More than 500 people showed up at a job fair for the Kent Events Center on Nov. 1 at the Kent Commons recreational facility.

Ticket takers and ushers, as well as food and beverage workers, are among the positions that will be filled by SMG, the operator of the 6,025-seat arena owned by the city of Kent. The events center is slated to open Jan. 2, 2009.

"The job fair was a huge success," said Tim Higgins, SMG general manager for the events center. "We are very pleased with the turnout and the excitement of the Kent Events Center."

SMG will extend more than 100 job offers over the next two weeks to applicants from Kent and surrounding cities, Higgins said. Candidates will be considered for full-time jobs, part-time jobs and internships.

Job openings also will be posted at www.kenteventscenter.com.

The $84.5 million city events center is under construction at West James Street and Fifth Avenue North.

The Seattle Thunderbirds minor league hockey team will be the anchor tenant of the facility. The team plans to move next January to Kent from its current home at KeyArena in Seattle. The city of Kent has a 30-year lease with the Thunderbirds.

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