are plenty of other fine concert diversions heading to town.

The first week or so of October is going to be packed. As mentioned, the Eagles (Oct. 7) and Vicente Fernandez (Oct. 8) will open the Amway Center. New Orleans legend Dr. John is at the Plaza Theatre on Oct. 9. Bob Dylan plays the UCF Arena on Oct. 10.

Other cool things: Vampire Weekend hits Hard Rock Live on Oct.11, and the always utterly amazing mayhem of The Flaming Lips will be unleashed Oct. 14 at House of Blues.

So no whining! Go check it out.

See for yourself

Shakira

When: 8 p.m . Tuesday

Where: Amway Arena, 600 W. Amelia St., Orlando

Cost: $9.50-$148.50

Call: 407-849-2020

Online: ticketmaster.com