Tag Archives: Dickies Arena

Kirstin Maldonado & Pentatonix Group Mates to Launch ‘Christmas in the City’ Tour in November

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Kirstin Maldonado is preparing to help spread holiday cheer this season…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American Grammy-winning singer and her Pentatonix group mates have announced their upcoming Christmas in the City tour.

Pentatonix, Christmas in the City TourThe trek will kick off on November 8 in West Valley City, Utah at Maverik Center, roll through major arenas throughout the U.S. and conclude with two hometown shows on December 21 and December 22 in Fort Worth, TX at Dickie’s Arena.

Pentatonix has become closely identified with the holiday season. Six of the group’s 11 top 10 titles on the Billboard 200 have been holiday releases, including That’s Christmas to Me (No. 2 in 2014) and A Pentatonix Christmas (No. 1 in 2017).

All three of the group’s top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 were drawn from holiday albums or EPs – “Little Drummer Boy” (No. 13 in 2013), Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (No. 23 in 2017) and “Mary, Did You Know” (No. 26 in 2014).

The group has undertaken an annual holiday tour of arenas for several years. In 2023, the group closed out their year with a North American Christmas tour in support of their compilation album, The Greatest Christmas Hits.

Last year, Pentatonix appeared in the Netflix holiday romcom, Meet Me Next Christmas, which starred Christina Milian.

“This holiday season, we’re bringing you the hits you know and love, the theatrical magic that makes Christmas feel so special, and a few nostalgic sounds from the past — all in one unforgettable night,” Kevin Olusola, the group’s beatboxer, said in a statement.

There is a long history of artists announcing tours and even releasing holiday albums when most people would much rather have a glass of cold lemonade than a cup of hot cocoa. Garth Brooks released his (appropriately-titled) Beyond the Season on August 25, 1992. The album was a smash, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the issue dated September 19.

Since emerging in 2011, Pentatonix – Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee – have reached heights unprecedented for an a capella group.

They won Grammys three years running — best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella for “Daft Punk” in 2015 and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” in 2016 and best country duo/group performance in 2017 for “Jolene,” a collab with country legend Dolly Parton. In 2023 and 2024 they were nominated for best traditional pop vocal album for Evergreen and Holidays Around the World, making them the only group or duo to receive two nods in the history of that category.

In addition to Parton, Pentatonix have collaborated with artists including Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Meghan Trainor and Lindsey Stirling. In 2015, they had a cameo in the blockbuster film Pitch Perfect 2. In 2023, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tickets for the upcoming tour go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 22 at 10:00 am local time. There will also be a special presale for Pentatonix Patreon members on Monday, August 18, as well as an artist presale on Tuesday, August 19.

$1 per ticket sold for the Fort Worth and Houston shows will go to Direct Relief to assist in their efforts to help those impacted by the recent flooding in the state.  www.directrelief.org.

Fans can also check out official VIP packages, available at wearesuper.co/pentatonix. Packages may include best-in-house seating, a mini-performance and official Q&A with Pentatonix, an invitation to the pre-show Pentatonix Winter Village, autographed merchandise, and more special seasonal surprises. Availability is limited in each city.

Pentatonix

Caroline Garcia Defeats Aryna Sabalenka to Claim WTA Finals Crown

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Caroline Garcia has claimed the biggest singles title of her career…

The 29-year-old half-Spanish French tennis player took a tight first set and went on to a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka to win the championship of the WTA Finals on Monday night.

Caroline GarciaThe sixth-ranked Garcia became the second player from France to win the season-ending event after Amelie Mauresmo in 2005, also the last time the WTA Finals were held in the U.S.

The event was moved to Texas from China over concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former government official there of sexual assault. Coronavirus restrictions also played a part in the decision.

Garcia won her last six sets after dropping the first in a winner-take-all match against Daria Kasatkina in group play. She is the oldest WTA Finals winner since Serena Williams at 33 in 2014.

The only player to win titles on all three surfaces this season, Garcia was just as comfortable as Sabalenka on the temporary indoor hard court at Dickies Arena near downtown Fort Worth.

As a result, Garcia handed the No. 7 player from Belarus just her third loss in 12 career hard-court finals. Sabalenka was trying to become the first player from her country to win the WTA Finals.

There was only one break point in a meeting of the tour (Garcia) and tournament (Sabalenka) leaders in aces coming into the match.

Garcia converted that break point in the first game of the second set while handing No. 7 Sabalenka just her third loss in 12 career hard-court finals on the temporary indoor court at Dickies Arena.

Garcia won six consecutive points in the tiebreaker, capped by her 10th ace of the first set for a 6-2 lead. Sabalenka’s third double fault ended the set. Garcia finished with 11 aces.

“It was a lot of aces, sometimes not too many rallies,” Garcia told the crowd. “But that’s our game style, and I hope you enjoyed it.”

Garcia matched Sabalenka’s power from the start in her fourth victory of the season, second only to Swiatek’s eight.

“I just dropped my level for a little bit on the tiebreak and in the first game of the second set,” Sabalenka said. “That was the key moments.”

Tied in the deciding game, Garcia’s service winner gave her a second match point, and Sabalenka sent a forehand long. Garcia dropped to the court on her back with her arms raised.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Defeats Michael McKinson via Technical Decision

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Vergil Ortiz Jr. has registered another knockout.

The 24-year-old Mexican-American boxer defeated Michael McKinson via technical decision with a ninth-round stoppage at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, extending his strong start to the year.

Vergil Ortiz Jr.And with his 19th knockout in as many fights, Ortiz showed why he’s one of the top welterweight contenders in the world — even if he didn’t feel like he was at his best.

“The first seven rounds, I didn’t really do anything good,” Ortiz said in the post-fight interview with DAZN. “I had to adjust big time. I should have listened to my corner from the beginning. But I listened and we got it done.”

Ortiz and McKinson were initially scheduled to fight in March. The fight was postponed when Ortiz was hospitalized because of rhabdomyolysis.

Saturday’s bout, just a few miles away from Ortiz’s hometown of Grand Prairie, was considered a WBA eliminator. Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) will certainly maintain his status as the WBO and WBA‘s No. 1 contender in the 147-pound division.

But McKinson (22-1, 2 KOs) proved to be a tricky opponent. He was slippery around the outside of the ring and roughed Ortiz up on the inside as well.

Eventually, all the bodywork Ortiz’s corner asked for at the beginning of the fight manifested itself and paid dividends. In the final 30 seconds of the eighth round, Ortiz dropped the British fighter with a left hook to the body. McKinson went down in similar fashion at the beginning of the ninth round.

After he limped around the ring, his corner jumped to the top of the apron and threw in the towel.

Ortiz said his father, Vergil Ortiz Sr., yelled at him for three rounds for not following the game plan for the fight. The 24-year-old’s stubbornness eventually gave way to sound advice.

“You think you know everything, and you don’t,” Ortiz Jr. said.

A path to a title remains tricky because of the landscape within the welterweight division. Errol Spence and Terence Crawford, who was ringside Saturday, hold all four major belts and are in talks for a potential undisputed title fight. In his post-fight interview with DAZN, Ortiz acknowledged securing a title shot soon will be difficult because of that impending matchup.

But when it comes to taking on anyone else, he’ll fight whomever that opponent is.

Camila Cabello Adds Additional European Dates for her “Romance” Tour

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Camila Cabello is spreading a little more romance across the pond…

The 22-year-old Mexican & Cuban singer has revealed a series of new European dates next June as part of her world tour in support of her upcoming album, Romance, due out on December 6. 

Camila Cabello

Cabello’s biggest dates so far in England will kick off on June 1 at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham and include dates in Manchester, Leeds, Dublin, Glasgow and London.   

Cabello previously announced the kick-off of her Romance global outing, which includes a show at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 3, as well as a gig at The Forum in Los Angeles on December 6, the B96 Jingle Bash in Rosemont, Illinois, on December 7, a stop at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on December 9 and a December 13 show at Madison Square Garden in New York.

So far, the full Romance tour is slated to kick off on May 26 in Oslo, Norway and launch in North America on July 29 in Vancouver. 

Cabello has previewed the album with the recently released song “Living Proof,” the chart-topping Shawn Mendes collaboration “Señorita,” as well as the singles “Shameless,” “Easy,” “Cry For Me” and “Liar.”

Here’s a look at Cabello’s UK and European dates below.

May 26 – Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum
May 28 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
May 30 – Berlin, Germany @ Mercedes Benz Arena
June 1 – Birmingham, UK @ Resorts World Arena
June 2 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
June 4 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Arena
June 8 – Dublin, IR @ 3Arena
June 9 – Glasgow, UK @ The SSE Hydro
June 11– London, UK @ The O2
June 14 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Sportpaleis
June 15 – Amsterdam, Holland @ Ziggo Dome
June 17 – Paris, France @ Accorhotels Arena
June 18 – Cologne, Germany @ Laxness Arena
June 23 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
June 24 – Milan, Italy @ Forum
June 30 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
July 1 – Madrid, Spain @ Wizink Center