Shopko Hall was an exhibition hall in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, situated between the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena and the Resch Center. Shopko Hall opened in 1986 as the Brown County Expo Center, with the naming rights being purchased by Shopko.[1] It was owned by Brown County and operated by PMI Entertainment Group.

Shopko Hall
Map
Address1901 S Oneida St, Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
Coordinates44°29′58″N 88°03′22″W / 44.49944°N 88.05611°W / 44.49944; -88.05611
OwnerBrown County
OperatorPMI Entertainment Group
Opened1986
ClosedApril 28, 2019
DemolishedApril 30, 2019
Former names
Brown County Expo Center
Enclosed space
 • Exhibit hall floor43,680 square feet (4,058 m2)

Based on the facility's age and needed maintenance requirements, the Brown County Board of Supervisors decided to replace the center and the connected Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena with a brand new $93 million Brown County Expo Center, set to open in 2021.[2] The arena closed on April 6, 2019;[3] Shopko Hall later closed after the Titletown Train Show on April 28, 2019.[4] Demolition of the arena and Shopko Hall began on April 30, 2019.[5] By coincidence, its naming rights sponsor Shopko began to wind down operations in March 2019 after filing chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Events

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Shopko Hall had 43,680 square feet (4058 m2) of column-free exhibit space.[1] It also featured an enclosed ticket office, a private show office, and concession stands, as well as walkways connecting it to the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena and the Resch Center. The venue primarily hosted trade shows, conventions, seminars, banquets, and intimate concerts.

Shopko Hall hosted over 100 events every year, including the Titletown Train Show,[6] Everybody's Rummage Sale, WBAY Pet Expo, WBAY RV & Camping Show,[7] Home and Garden Show, and Senior Expo.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "shopko-tech.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "Brown County expo center: Get your first look at the drawings". Press Gazette Media. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Good times, memories come flooding back as Bret Michaels plays final Brown Co. arena show". Post-Crescent Media. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. ^ Bink, Addy (11 April 2019). "Last event at Shopko Hall is full steam ahead". WFRV-TV. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Good times, memories come flooding back as Bret Michaels plays final Brown Co. arena show". Post-Crescent Media. Retrieved 7 April 2019. The next chapter comes when demolition on the building begins May 1 to make room for a new $93 million expo center.
  6. ^ Ted Miller (April 21, 2015). "Titletown Train Show 2015". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  7. ^ Steve Schuster (January 25, 2016). "Mark your calendars for the WBAY TV RV & Camping Expo starting Jan 28!". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "Shopko Exhibition Hall | PMI Entertainment Group". Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
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