Flo Rida wows Corbin crowd with high energy, up close performance

Music fans at The Arena in Corbin were treated to a new sound Saturday night as rapper Flo Rida took to the stage.

While the event didn’t draw the largest crowd the venue has seen, Arena Director Kristi Balla said Sunshine State native whose real name is Tramar Dillard, brought a lot of people out for the first time.

“There were a lot of high school and college kids who have never been to a show here before,” Balla said, adding that she spoke with one group that had piled into a van drove down from Cincinnati, Ohio to see the show.

Though the crowd was one of the most diverse in terms of age, Balla said it brought an energy and that Flo fed off of it.

“It was the best crowd I have seen at an event,” Ballas said. “You just can’t help feed off that vibe.

Flo Rida was all over the building during the show. Going into the stands and down among the crowd on the dance floor. In addition, he invited the ladies in the crowd to come up on stage while he performed a song.

“Thank you for coming by and putting on an awesome show and being so involved with the crowd,” Cynthia Roark wrote on Flo Rida’s Facebook page about the Corbin show.

Balla said while holding the show on Easter weekend definitely hurt the size of the crowd, she is encouraged by the response to Flo Rida and Flo Rida’s response to Corbin.

“I would love to bring him back,” Balla said.

“He is probably the best entertainer I have seen,” Balla said.

The Arena has a variety of events scheduled for 2017.

The stage show “Dance to the Movies, staring “Dancing With the Stars” celebrity pros Tony Dovolani and Anna Trebunskaya was scheduled to for Friday night.

However, because of a unspecified scheduling conflict, the show has been postponed.

“It is not going away,” Balla said. “We are just going to have to move the date.”

Balla said ticketholders may return their tickets for refunds. In addition their information will be put on file for when the show is rescheduled.

“They will be first in line to get comparable tickets,” Balla said

Classic Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd will take to the stage on April 29.

Balla said despite adding seats, the show is practically a sellout with only about 30 single tickets remaining.

However, according to ticketmaster.com, the show is sold out.

In another first, The Arena will host Valor Fights 43 Border Wars MMA cage fights on May 6. The event will feature fighters from Kentucky going up against fighters from Tennessee.

Classic country returns to The Arena on May 13 as Travis Tritt and the Charlie Daniels Band take the stage.

Balla announced Monday that rock group Collective Soul along with Our Lady of Peace and special guest Tonic will play Corbin on June 23. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

Comedian Brian Regan will perform at The Arena on August 26.

“We will have another classic country announcement in the next couple of weeks,” Balla said.