{{Short description|Facility in Savannah, Georgia}} {{Use American English|date=June 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}{{Infobox venue | name = Savannah Civic Center | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo_image = Savannah Civic Center Logo.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | coordinates = {{Coord|32|04|36.22|N|81|05|49.25|W|region:US-GA_type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = no | address = 301 West [[Oglethorpe Avenue]]<br>[[Savannah, Georgia]], 31401-3643 | location = [[Savannah Historic District (Savannah, Georgia)|Savannah Historic District]] | owner = City of Savannah | operator = [[Oak View Group|OVG Facilities]] | opened = 1974 | cost = $8 million<br><small>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|8000000|1974}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})</small> | tenants = [[Savannah Spirits]] {{small|([[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]) (1986-88)}}<br>[[Savannah Rug Ratz]] {{small|([[Eastern Indoor Soccer League|EISL]]) (1997-98)}}<br>[[Savannah Steam]] {{small|([[American Indoor Football|AIF]]) (2016)}}<br>Savannah Coastal Outlaws {{small|([[Arena Pro Football|APF]]) (2017)}} | website = {{URL|http://www.savannahcivic.com|Official Website}} }}
The '''Savannah Civic Center''' is a multi-purpose facility located in [[Savannah, Georgia]], in [[Savannah Historic District (Savannah, Georgia)|Savannah Historic District]]. Built in 1974, the facility consists of an arena, theater, ballroom, and exhibit halls. Throughout the years, the center has hosted various concerts, conventions, exhibits, high school and college graduations, trade shows, theatre, ballet, and comedy shows. [[File:Lewis civic center maddox.jpg|thumb|[[List of mayors of Savannah, Georgia|Savannah Mayor]] [[Julius Curtis Lewis Jr.]] (left) and [[Georgia Governor]] [[Lester Maddox]] at the civic center's [[groundbreaking]] in 1970]] Each year, the civic center hosts nearly 900 events, including the Savannah Tire Hockey Classic, which awards the "Thrasher Cup" and numerous meetings are held in the building's meeting wings. It was the home to the [[Savannah College of Art and Design|Savannah Bees]] [[basketball]] team, the [[Continental Basketball Association]]'s [[Savannah Spirits]] [[basketball]] team, and the [[Savannah Rug Ratz]] soccer team of the [[Eastern Indoor Soccer League|EISL]]. In 1986 and 1987, the arena hosted the [[Big South Conference]]'s men's basketball tournament.
==New arena== {{Main article|Enmarket Arena}}
In 2017, the city council voted to build a new area, west of downtown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2019/05/09/council-votes-authorize-million-bonds-go-toward-over-budgeted-arena-project/ |title=Council votes to authorize $45 million in bonds to go toward over-budgeted arena project |last1=Evans |first1=Sean |last2= |first2= |date=May 9, 2019 |website=[[WTOC-TV|WTOC]] |publisher=[[Gray Television]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404230025/https://www.wtoc.com/2019/05/09/council-votes-authorize-million-bonds-go-toward-over-budgeted-arena-project/ |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> The aging MLK Jr Arena proved to be too small to attract bigger acts and the repairs needed to bring the facility up to code were too costly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/savannah-city-council-votes-to-demolish-civic-center/ |title=Savannah City Council votes to demolish Civic Center |last1=Staunton |first1=Martin |last2= |first2= |date=June 7, 2019 |website=[[WSAV-TV]] |publisher=[[Nexstar Media Group]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404220721/https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/savannah-city-council-votes-to-demolish-civic-center/ |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> Initial plans saw the removal of the arena solely. In June 2019, the council voted to demolish the entire civic center to create more green space in accordance with "The Oglethorpe Plan." Destruction of the center and renovation of the lot will take at least four years, based on the timeline recommended by the Urban Land Atlanta Institute.<ref name="savvemercer">{{cite web |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2019/06/18/savannah-man-making-efforts-save-mercer/ |title=Savannah man making efforts to 'Save the Mercer' |last1=Griner |first1=Ken |last2= |first2= |date=June 18, 2019 |website=WTOC |publisher=Gray Television |access-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210405004955/https://www.wtoc.com/2019/06/18/savannah-man-making-efforts-save-mercer/ |archive-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> A campaign to "Save the Mercer" theater inside the Civic Center has been initiated by a longtime Savannah resident, Paul Mazo. Mazo told a local TV station that city officials indicated a preservation campaign will "open the door to some [needed] community discussion."<ref name="savvemercer"/>
The new arena, originally known as Savannah Arena and subsequently renamed [[Enmarket Arena]] after securing a [[naming rights]] agreement in July 2021,<ref name=wjcl>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-enmarket-arena-savannah-s-new-9-500-seat-arena-officially-gets-a-name/37082259|title = 'A premier destination': Savannah's new 9,500-seat arena officially gets a name|date = 20 July 2021}}</ref> opened in the first half of 2022. The estimated cost of the project is $165 million. Perkins + Will have been named the firm in charge of designing the arena,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fox28media.com/news/local/city-of-savannah-city-council-approves-design-firm-for-new-arena |title=City of Savannah City Council approves design firm for new arena |last1=Rivas |first1=Briana |last2= |first2= |date=June 21, 2018 |website=[[WTGS]] |publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404230838/https://fox28media.com/news/local/city-of-savannah-city-council-approves-design-firm-for-new-arena |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> while AECOM Hunt is in charge of construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180913/savannah-moves-forward-with-112-million-arena-contract |title=Savannah moves forward with $11.2 million arena contract |last1=Curl |first1=Eric |last2= |first2= |date=September 13, 2018 |website=[[Savannah Morning News]] |publisher=[[Gannett|Gannett Company]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404231243/https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180913/savannah-moves-forward-with-112-million-arena-contract |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> City Council has stated there are no plans to demolish the Civic Center until three to five years after the new arena is built.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-center-project-moves-ahead-while-civic-center-one-step-closer-to-closing/28582129 |title=Savannah arena center project moves ahead while Civic Center one step closer to closing |last1=Johnson |first1=Sharon |last2= |first2= |date=August 1, 2019 |website=[[WJCL (TV)|WJCL]] |publisher=[[Hearst Television]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404225153/https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-center-project-moves-ahead-while-civic-center-one-step-closer-to-closing/28582129 |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref>
In June 2024, the Savannah city council voted 7–1 in favor of demolishing the MLK Jr Arena and renovating the Johnny Mercer Theatre, ballroom and community meeting spaces at an estimated net cost of $90 to $120 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Flynn |title=Savannah City Council votes to demolish MLK Jr. arena, renovate Johnny Mercer theater at Civic Center |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2024/06/27/savannah-city-council-make-decision-future-civic-center/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |work=[[WTOC-TV]] |date=June 27, 2024}}</ref>
==Facilities== {|class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" style="background: #ffdead;"|Venues |- |align="left"|Martin Luther King Jr. Arena |align="right"|7,832<br>{{small|(can be expanded up to 9,600 based on configuration)}} |- |align="left"|Johnny Mercer Theatre |align="right"|2,524 |- |align="left"|East and West Promenades |align="right"|400 |- |align="left"|Civic Center Grand Ballroom |align="right"|400 |- |}
==Noted performers== Several noted musicians have performed at the venue, including:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/photogallery/GA/20120408/PHOTOGALLERY/304089756/PH/1 |title=Famous Musicians in Savannah 1975-present |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 8, 2012 |website=Savannah Morning News |publisher=Gannett Company |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404235522/https://www.savannahnow.com/photogallery/GA/20120408/PHOTOGALLERY/304089756/PH/1 |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *[[Aerosmith]] *[[Alice Cooper]] *[[Alabama (band)|Alabama]] *[[The Allman Brothers Band]] *[[The B-52's]] *[[Taylor Swift]] *[[Barry Manilow]] *[[Beastie Boys]] *[[The Black Crowes]] *[[Bobby Brown]] *[[Bob Dylan]] *[[Boyz II Men]] *[[Brad Paisley]] *[[Blues Traveler]] *[[Carrie Underwood]] *[[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] *[[Default (band)|Default]] *[[Def Leppard]] *[[Dionne Warwick]] *[[Elton John]] *[[Elvis Presley]] *[[Filter (band)|Filter]] *[[The Jackson 5]] *[[Jimmy Buffett]] and the [[Coral Reefer Band]] *[[John Mellencamp|John Cougar Mellencamp]] *[[Journey (band)|Journey]] *[[Kid Rock]] *[[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] *[[Lynyrd Skynyrd]] *[[Mary J. Blige]] *[[Merle Haggard]] *[[Miranda Lambert]] *[[Nickelback]] *[[Pete Yorn]] *[[Puddle of Mudd]] *[[R.E.M.]] *[[Ray Charles]] *[[Reba McEntire]] *[[REO Speedwagon]] *[[Rick James]] *[[Rob Zombie]] *[[Run-DMC]] *[[Saliva (band)|Saliva]] *[[Styx (band)|Styx]] *[[Van Halen]] *[[White Zombie (band)|White Zombie]] *[[Willie Nelson]] *[[ZZ Top]] {{div col end}}
== See also ==
* [[Bulloch–Habersham House]], one of the buildings demolished to make way for the original civic center
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{AIF Arenas}} {{Savannah, Georgia}} {{Sports venues in Savannah, Georgia}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Landmarks in Savannah, Georgia|Civic Center]] [[Category:College basketball venues in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Concert halls in the United States]] [[Category:Indoor soccer venues in the United States]] [[Category:Theatres in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Music venues in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Music venues completed in 1974]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1974]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1974]] [[Category:Sports venues in Savannah, Georgia]] [[Category:Indoor arenas in Georgia (U.S. state)]]