# Fort Worth's Flying Saucer Arena closes after 58 years

> The iconic 1968 convention center hosts its final public event before demolition makes way for modern expansion.
- Title: Fort Worth's Flying Saucer Arena closes after 58 years
- Summary: The iconic 1968 convention center hosts its final public event before demolition makes way for modern expansion. Fort Worth's distinctive flying saucer…
- Keywords: fort worth, flying saucer arena, convention center, tarrant county, demolition, downtown history, mattie parker, news, politics, Fort, Worth's, Flying
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/tarrant/fort-worth-says-goodbye-to-iconic-flying-saucer-arena-after-58-years
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-09-21T13:00:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: fort worth, flying saucer arena, convention center, tarrant county, demolition, downtown history, mattie parker, news, politics
## Flying saucer's final bow
Fort Worth closed its iconic flying saucer arena on September 20, 2026, with a free farewell event after 58 years of concerts, graduations, and civic gatherings.

> Fort Worth continues to lead as an 'unexpected city,' one that celebrates who we are, honors where we've been, and most importantly, celebrates where we're going.
## A landmark since 1968
The Tarrant County Convention Center opened in 1968, christened by Bob Hope, and became a downtown icon for its circular roofline and decades of major events.
## Farewell celebration packed with history
The It's Goin' Down event featured live music spanning five decades, vendor booths, and a 10,000-square-foot historical exhibit. Organizers created a commemorative ticket inspired by a Rolling Stones floor ticket from 1972 found in storage.
## Modern convention space coming
The arena is being demolished in early 2027 as part of a 701 million dollar convention center expansion. The new space will allow Fort Worth to host multiple convention clients simultaneously.
## Dickies Arena takes the torch
Dickies Arena, which opened in 2019, has already taken over many large concerts and sports events that once filled the flying saucer.
## Key takeaway

Fort Worth's distinctive flying saucer arena, a downtown landmark since 1968, held its last public event on September 20, 2026, before demolition in early 2027 to make room for expanded convention space.