Schedule December 20th, 20241:00 PMFriendship Collegiate Academy vs Wise High School2:30 PMSevern Sc
Prince George's Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena
Prince George's Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena
14900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Amenities
14900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Tel: (301) 952-7900
Email: showplacearena@pgparks.com
Hours:
Mon-Fri : 8am-4pm
History
Located on the outskirts of Upper Marlboro, the historic county seat of Prince George’s County, MD, the property of the present day Prince George’s Equestrian Center and The Show Place Arena was used for horse racing since the mid-18th century. In the early 1900s, the Marlboro Race Track was constructed; races were sponsored by the Maryland Jockey Club until 1972. Today, the Equestrian Center and Arena commemorate the history of Maryland’s equestrian traditions and the importance of the horse industry to the state’s economy.
Community Importance
Since 1993, The Show Place Arena and Prince George’s Equestrian Center have enriched the cultural life and local economy of Southern Maryland. An adaptable entertainment and sports facility, the Arena has been the venue for college basketball tournaments, cheer and dance events, consumer shows, concerts, nationally-acclaimed equestrian events and the Prince George’s County Fair. Additionally, several counties host their high school graduations here, marking that important milestone for area youth and their families.
Prince George’s Equestrian Center
Schedule
About the Equestrian Center
Equestrians from all over the world have competed in events held at The Prince George’s Equestrian Center. The facilities are available for rent to accommodate local, regional, and national equestrian events year-round in the disciplines of:
- Breed Show
- Carriage Driving
- Dressage
- Hunter/Jumper
- Mounted Games
- Open Shows
- Saddle Seat
- Western Shows
Booking
Please contact the Equestrian Manager for rental availability. Repeat clients and horse shows with recognized dates from an organization, such as the United States Equestrian Foundation or the American Quarter Horse Association, will be given priority. New clients must complete a rental application and provide references.
When facilities are available, more than one horse show may take place in the outdoor facilities, and other events may be scheduled in The Show Place Arena. The Equestrian Center Management reserves the right to assign barns for various shows in order to efficiently accommodate multiple events.
Outdoor Equestrian Facilities
- Two regulation-sized show rings (Rings 1 and 2), 150 feet by 300 feet each. Schooling rings are adjacent to show rings. Show ring footing is sand and equi-fiber.
- Show Office with restrooms, views of Rings 1 and 2, and public address system
- One covered show ring, 150 feet by 300 feet with Equi Fiber footing; Schooling ring approximately 120 feet by 200 feet, with sand and stone dust footing.
- Seven permanent barns with stabling for up to 250 horses
- Spaces designated for the installation of temporary stables are available with prior approval of Equestrian Center management, installation of temporary stalls requires a permit
- Outdoor vendors may set up with access to 20 amp and 30 amp electricity adjacent to the Show Rings, south of the Arena.
- Lunging is permitted only in designated areas
- Horse Trailer parking is available in designated areas noted on the site plan. Horse trailers may not be parked in lots 1, 2, 3, or 4 on weekdays
- Washstands or racks are available at each barn
- Overnight camping with electric hookups for horse show participants is available for 25 campers. Reservations for camper sites are made with each horse show management
- Outdoor concessions are available upon request for horse shows of 50 or more horses.
Arena Equestrian Events
The Show Place Arena can accommodate indoor equestrian events. With the footing installed, the Arena Equestrian ring is 120 feet by 240 feet. For indoor horse shows, 10 inches of footing is installed in the arena with the option of limestone dust or Equi Fiber footing. Choice of footing is determined by event and at the facility’s discretion. For more information about the use of The Show Place Arena for horse shows, please contact us.
Rental Information & Guidelines
Events
Local, regional, and national equestrian events are held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center between mid-March and mid-November. The events are run by various clubs and equestrian promoters. While most shows are held in the outdoor rings, several shows use both The Show Place Arena, outfitted with equestrian footing on the floor of the Arena, and the outdoor rings. The shows vary by type of equestrian disciplines and include:
- Barrel racing
- Dressage
- Hunter/Jumper events
- Mounted games on horseback
- Rodeo
- Western saddle events
Horse Rider
Additionally, equestrian seminars periodically use the facilities. Most of the horse shows are free to spectators; exhibitors pay fees to the entity running the competitions. Seminars and rodeos have spectator and participant fees and may be ticketed through Ticket Master with advance sales.
Spectators
Spectators are welcome to watch the shows free of charge. Bleacher seating is available next to each outdoor ring. If the show is held in the indoor arena, arena seating is available and entry is through The Show Place Arena lobby or through the doors on the barn side of the building.
Infield
Located inside the former Marlboro Race Track, the Infield has just under 7 acres of level surface surrounded by a fence. The Infield may be used for additional temporary stables for horse shows and parking for other events. Electricity and water are available.
Parking
Spectator parking is located in the lot between The Show Place Arena and the barns, or across from the Arena, unless directed otherwise by Show Place Arena parking attendants. Exhibitors with horse trailers may park in designated areas. Additional trailer parking may be designated for larger equestrian events.
Equestrian Exhibitor Check-in
Most shows check in at the Horse Show Secretaries Office between the outdoor show rings. An attendant may be present to help direct you to the proper areas at some shows.
Food & Beverage
Food and beverages are available at the facility. An outdoor concession is open during outdoor show hours, and indoor food concessions are open for indoor shows.
Catering & Bar Services
Catering and bar services are available upon request. Pricing for catering is based on a minimum of 25 guests unless otherwise noted. The catering menu pricing does not include 6% sales tax or 15% service fees, which are applied at the time of final payment. All alcohol sales are controlled by The Show Place Arena staff. All bar pricing is determined by the Food & Beverage Department. All bar services end ½ hour prior to the event end time or at the discretion of the Food & Beverage Manager. For information regarding our menus and pricing, please contact our Food & Beverage Department at 301-952-7900.
Download the Catering Menu (PDF)
Camper Parking for Equestrian Exhibitors
Camper parking with electricity only is available during equestrian events. Arrangements and fees for camper parking are handled by an event’s show promoter.
Booking & Availability
For booking and availability, please email showplacearena@pgparks.com.
Site Plans
Show Place Arena
Rental Information & Guidelines
The Show Place Arena is an adaptable entertainment and sports facility that can configure to accommodate a variety of event types. The Arena has been the venue for college basketball tournaments, cheer and dance events, consumer shows, concerts, rodeos, nationally-acclaimed equestrian events, graduations and the Prince George’s County Fair.
Pricing
Arena pricing is based upon a number of factors, e.g., event/client/arena requirements, event type, space and time allocations, security, safety, labor, equipment, set-up and tear down, catering, etc. The Show Place Arena can provide an event estimate and discuss possible dates after contacting the office to receive the appropriate application forms. Please note that the submission of the completed documents is necessary to provide realistic estimates, but it is not a binding contract.
Required Documents
The documents that must be completed are the Rental Application, New Client Business Reference, and Entertainment Assessment forms. These forms must be completed and returned before we are able to provide you with any event information. Please note that the business references submitted must be from the three (3) most recent venues that you have rented for events. Be sure to include your date(s) of interest on the application.
Ticket Sale
If the planned event involves the sale of tickets, Ticketmaster is the only authorized ticketing service for The Show Place Arena. No other ticketing venues (brick and mortar, online, etc.) are permitted. Under our contract, we cannot process a TicketMaster event until we have verified the client’s references and accepted the client’s signed contract, deposit, and mutually agreed upon event set-up diagram. The entire process to secure a ticketed event is usually a minimum of 120 days, so please submit your documents immediately if you wish to secure an available date. Please contact us for booking and availability.
Banquet Rentals
Whether you’re looking for a facility to hold a sales meeting for your associates, a cocktail reception to thank your donors, or the celebration of an anniversary, The Show Place Arena can accommodate your event in comfort. Three banquet rooms can be rented for meetings, training or receptions with variable setups to suit your event.
View the Banquet Site Plan (PDF).
Rental Information & Guidelines
The Show Place Arena has three banquet rooms that can be rented for meetings, trainings or receptions with variable set-ups to suit your event with ease. Banquet rooms may be rented separately or in conjunction with the Arena.
The banquet rooms can be booked during the week at any time; however, rentals during weekends will only be booked 60 days in advance.
Winner’s Circle Lounge
- 1420 square foot glass enclosed round room with a built-in bar
The Paddock Room
- 2270 square foot room overlooking the Arena floor
- Adjoins the Tack Room
The Tack Room
- 2560 square foot room overlooking the Arena Floor
Banquet Room Rental Fees
Four Hour Event
| Winner’s Circle Lounge | $900 |
| Paddock Room | $900 |
| Tack Room | $900 |
$100 per additional hour
Arena Specifications
The Show Place Arena includes a lobby with box office, a concourse, and an oval arena. The concourse level has three banquet rooms; the Arena can be viewed from two of them. Private suites of varying sizes are also available. Dressing/locker rooms and production offices are located adjacent to the Arena floor on the south side. The Arena decor features burgundy, hunter green and tan to reference the historic Marlboro Race Track that had previously operated on the property.
Floor
- Concrete
- Unlimited load
- 136 feet wide by 260 feet long
- With additional telescopic seats extended, the floor is 95 feet wide by 240 feet long
- With the dasher boards or equestrian footing installed, the usable floor space is 120 feet wide by 240 feet long
Ceiling Height
- Clear ceiling
- 40 feet to bottom of light fixtures
Arena Seating
- Theater-style plastic seats
- Handicapped accessible seating is folding chairs on the concourse level
Seating Capacities
- Arena seating capacity varies for different types of events and may be affected by staging and setup.
- Flexible configurations are possible.
- The maximum seating for the Arena can be 5,700:
- Upper bowl: 2,824
- Lower bowl/telescopic: 1,580
- Seating added to the arena floor: 1,296
Video Boards
- Two Daktronics matrix video boards, with locations at the north and south sides of the Arena
Dressing Rooms
- Multiple dressing rooms with access to restrooms and showers
Ticketing Services
- Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.
Parking
- 2500 spaces are available on-site
Staging
- Maximum size: 52 feet by 40 feet
- 78 feet with wings
- Stage height can be 4 feet, 5 feet, or 6 feet
- Four sets of stairs are available to access the stage
- Forklift with 6,000 pound maximum
Event Load-In
- The South end of the Arena has docking doors accessed by two ramps.
- Door dimensions are 13.6 feet tall by 21 feet wide.
- The North end of the Arena has a ramp and doors going directly to the Arena flow to accommodate pedestrians and hand-carried items.
- Four major entrances to the Arena concourse level can be used to accommodate pedestrians and hand-carried items.
Power Capabilities
- Backstage/Arena South can accommodate two 200 amp – 3 phase and 1,600 amp isolated phase.
- Upstage/Arena north can accommodate two 200 amp – 3 phase.
Spotlights
Three spotlights, located at center, left center, and right center.
Houselights
- Capable of variable lighting schemes.
- Stage lighting is not included.
Rigging
Ground support only; the ceiling has no established stress points for hanging.
House Sound
Public address system only; it is recommended that Lessee supply sound enhancement or reinforcement for live performance.
Labor
The Arena can furnish labor to include electrician, load-in and tear out, stagehands, runners, spotlight operators.
Event Staffing
The Arena will schedule operations staff, housekeeping, ushers, parking attendants, ticket sellers and ticket takers, security, and Emergency Medical Technicians when required.
Catering & Bar Services
Catering and bar services are available upon request. Pricing for catering is based on a minimum of 25 guests unless otherwise noted. The catering menu pricing does not include 6% sales tax or 15% service fees, which are applied at the time of final payment. All alcohol sales are controlled by The Show Place Arena staff. All bar pricing is determined by the Food & Beverage Department. All bar services end ½ hour prior to the event end time or at the discretion of the Food & Beverage Manager. For information regarding our menus and pricing, please contact our Food & Beverage Department at 301-952-7900.
Download the Catering Menu (PDF)
Seating Chart
Ticketing Information
Please note all ticketing and admission sales for events at The Show Place Arena, including advance, online and walk-up sales, must be handled by The Show Place Arena Box Office through TicketMaster. Clients may not have any online advance tickets sales for performances and events at The Show Place Arena on any other online source. Tickets through other sources will not be honored.
Requirements
Ticketing information, indicating the Name of the Event, Ticket Price(s), and the requested On Sale Date, must be provided no less than 30 days prior to the event and at least two weeks prior to the On Sale Date.
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact the Show Place Arena.
Virtual Tour
View the Prince George’s Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena facilities and grounds virtually from the comfort of your own home!
Equestrian Services
Overnight Stabling
The Prince George’s Equestrian Center is available for overnight stabling of transient horses with advance reservations only. Stabling is $25 per night, per stall. Please contact us to find out about availability.
Apply
Complete and return the Overnight Stabling Application (XLS). Applications may be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the Equestrian Center.
Progressive Equestrian Therapeutic Services (PETS)
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission sponsors the Progressive Equestrian Therapeutic Services, Inc. (PETS) program at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. Administered by volunteers, PETS is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International. From April through September, PETS volunteers provide skill-based riding and horsemanship lessons to youth and adults with disabilities who reside in Prince George’s County free of charge. The lessons culminate in the Annual Rider Show-off Event where students demonstrate their skills for friends and family.
Additional Information
For more information on PETS, to register for the program, or to learn how to volunteer and support their work, visit the PETS website or call 301-627-4308.
Schooling
Schooling Hours
- 9 am until 5 pm
Fees
- $10 per hours (per horse and rider)
Reservation Requirements
- Advance reservations and payments are required; contact 301-952-7900 Monday–Friday from 9 am–5 pm to make your reservation.
- Payment by credit card (Master Card and Visa) or cash.
- Riders are required to wear hard hats during all mounted activities.
- Current Coggins must be provided for all horses.
- Rider waiver release (PDF) must be signed and presented at the time of payment.
- Riders under 18 years of age must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian on the rider waiver.
- No Barrel Racing is permitted in the outdoor rings, schooling areas, or covered rings.
- Barrel Racing is only permitted in The Show Place Arena when the footing is in the building
Program dates are subject to change.
Events
Visit Us
Facility Accessibility
The Show Place Arena has accessible seating and entrances for your convenience.
Parking
Accessible parking is located on the right/West side of the Arena. If the event has parking attendants, please follow their directions.
Entry
Ramps are available by the doors on either side of the lobby.
Seating
At most events, accessible seating is located on the concourse level between P7 and P11. Depending on the event, accessible seating also may be available in other seating locations.
Elevator
An elevator with access to the Arena floor level is located on the concourse to the right of the lobby as you enter.
Additional Information
For more information, call 301-952-7900 or Maryland Relay 7-1-1.
Hotels
Upper Marlboro is located near Bowie, Camp Springs, Clinton, Landover, Largo, and Lothian. Hotels in these areas are less than 10 miles from the facility. Please visit the Prince George’s Conference and Visitor’s Bureau website for a listing of local hotels.
