2025 Graduation Season
Visitor Guide: What You Need to Know
If you are visiting the center for the first time, we know you will be impressed with all that this center has to offer.
See our A-Z Guide below for answers to common questions. For more help, contact the Curtis Culwell Center box office at 972-487-4745 or email tickets.culwellcenter@garlandisd.net. For in-person assistance, visit our Guest Services kiosk on the upper concourse.
A-Z Visitor Guide
No animals or pets are allowed in the facility unless they are service dog-trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability. Emotional support animals are NOT allowed. Guests may be asked the following two questions when entering with a service dog:
- “Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?”
- “What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”
Beer, wine, and liquor will be available for purchase for almost all arena events. Certain event exclusions include: graduations, UIL State Volleyball, GISD events.
There are two ATMs located in the lower East Lobby and the North Concourse. Please be advised that the CCC is a cashless facility.
- All entrances are accessible to those with disabilities. The parking lot is equipped with 37 handicap spaces. ADA sections are located at the top of sections 101, 102, 104, 106, 109, 111, and 114.
- Elevators are located on the first floor of the main concourse at the East entrance.
- Our center has an in-house assistive listening device (ALD) system. ALD devices are available at the Guest Services desk on the upper concourse.
- A limited number of wheelchairs are available for guests to use free of charge. CCC wheelchairs must stay within the facility and be returned at the end of your visit.
- All events have accessible seating available:
- Free events: Seating is first come first served for free events.
- Paid events: Seating can be purchased online for paid events.
Please visit our Guest Services Desk on the North Concourse for more information.
AEDs can be found at the following locations:
- Top of the ramp leading to the arena floor outside of Home Locker Rooms
- Conference Center behind the reception desk in the ballroom pre-function area
- South loading dock
- North concourse across from Concession Stand #1 near Section 108-109
If you or your business is interested in an advertising partnership, please fill out our brief inquiry form on our Partnerships page.
No diaper bags will be allowed unless they are clear. Please see our Clear Bag Policy on the Guest Safety Policies page for more details. Strollers are allowed and we have designated parking areas at the top of sections 101 and 114 for your convenience. There are family restrooms equipped with changing stations located outside of sections 106 and 109.
The CCC has a Clear Bag Policy. Please visit our Guest Safety Policies page for more details.
The box office is located Southeast of the main East Entrance. We recommend all ticket purchases be done online. The box office will be open only for select events, usually two hours before event start time.
Honor or remember a special friend or family member in a tangible way by purchasing a customized brick or tree marker outside the Curtis Culwell Center. The bricks are prominently placed outside the arena entrance.
See our Commemorative Bricks page to learn more.
Please visit our events page to see a list of our upcoming events.
Cameras with a lens smaller than four (4) inches will be permitted. Cameras with telephoto, interchangeable lenses and other professional photography equipment will not be permitted.
Video or audio recording devices, GoPro cameras, monopods, tripods, and selfie sticks are prohibited. Video recording on any device and/or flash photography is prohibited.
Please note that some events may enforce a modified camera/video policy.
The CCC is a cashless facility accepting all major credit cards as well as Apple Pay.
For all ticketed events, everyone will need a ticket to enter regardless of age. Please visit the specific event page for event-specific ticket policies.
Buy food and drink at one of our five concession stands on the Upper Concourse (second floor). Each offers a variety of food for any dietary need.
Note: Concession stands are cashless.
The CCC main phone number is 972-487-4700. All staff contact info can be found on our Staff page.
The CCC is located near the intersection of North Garland Avenue and the President George Bush Turnpike (Hwy 190). Please visit our Directions and Parking page for more information.
Doors typically open 1 hour to 1.5 hours before event start time. The parking lot typically opens 3 hours prior to event start time. Please visit the specific event page for event-specific details.
Drones are not permitted at any time on CCC property.
The CCC has two elevators located on the East side of the arena entrance. Lower level access is located in the East lobby. Upper level access is located behind the main concession stand.
Stay informed and up-to-date by joining our newsletter, your source for the latest news and events at Curtis Culwell Center. You can sign up using the Join Our Newsletter box at the bottom of every page on our site.
Emergency exits for the upper level are located on the concourse outside of sections 100 and 115. For events with floor seating, emergency exits are located through the south loading dock. The emergency exit for conference center events is located near the southwest corner of the Grand Ballroom.
There are many part-time positions available including ushers, ticket takers, guest services, food and beverage, housekeeping, and operations. If interested, please reach out to our management team:
- Phillip Holmes, Event Services Manager PHolmes@garlandisd.net
- Blake Shelton, Operations Manager BTShelto@garlandisd.net
For all arena events we ask all our guests to pass through a metal detector before entering. You will be asked to remove all items from your pockets. The CCC also institutes a Clear Bag Policy for all events. See our Guest Safety Policies page for more details.
No outside food or drink will not be permitted. Containers such as bottles, cans, thermos, or coolers are prohibited from entering the building, with the sole exception of plastic baby bottles containing formula.
The upper concourse includes five built-in concession stands offering a variety of food and drink options as well as water fountains.
The Curtis Culwell Center was opened in 2005 and is part of the Garland Independent School District (GISD).
The Garland ISD Sports Hall of Fame placards can be found on the east and west upper concourse during event hours.
The CCC proudly hosts approximately 30 graduation ceremonies each year. See below for FAQs:
- Tickets: For ceremonies with tickets, tickets are required for each guest regardless of age. Please contact your school for any extra tickets as the CCC distributes all available tickets to the school. For larger parties, suites are available for rent. In/out is not permitted for graduations.
- Prohibited items: Flowers, bags/purses (larger than 4.5in x 6in), signs, balloons, air horns, monopods/tripods/selfie sticks, wrapped gifts and umbrellas will all NOT be permitted.
- Graduate exit: Following the ceremony, you will meet your graduate outside on the east plaza. Please be respectful of the next group of families eager to enter for the next ceremony.
The CCC has three hotels with over 375 rooms within a one-mile radius. See a list of Preferred Area Hotels and see the Garland Area page to learn more about what's nearby.
The Curtis Culwell Center reserves the right to deny entry to any guest who appears to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. A guest may also be ejected from the venue if they are showing signs of impairment due to drugs and/or alcohol.
Any lost and found items turned in during the event can be found at the guest services desk located on the upper concourse.
Please contact the main office at 972-487-4703 during business hours to inquire about lost items after the event.
Please visit our Ticket Information page for instructions to recover any lost tickets.
For the safety of all guests, please be prepared to walk through a metal detector before entering the facility.
You will be asked to remove all phones, keys, and other metal items from your person.
If you have any medical concerns regarding the metal detector, please alert a staff member upon arrival.
Be sure to download the CCC app for the latest list of events and new happenings in our facility.
Find the app in the Google Play Store or Apple Store.
Nursing mother’s rooms are available upon request. Please visit the guest services desk located on the upper concourse or contact any CCC team member for assistance.
Please be advised that some shows offer seats that have an incomplete view of the performance/stage. These seats, referred to as Obstructed View Seating, are clearly labeled at the time of purchase and may not be relocated at any time during the event.
If you would like to upgrade your seat prior to the event, contact the Curtis Culwell Center Box Office at 972-487-4744.
The CCC has 1,700 surface-level parking spaces throughout the East, West and North parking lots. Parking prices vary for each event. Be sure to check the specific event page for more details. Many events offer discounted parking fees if purchased before the day of the show.
A parking map is available on the Directions and Parking page.
The CCC offers businesses the opportunity to partner with the facility to place their brand in front of hundreds of thousands guests each year. Please visit our Partnership page for more details.
For the safety of all guests, several items are prohibited inside the Curtis Culwell Center. See our Guest Safety Policies page for a complete list.
Re-entry is not permitted at the Curtis Culwell Center.
For all events, Curtis Culwell Center has a no refunds or exchanges policy. If an event is canceled, you will receive a refund at your original point of sale.
The Curtis Culwell Center website is the only authorized seller of tickets for events at the CCC; if you purchased your tickets through a third-party resale site, you will need to contact that company directly for a refund.
If an event is rescheduled and you are unable to make the rescheduled performance, you will need to make contact through your original point of sale to receive a refund.
Restrooms can be found:
- On the upper concourse (four separate clusters)
- In the Conference Center (one central cluster)
- Family restroom: Arena level and Conference Center
Restroom locations are marked on the Venue Map.
Those using rideshare options like Uber or Lyft can do drop-off and pick-up at:
Academy Sports & Outdoors
4920 North Garland Ave
Garland, TX 75040
This location is next to the facility and is a two-minute walk to the facility’s West Entrance. Those who need ADA rideshare accommodations can use the East or West Entrance (if in use) for drop-off and pick-up.
The CCC is equipped with one level of 6,860 fixed arena seats with chair backs. Additional padded chairs may be added to the floor for events. Please check out our Venue Map for a facility layout.
The safety of our guests is our top priority. We have several processes in place to make sure our events are comfortable:
- Key locations in our facility have closed-circuit cameras.
- Staff can monitor all entrances from a central location.
- We ask all guests to walk through magnetometers before entering the facility. If you need any special assistance, be sure to alert a supervisor at the main entrance.
- Our Clear Bag Policy helps make sure prohibited items do not enter the venue.
- Garland PD is present for all events hosted at the CCC.
If you are in need of assistance, please contact any CCC staff member.
Signs or posters that are larger than your person are not allowed in the CCC. No signs or posters can be attached anywhere in CCC.
There is no smoking or vaping permitted on the CCC campus.
Follow us on these social media platforms:
The distribution of promotional items, flyers, or printed materials is not permitted on arena property without written permission from the Curtis Culwell Center. Sampling and distribution of products is prohibited.
Strollers are allowed at the CCC. There is stroller parking designated at the top of sections 101 and 114 in the arena bowl. Diaper bags are NOT permitted unless they are fully clear.
The Curtis Culwell Center has 6 open-view suites available for rent for most events. Each suite has 14 seats dedicated to the area. The CCC also has a larger capacity Hospitality Suite that can be utilized for VIP entertaining before events. See the Premium Experiences page for more information.
If you are interested in a tour of the Curtis Culwell Center, please reach out to our Sales Manager, at 972-487-4737.
No umbrellas are permitted in the CCC. Tables will be made available at the entrances to leave your umbrella. The CCC is not responsible for any items left unattended.
Water fountains are available on the East and West upper concourse.
Weapons of any kind are not permitted in the CCC. Pursuant to section 46.03, penal code, a person may not carry a firearm, location-restricted knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in section 46.05(A) on the property.
If you are in need of a wheelchair, please visit our Guest Services desk on the upper concourse. CCC wheelchairs are not permitted to leave the facility. Elevators are available at the East entrance.
Will call will be available at select events and is located at the East Box Office. Please have a valid form of government ID ready.