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76-795: It is the former home of the Fresno Falcons ice hockey team for their first five seasons in the ECHL (2003–08); prior to the opening of the building, they played at Selland Arena . It is also a concert destination, with its first performance featuring opera tenor Andrea Bocelli . Financing for the project was provided through revenue, from corporate sponsorships , private gifts, leasing of luxury suites , sale of club seating and personal seat licenses, as well as revenue from advertising and signage agreements. Save Mart Center encompasses approximately 40,000 m (430,000 ft) on three primary levels; an event level and two concourses, plus

152-436: A booklet filled with Hildebrandt's illustrations of the story, plus the full lyrics and narration. The narration is performed by Bryan Hicks, who has been handling the live narration on the tours for this album. Creator Paul O'Neill explains, "This is how I have always envisioned the story being experienced. Where the listener can relax, close their eyes and within minutes be wandering the streets of 1800s Vienna with Beethoven on

228-451: A box set titled The Christmas Trilogy, which also contained a DVD of their 1999 TV special The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (Each of the albums still continue to be available individually.) The Lost Christmas Eve was first performed live in 2012 followed by a encore tour in 2013. Critics once again called it "stunning showmanship" "that included every trick known to man kind including massive pyro, spectacular lasers, stages that hover over

304-434: A club level mezzanine. The facility includes 32 revenue-generating suites and eight party suites, located on the main concourse level. Seating capacities are approximately 15,596 for basketball, 14,224 for hockey, 8,000 for half-house concerts, 15,500 for end-stage concerts, and 18,000 for center-stage concerts. The arena's main exterior landmark is the 37 m (93 ft) Larry A. Shehadey Clock Tower. 13 stories in-all, it

380-498: A club, never having been an opening act and never having had an opening act. Paul O'Neill managed and produced rock bands including Aerosmith , Humble Pie , AC/DC , Joan Jett , and Scorpions , later producing and co-writing albums by the progressive metal band Savatage , where he began working with Robert Kinkel , Al Pitrelli and Jon Oliva . Oliva had left Savatage to spend time with his family and take care of personal matters. O'Neill took his first steps into rock music in

456-472: A coordinated set spanning the two festival main stages, connected by a catwalk. This united Trans-Siberian Orchestra featured four guitarists, four keyboard players, two drummers, two bassists, a full string section, and 24 vocalists and dancers performing in sync for nearly 80,000 people. In the televised broadcast a week after the show (but right before the actual performance), Paul O'Neill and Al Pitrelli admitted to being blindsided by non-stop rain and mud on

532-599: A fateful Christmas Eve and how one of the craziest gambles in human history leads to a second chance for a troubled youth who finds himself past the point of no return." O'Neill died on April 5, 2017, at age 61, while staying at an Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa. Cause of death as determined by the Hillsborough County, Florida medical examiner ’s office,

608-402: A great debt to and with the best of intention tell themselves that they will do it someday. Also each song is accompanied by a short poem. Released on October 11, 2013, this fifteen-track collection is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first greatest hits collection and includes songs from all six prior releases. Cover art once again provided by Greg Hildebrandt . On November 11, 2011, TSO released

684-769: A minor league hockey team. The ice hockey Falcons were charter members of several long standing leagues in the western United States including the Pacific Southwest Hockey League and the West Coast Hockey League . In their final years, they were members of the ECHL (formerly East Coast Hockey League). In 2024, a new iteration of the Falcons would be formed as an adult travel inline hockey team, They are located in Fresno, California . The Fresno Hockey Club, originally known as

760-450: A mixture of TSO and original material in live concerts. In 2013, four of the original members of TSO — Tommy Farese, Guy LeMonnier, Tony Gaynor, and Michael Lanning toured as guests with The Wizards of Winter. Another original TSO vocalist, Joe Cerisano toured with them in 2014. The band released three new Christmas albums ( The Wizards of Winter , The Magic of Winter and The Christmas Dream ) with Guy LeMonnier and Tony Gaynor joining

836-472: A new choral piece entitled, "Who I Am". This was originally released as a digital download to fans who purchased tickets through the band's ticket pre-sale but later became available through other music sites as well as being released on their 2015 album, Letters from the Labyrinth . The song was performed live as the opening number for the 2011 winter tour in acknowledgment of the rough times many people in

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912-474: A reunited Savatage headlined the 26th edition of Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, which is the largest metal festival in the world. The 2015 festival lasted three days and featured over one hundred bands. This event marked both TSO's first outdoor festival appearance and first Savatage show in 13 years. A massive set was designed so that the two main festival stages would be identical, although this aspect of

988-467: A rock opera. Insisting that "TSO was not like any other band and that the fans expected a story. It was a little bit of a role reversal because when we were working in Savatage, I was always wanting to do a concept record." The two-disc set includes a version of " O Fortuna " from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff , which was previewed live by the band during their 2004–2008 tours. An MP3 version of

1064-510: A similar sum for exclusive, indefinite beverage dispensing rights. Total construction costs exceeded US$ 100 million and when completed, represented the largest privately funded complex of any university in the United States . The Bulldog Foundation donated money for the following amenities at Save Mart Center: This is our mascot and he ain't no hound. He's an English bull and weighs lots of pounds He's got two rows of teeth and

1140-693: A story about the Bosnian War. Their 1998 release The Christmas Attic , the sequel to Christmas Eve and Other Stories followed a similar format. This album produced the hit " Christmas Canon ", a take on Johann Pachelbel 's Canon in D major with lyrics and new melodies added. The Christmas Attic was first performed live in 2014. Beethoven's Last Night was written and recorded in 1998 and 1999 and turned over to Atlantic Records in late 1999 for release in 2000. The story begins when Mephistopheles appears before Beethoven, whom Paul O'Neill refers to as "the world's first Heavy Metal Rock Star", to collect

1216-426: A string section, a light show, lasers, moving trusses, video screens, and effects synchronized to music. Both Billboard Magazine and Pollstar have ranked them as one of the top twenty-five ticket-selling bands in the first decade of the new millennium. Their path to success was unusual in that, according to O'Neill, TSO is the first major rock band to go straight to theaters and arenas, having never played at

1292-1081: A terrible frown Hey, nobody’s kicking our dog around!!! Several major entertainers have performed at the venue including Beyoncé , RBD , Carrie Underwood , AC/DC , The Rolling Stones , Eagles , Paul McCartney , The Who , Billy Joel , Madonna , Prince , Jonas Brothers , Maná , Miley Cyrus , Drake , Bruno Mars , Hannah Montana , Britney Spears , JoJo Siwa , Shania Twain , Justin Timberlake , Taylor Swift , Kelly Clarkson , Chris Brown , Gwen Stefani , Paramore , Miranda Lambert , Jordin Sparks , Justin Bieber , Luke Bryan , Brad Paisley , Little Big Town , Jay Z , Florida Georgia Line , Bon Jovi , Andrea Bocelli , Ariana Grande , Selena Gomez , Twenty One Pilots , Blake Shelton , Garth Brooks , Janet Jackson , Foo Fighters , Pearl Jam , Metallica , Trans-Siberian Orchestra , & many others. The arena has also played host to music festivals, including

1368-454: A tour of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More. A new instrumental song entitled "Carousels of Christmas", written by Jon Oliva, was performed on the 2022 tour. Keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij died on February 20, 2024. In 2009, a group of musicians from the metro New York area formed a band, called The Wizards of Winter , inspired by TSO. The Wizards released their own limited-release Christmas album in 2011 while performing

1444-601: A tractor-trailer veered off Interstate 75 in Florida and struck the RV that Adrenaline Mob was riding in. Fellow TSO and Adrenaline Mob member Russell Allen was also injured in the accident. For the 20th annual TSO winter tour in 2018, the band decided to once again tour with The Ghosts of Christmas Eve story. In 2019, TSO returned to the Christmas Eve and Other Stories show, which had previously been performed from

1520-541: Is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill , who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli (both members of Savatage ) and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. The band gained in popularity when they began touring in 1999 after completing their second album, The Christmas Attic , the year previous. In 2007, The Washington Post referred to them as "an arena-rock juggernaut" and described their music as " Pink Floyd meets Yes and

1596-455: Is music. It was a little bit overly philosophical, but it sounded different, and I like the initials, TSO. Their debut album, the first installment of the intended Christmas Trilogy, was a rock opera called Christmas Eve and Other Stories , and was released in 1996. It remains among their best-selling albums. It contains the instrumental " Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 " which originally appeared on Savatage's rock opera, Dead Winter Dead ,

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1672-670: The Victoria Times Colonist newspaper article. The ice hockey Falcons were the second team that season to fold, following the Augusta Lynx . Arguments were made that the ECHL had expanded into markets that were unable to sustain their market, though the perception in Fresno's case was that the franchise had issues beyond that which prevented the team from being profitable. Fresno was without hockey at any level until

1748-901: The Artur Beterbiev - Enrico Kölling boxing match for the IBF Light Heavyweight belt on November 11, 2017. It hosted the Jerwin Ancajas - Jonas Sultan boxing match for the IBF Super Flyweight belt on May 26, 2018. It hosted the boxing match between Jose Ramirez and Antonio Orozco for the WBC Junior Welterweight belt on September 14, 2018. Save Mart Center hosted the Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello mixed martial arts ( MMA ) event on October 6, 2006. It hosted

1824-789: The Fresno Monsters began play in the 2009–10 season in the Tier III Junior A Western States Hockey League . The city briefly hosted two junior teams called the Monsters from 2010 to 2013 when the Tier II North American Hockey League expanded into Fresno. In 2013, the NAHL Monsters relocated to Wenatchee, Washington ; however, the Monsters continued to field a team in the WSHL and later

1900-994: The Sacramento Kings ; the Lakers defeated the Kings 105–80. The second was in 2004-2005 with the Sacramento Kings taking on the Phoenix Suns ; the Suns defeated the Kings 100–88. The third was in 2005-2006 when the Lakers hosted the Utah Jazz ; the Lakers defeated the Jazz 95–85. The Los Angeles Lakers hosted another game in the 2008 preseason against the Los Angeles Clippers , with the Clippers beating

1976-1170: The USPHL . In January 2024, Fresno State grad Matt Braun, along with Visalia native and NARCh president, Daryn Goodwin, would form a new travel inline hockey team. This team would revive the Fresno Falcons name as a tribute, as Goodwin, along with the fathers of four of the team's players, were alumni of the former ice hockey Falcons. The team would wear iconic green and yellow throwback style jerseys from 1970 to 1995 as their primary uniforms. 1968–69 San Joaquin Valley Champions 1970–71 Cal-Neva Hockey League Champions 1972–73 PSHL champions 1973–74 PSHL champions 1974–75 PSHL champions 1975–76 PSHL champions 1977–78 PSHL champions 1979–80 PSHL champions 1983–84 PSHL champions 1985-86 PSHL champions 1986-87 PSHL champions 1993–94 PSHL champions 2001–02 Taylor Cup Champions (WCHL) 2005–06 Pacific Division Champions (ECHL) 2024 Irvine Regional Champions (NARCh) Trans-Siberian Orchestra Trans-Siberian Orchestra ( TSO )

2052-488: The Victoria Salmon Kings ECHL team expressed some negative commentary on the Falcons team management abilities, but praised the team itself as being "competitive". The owners did not do all they could to salvage the situation, according to Dakers and gave up too easily as there were still other options available to minimize the economic damage. He was rather disappointed and not too pleased as quoted in

2128-834: The Winter Jam Tour , the Vans Warped Tour & the Mayhem Festival . The first athletic event held at Save Mart Center took place when the Rainbow Wahine of Hawaii took on the Fresno State Bulldogs in women's NCAA volleyball in October 2003. Officials from the Fresno Falcons of the West Coast Hockey League announced on March 18, 2002, that the Falcons would make Save Mart Center at Fresno State their home ice beginning with

2204-511: The ice hockey team played at Fresno's Selland Arena , and their green and gold colors and hard-knocks play made them a staple of sports and entertainment in Fresno. The Falcons were the centerpieces of the league, as the Falcons dominated, winning sixteen league championships in 24 seasons. The ice hockey Falcons moved to the Save Mart Center on the campus of California State University, Fresno to coincide with their transfer to

2280-478: The 1970s when he started the progressive rock band Slowburn, for whom he was the lyricist and co-composer. What was intended to be the band's debut album was recorded at Jimi Hendrix 's Electric Lady Studios and engineered by Dave Wittman. Although Wittman's engineering was capturing the exact sound O'Neill was hearing in his head, O'Neill was having trouble with it because many of his melodies were between two and three octaves. Rather than releasing an album that he

2356-532: The 1980s I was fortunate enough to have visited Russia. If anyone has ever seen Siberia, it is incredibly beautiful but incredibly harsh and unforgiving as well. The one thing that everyone who lives there has in common that runs across it in relative safety is the Trans-Siberian Railway . Life, too, can be incredibly beautiful but also incredibly harsh and unforgiving, and the one thing that we all have in common that runs across it in relative safety

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2432-595: The 1995–96 season. The team was a member throughout the league's eight-year existence. During the 1997–98 season they were known as Fresno's Fighting Falcons . Fresno won the league's Taylor Cup championship for the 2001–02 season, defeating the Idaho Steelheads in the finals. Along with other active WCHL teams, the Falcons joined the ECHL after the West Coast Hockey League was absorbed by the larger league in 2003. For most of its history,

2508-451: The 2003 season. The Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament was held at the center in 2004, as well as WWE 's Royal Rumble 2005 and WWE Live Events, including ECW / SmackDown 6/30/09 where 3 superstars made their debut, including multiple time WWE Champion , Sheamus . Also, on Feb 17th, 2004, a SmackDown show featuring a newly crowned WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero , had his celebration ceremony at Save Mart Center, and

2584-418: The ECHL in 2003. They played there until returning to Selland Arena in 2008. The inline hockey Falcons play out of the inline rink at Fresno's Cary Park. On December 22, 2008, Fresno Hockey Club, LLC announced that the Fresno Falcons team would cease operations immediately citing operating cost due to dwindling attendance, lack of corporate sponsorships and the faltering economy. President Dave Dakers of

2660-513: The East and West coasts, allowing TSO to perform a greater number of shows during their holiday touring period. In 2009, Billboard ranked TSO as one of the Top 25 Touring Artists of the past decade. Live shows are known for their extensive use of pyrotechnics , lasers , and lights synchronized with the performance. The band engaged in spring tours between 2010 and 2012. During the spring tours,

2736-682: The Flyers, was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the Pacific Coast Hockey League , where they played until the league folded in 1950. The all time goal leader is Adrian Marin with 40 goals in a season The team picked up in 1952 for a season in the Pacific Coast Senior League . Following just one season, hockey was dormant in Fresno until 1968, when the Fresno Aces were introduced for a season in

2812-710: The Lakers 107–80. The Los Angeles Lakers hosted another game in the 2012 preseason against the Golden State Warriors , with the Warriors beating the Lakers 110–83. Save Mart Center hosted an NHL preseason game on September 23, 2006. The San Jose Sharks took on the Anaheim Ducks , winning 4–3. Joe Thornton scored the game-winning goal for the Sharks; Anaheim went on to win its first Stanley Cup Championship later that season. Save Mart Center hosted

2888-708: The Stingers and previously made famous by Emerson, Lake & Palmer , featuring Greg Lake on bass guitar. In February 2011, Night Castle was released in Europe with two live bonus tracks ("Requiem" and "Toccata-Carpimus Noctem") added. Both live tracks were recorded on the 2010 spring tour at the Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie , in Texas. Metal Kaoz, reviewed it as a two-hour plus double rock opera CD with, "no filler" that flows smoothly. "The classical layers meet

2964-515: The Who at Radio City Music Hall ." TSO has sold more than ten million concert tickets and over ten million albums. The band has released a series of rock operas : Christmas Eve and Other Stories , The Christmas Attic , Beethoven's Last Night , The Lost Christmas Eve , their two-disc Night Castle and Letters From the Labyrinth . Trans-Siberian Orchestra is also known for their extensive charity work and elaborate concerts, which include

3040-597: The album released through Amazon.com contains an additional track entitled "The Flight of Cassandra". The first half is a rock opera about a seven-year-old child on a beach who meets a stranger from New York City who tells her a story that takes her all around the world and through time where she encounters various characters, many of which are based on historical individuals such as Desiderius Erasmus . The second half pays homage to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's influences. It also contains new versions of several Savatage songs as well as " Nut Rocker ", originally by B. Bumble and

3116-683: The artists he idolized, such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer , Queen , Yes , The Who , and Pink Floyd , and hard rock bands such as Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin and the multiple lead vocalists of the R&;B groups the Temptations and the Four Tops . He brought in Oliva, Kinkel, and Pitrelli to help start the project. O'Neill has stated, "My original concept was six rock operas, a trilogy about Christmas and maybe one or two regular albums." In

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3192-546: The astronauts aboard the damaged space capsule Apollo 13, that, "Failure is not an option." In 2013 the band announced the late November release of a novella, Merry Christmas Rabbi . Referred to as the final missing piece to the Christmas Trilogy, it is the journal discovered by the girl in the Christmas Attic rock opera that leads into the song, "Dream Child". Press releases described it as "the story of

3268-505: The audience, hot back up singers all the while constantly connecting with their audience." After another few years of touring, Night Castle , Trans-Siberian Orchestra's fifth album, was released on October 27, 2009 well received by fans and critics alike. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard Album Charts. It was certified gold in eight weeks and later platinum. "Their most ambitious and adventurous work to date. It runs

3344-478: The audience, referring to them as the second half of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and that without them TSO would just be notes and words echoing in an empty arena. "The fans' enthusiasm and energy power the stage show as much, if not more, than any local electric company." In 1999, TSO performed a stage adaptation of Christmas Eve and Other Stories for its first live tour. The popularity of these initial shows prompted O'Neill to form two touring bands, divided between

3420-552: The band as full members. The band performs their own original material when touring, with TSO songs added occasionally. In June 2018, long-time TSO drummer John O. Reilly also joined the Wizards of Winter as a full member. In 2005 Carson Williams started a synchronized lighting race when he used 88 Light-O-Rama channels, over ten thousand lights and a small radio transmitter to illuminate his home to "Wizards in Winter". A video of

3496-515: The band cited undisclosed personal matters that held Jon Oliva from being available to tour. Their 2012-2013 Fall/Winter tour, sponsored by the Hallmark Channel featured The Lost Christmas Eve album in place of Christmas Eve and Other Stories . In 2013, TSO kicked off their second European tour with a performance on New Year's Eve 2013-14 in front of over one million fans at Berlin 's Brandenburg Gate . "A daring feat in which

3572-513: The band has donated over $ 16 million to a combination of local and national charities. At every tour stop, the group donates one dollar or more from each ticket sold to a local charity in the city where they are performing. A single day (two shows) in New Jersey's Izod arena yielded $ 40,000 to local charities. The band helps any charity or group they think is in need but especially ones that protect and help children. In 2010 Paul O'Neill voiced

3648-521: The band played Beethoven's Last Night album in its entirety; songs of Night Castle were also played during these tours. In 2011, for the very first time in the band's history, a European leg was included, with venues predominantly in Germany, but also in Austria, Belgium, England, and Switzerland. Initially, Savatage was announced to reunite at the end of the TSO setlist. However, the plans were scrapped, as

3724-418: The band played three shows across two continents in 27 hours." The show was broadcast live to millions more on German television. In August 2014, the band announced the first half of the winter tour they would feature The Christmas Attic , the only rock opera from the "Christmas Trilogy" never performed live up to that point. In August 2019, TSO announced the return of Christmas Eve and Other Stories for

3800-410: The band's philosophy on the TSO's web site and also in the 2010 Winter Tour Book, "We are all in this together. We must look out for the well being of each other, most of all the young. For the young are the architects of the future and we are the architects of the young. We can not tell those yet to be born that we did our best." Paul was a well known history buff. Paul O'Neill constantly stated that

3876-499: The beauty of Metal music and form the fine blend... a wide range of emotions and musical colors...tracks that will blow your mind. Hit play and wander freely in TSO's, Night Castle." On October 30, 2012 Trans-Siberian Orchestra released a new five-song EP entitled Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night) on Lava Republic Universal Records. It debuted in Billboard Magazine's Top 200 Albums chart at number #9, and #1 in

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3952-557: The content of their character," followed by President John F. Kennedy's inaugural challenge, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." It included pictures of Jonas Salk , the scientist who cured polio, Saint "Mother" Teresa of Calcutta who spent her life caring for the unwanted and ended with Neil Armstrong taking the first step on the Moon and the NASA's Gene Kranz paraphrased quote in regard to saving

4028-508: The fans own the band: "TSO's goal is to make the best albums and concerts we possibly can, sparing no amount of time or expense and then charge the lowest possible price. No musician or singer is on the TSO flight deck for the money. We do it because we love the energy from the crowd especially the kids. Also in Trans Siberian Orchestra the crew are as much a member of the band as anyone on the flight deck. They actually have

4104-400: The gamut from hard rock to classical taking the listener on a journey through history detailing the triumphs and follies of man but is ultimately a story of transformation and love." Initially intended to be their first regular, non rock opera, consisting of ten stand alone songs album, O'Neill credits Jon Oliva persistence that it was too early for such a move and that the fifth album had to be

4180-456: The great composer's soul. Of course Beethoven is horrified at the thought of eternal damnation, but the devil has an offer and the bargaining begins. There are numerous plot twists including the fate of his music, and the ending is based on a true but little known fact about Beethoven. Also in 1998, at the request of Scott Shannon of WPLJ , they performed live for the first time in a charity concert for Blythedale Children's Hospital . In 1999, at

4256-416: The hardest jobs. They are the first ones in and the last ones out. Watching them at work is like watching a well choreographed ballet or military operation. TSO could not be TSO without them and we know it." Al Pitrelli summed it up more humorously, "No one in TSO is paid to be on the stage, that we do for free. The money is to stay out of trouble on our off time." Over the years, O'Neill consistently thanks

4332-471: The house quickly went viral on the internet and eventually was picked up by Miller Lite as the theme for their TV ads over the next two years. Other homes soon followed eventually crossing to single homes with over a million lights. Soon after entire cities like Denver and Chicago were lighting their downtown districts in a similar manner, as well as many major theme parks such as Disney World and Universal Studios. Since Trans-Siberian Orchestra began touring,

4408-759: The inaugural ShoMMA on May 15, 2009. It hosted Bellator 125 on September 19, 2014, Bellator 148 on January 29, 2016 and Bellator 156 on June 17, 2016. It hosted UFC Fight Night 123 on December 9, 2017. Since 2004, the arena is a stop for PBR's Built Ford Tough Series for the Table Mountain Casino Invitational. In March 2012, the Save Mart Center hosted the West Regional of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament . The Stanford Cardinal won

4484-524: The inaugural 1999 tour through 2011. No tour was held in 2020, due to continued mass gathering restrictions tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States . The band instead played an online livestream performance of Christmas Eve and Other Stories on December 18, and returned to physical performances in 2021 with the same Christmas Eve and Other Stories show. In 2022, the band announced

4560-565: The last great adventure of his life." Whenever the band was off the road they returned to the studio and in 2004 completed The Lost Christmas Eve , the final installment of the Christmas Trilogy. It is a story of loss and redemption that encompasses a rundown hotel, an old toy store, a blues bar, a Gothic cathedral and their respective inhabitants all intertwined on a single enchanted Christmas Eve in New York City. The next year they combined all three Christmas albums and released them in

4636-498: The league's history, some games even if not involving the Falcons were held at Selland Arena, including several Championship Finals series throughout the 1970s. A PSHL season ranged from 15 to 30 games each between anywhere from 4 to 8 teams. Franchises shifted frequently, often with new teams appearing the next season from the same cities. The mainstays of the league were the Falcons, the Los Angeles Bruins and later in

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4712-428: The league's history, the Burbank or Los Angeles Jets and the West Covina or California Blackhawks (later just Hawks). Falcons games were often paired with side attractions when it came to teams' marketing, including broomball and roller derby . Following an experimental partnership with the Sunshine Hockey League in 1994–95, The Falcons became a charter member of the professional West Coast Hockey League to begin

4788-416: The original release. The Mephistopheles songs are sung by Jon Oliva . To coincide with the 2012 spring tour, Beethoven's Last Night: The Complete Narrated Version was released by Atlantic/Rhino/Warner Brothers Record. This two-disc deluxe edition includes all the music from the original release and, for the first time, the narration featured during live performances of the album. It comes packaged with

4864-459: The regional and advanced to the 2012 NCAA women's Final Four . Attendance for Bulldogs men's basketball has tailed off significantly since the early 2000s. In recent years, Fresno State has covered the upper level with a tarp . As a result, while Fresno State lists the official capacity for basketball as 15,596, the "actual" capacity is somewhat smaller. Fresno Falcons The Fresno Falcons are an adult travel inline hockey team and were

4940-412: The rock charts. It was the band's first EP and with a list price of five dollars or under was Trans-Siberian Orchestra's way of saying thank you to their fans. Rather than containing the usual TSO story, it was more like a Harry Chapin album where a short story is contained within the song. For example, "Someday" is about how people have a tendency to put off saying thank you to individuals that they owe

5016-420: The short-lived Cal-Neva Hockey League. Cal-Neva was a loosely linked group of professional and semi-pro teams from around the West Coast. The league lacked structure, and played games for a selection of regional championships rather than a league championship. In the 1970–71 season, the Las Vegas Gamblers club was expelled from the league, following numerous rules violations. The Gamblers were in first place at

5092-402: The show was not revealed until the second half of the performance. For the first 40 minutes Savatage played a reunion show featuring Jon Oliva as the main lead singer for the first time in over 25 years, as well as Zak Stevens. This was followed by a Trans-Siberian Orchestra set on the next stage debuting several new songs. Following this, for the first time in music history, the entire band played

5168-415: The time, and all records of games involving them were voided. The league was dissolved following the 1971-72 season, as league commissioners cited the need for more structure, and without a Nevada team, a need for a new name. During the 1968–69 season, Fresno's team was officially known as the Fresno Aces. For 1969–70, the name was changed back to the Fresno Falcons. The Pacific Southwest Hockey League

5244-420: The urging of Bill Louis, a DJ for WNCX in Cleveland, they did their first tour, during which they debuted sections of Beethoven's Last Night . They performed the album in its entirety for the first time during the spring tour of 2010. In October 2011, Beethoven's Last Night was released in Europe to coincide with their European tour with new cover art by Greg Hildebrandt and the missing pages of poetry from

5320-454: The winter tour. In August 2022, TSO announced the return of the Ghosts of Christmas Eve for the winter tour. A new instrumental song entitled "Carousels of Christmas Lights", written by Jon Oliva, is being performed on the 2022 tour. in September 2024, TSO announced the return of The Lost Christmas Eve. This year also marked the 20 millionth ticket sold and 20 million dollars given to charity. On July 30, 2015, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and

5396-433: The world were going through but bringing a message of hope by pointing out that together we can solve these problems as earlier generations have done in the past. It was accompanied by sound and video clips of individuals who helped humanity progress forward or overcome seemingly impossible situations. The first quote and image was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. voice echoing " I have a dream...that all men will be judged by

5472-620: Was featured on WWE DVD "Legendary Moments". Save Mart Center's first arena football game was held on July 19, 2008. The Central Valley Coyotes defeated the Boise Burn 55–50. Both teams were members of the now defunct AF2 , the former developmental league for the Arena Football League . Save Mart Center has hosted five NBA preseason games. The first game was in 2003-2004 when the Los Angeles Lakers hosted

5548-609: Was founded in 1972 following the dissolution of the Cal-Neva Hockey League. and the Falcons were one of the league's staples, as the only franchise in the league that was present from its beginning, throughout to the 1995–96 merger that formed the West Coast Hockey League . The Falcons were the PSHL's signature franchise largely due to convenience and the availability of a then-relatively new showcase arena, Selland Arena in Fresno's Convention Center. At times throughout

5624-498: Was intoxication from a mixture of methadone , codeine , Valium and doxylamine , and the manner of death as drug abuse . In June of 2017, the organization announced that they would continue with their Christmas-themed touring. The Ghosts of Christmas Eve story, which they had performed in 2015 and 2016, was announced as their story once again for the 2017 tour. David Z, bassist for TSO, died on July 14, 2017, while touring with Adrenaline Mob for their " We The People " tour;

5700-479: Was named for the founder of Producers Dairy Foods , a Fresno-based dairy company, who donated US$ 3 million towards construction. The lobby at the arena's southeast entrance is named after Shehadey’s late wife, Elayne Shehadey. The majority of the funding for the facility came from two sources. Save Mart Supermarkets paid US$ 40 million for 20 years naming rights , and the Pepsi Bottling Group paid

5776-423: Was not happy with, he shelved the project, but continued working in the industry at Contemporary Communications Corporation (also known as Leber & Krebs). Over the years, O'Neill continued to work as a writer, producer, manager, and concert promoter. In 1996, he accepted Atlantic Records ' offer to start his own band. He built the band on a foundation created by the marriage of classical and rock music and

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