From Elton John to Motley Crue, from the Lord of the Dance to Disney on Ice, from the Harlem Globetrotters to Jeff Dunham, the Carlson Center is Fairbanks’—and Interior Alaska’s—premier entertainment and sports facility. With its 35,000 square foot arena, the Carlson Center is host to concerts, conventions, tradeshows, and sporting events. It is home to the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Nanooks Ice Hockey Team, the Fairbanks Grizzlies Indoor Football Team, the Alaska Gladiators MMA events, and the Fairbanks Rollergirls Roller Derby Team. With an additional 9,220 square feet of meeting rooms, the Carlson Center also accommodates meetings, seminars, weddings, and banquets.
The Carlson Center’s amenities also include arena seating for 6,500, two double lockers rooms, two “star” dressing rooms, a box office, a show office, concession stands, on-site catering, a climate-controlled loading area, abundant parking, handicap access, concert lighting, show power, portable stages, 4-sided video scoreboard, equipment rental, a full-service marketing department, and a professional staff experienced in meeting and event planning.
The Carlson Center is named after John A. Carlson, the former Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor, who served from 1968 – 1982. Mr. Carlson was dedicated to the concept of developing a multi-use facility to improve the quality of life for residents of the borough and its surrounding communities. His vision came to fruition four years following his death when the Carlson Center finally opened in 1990.
