{{Short description|Arena in Alabama, United States}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Mobile Civic Center | nickname = | image = MobileDomeJuly07.jpg | image_size = 280px | fullname = | location = 401 Civic Center Drive<br />[[Mobile, Alabama]], 36602 | coordinates = {{coord|30.68605|-88.04478|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = 1962 | built = | opened = July 9, 1964<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/12/archives/mobile-finds-way-to-racial-accord-alabama-city-keeps-open-a.html|date=July 12, 1964|title=MOBILE FINDS WAY TO RACIAL ACCORD; Alabama City Keeps Open a Negro-White Dialogue|author= Homer Bigarts|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = [[Mobile, Alabama|City of Mobile]] | operator = ASM Global | surface = Multi-Surface | construction_cost = $10 million<ref name="10mil">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gXshAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q4oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3403,2240388&dq=mobile+municipal+auditorium+million&hl=en|date=July 16, 1966|title=Witnesses Plan Regional Meet|author= A.F. Lokey|work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref><br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|10000000|1964}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | architect = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | project_manager = | main_contractors = | former_names = Mobile Municipal Auditorium (1964–1980s) | tenants = [[Mobile Mysticks]] ([[East Coast Hockey League|ECHL]]) (1995–2002)<br />[[Mobile Seagulls]] ([[Indoor Professional Football League|IPFL]]) (2000)<br />[[Mobile Revelers]] ([[National Basketball Development League|NBDL]]) (2001–2003)<br />[[Mobile Wizards]] ([[AF2]]) (2002) | capacity = Theater: 1,940<br />Expo Hall: 3,000<br />Arena: 10,112 | dimensions = | scoreboard = }}
'''Mobile Civic Center''' (formerly '''Mobile Municipal Auditorium''') was a multi-purpose facility located in [[Mobile, Alabama]]. Owned by the [[Mobile, Alabama|City of Mobile]] and operated by ASM Global, the facility consisted of three venues: a theater, an expo hall, and an arena. It was suitable for large indoor events including sporting events and trade shows. The theater seated for 1,938, while the expo hall seated 3,000. The largest venue of the Mobile Civic Center was the arena, which could seat 10,112.
The Civic Center started redevelopment in March 2018.<ref name="2018civic"/> Demolition of the arena, expo hall and theater began in September 2024 and will be replaced with a $300 million arena targeted to open in 2027.<ref name="replacement">{{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=John |title=New $300 million Civic Center arena for Mobile to host hockey, Mardi Gras balls, major concerts |url=https://www.al.com/news/2024/03/new-300-million-civic-center-arena-for-mobile-to-host-hockey-mardi-gras-balls-major-concerts.html |website=al.com |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>
==Background== The structure opened as the Mobile Municipal Auditorium on July 9, 1964.<ref name="NYT"/> It celebrated its opening with a "Holiday on Ice" ice skating show.<ref name="lagniappe">{{cite news|url=http://lagniappemobile.com/cover-story-civic-centers-future-unclear-decades-heyday/|date=December 10, 2014|title=Civic Center's future unclear decades after heyday|author=Gabriel Tynes|work=[[Lagniappe (newspaper)|Lagniappe]]|publisher=Something Extra Publishing, Inc.|access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> It was built with the city's longtime [[Mardi Gras]] celebrations in mind. The concourse area was often used for balls during Mardi Gras.<ref name="longterm"/> The building's "entertainment profile increased significantly" during the 1970s, hosting dozens of popular acts, including [[Elvis Presley]], [[Chicago]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The Jackson 5|The Jacksons]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[KISS (band)|KISS]], and [[Fleetwood Mac]].<ref name="lagniappe"/> It did not earn revenue however, and it stopped regularly booking big-name acts in the mid-1980s following a fraud scandal.<ref name="lagniappe"/>
In 1985 irregularities in the Civic Center's finances were spearheaded by finance director and former Mobile mayor Gary Greenough, who was convicted for multimillion-dollar fraud.<ref name="fraud">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=19850104&id=tbUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iNcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1450,463079|date=January 4, 1985|title=Mobile finance commissioner gets prison term, fined, ousted|work=[[Gadsden Times]]|access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> The preceding year, the Civic Center posted losses of $435,000.<ref name="longterm">{{cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/live/2013/12/mobile_civic_center_mainbar.html|date=December 30, 2013|title=What to do about the 'long-term problem' of the Mobile Civic Center?|author=John Sharp|work=[[Press-Register]]|publisher=AL.com|access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> The fraud charges, plus competition from other Gulf Coast auditoriums (in [[Mississippi Coast Coliseum|Biloxi]] and [[Pensacola Bay Center|Pensacola]]) and the city's open Convention Center caused the complex to go into a decline.<ref name="lagniappe"/> For years following Greenough's conviction it gave the Mobile Civic Center a bad rap throughout the music industry causing all big-name performers to bypass Mobile opting for either Biloxi or Pensacola.
In recent years, the complex has been called "aging and deteriorating."<ref name="2016civic"/> By the early 2010s, the center ran a deficit $600,000–$800,000 per year.<ref name="longterm"/> For many years, the auditorium has been used for the Mobile Opera, Mobile Ballet, Distinguished Young Women,<ref name="2016civic"/> Mobile International Festival, and high school graduation ceremonies.<ref name="lagniappe"/> Top touring acts regularly skip the complex and it has been without a regular tenant since the departure of the Mobile Mysticks hockey team in 2002.<ref name="longterm"/>
On January 29, 2015, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson issued a statement announcing that the Civic Center will close in April 2016 for redevelopment. City officials were then in search of a public-private partnership to help fund the efforts.<ref name="2016civic">{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/01/mayor_releases_speculative_sch.html|date=January 29, 2015|title=Mayor releases speculative schedule leading to April 2016 closure of Mobile Civic Center|author= Kelli Dugan|work=[[Press-Register]]|publisher=AL.com|access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> 11 months later, Stimpson delayed the closing by two years, needing more time to find a private partner interested in redevelopment.<ref name="2018civic">{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/11/how_elton_john_helped_delay_th.html|date=November 24, 2015|title=How Elton John helped delay the Mobile Civic Center's demise|author= John Sharp|work=[[Press-Register]]|publisher=AL.com|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref>
Demolition of the facility began in September 2024,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Poole |first=Summer |date=2025-01-22 |title=Mobile Civic Center dome collapses from the weight of snow |url=https://www.wdhn.com/news/mobile-civic-center-dome-collapses-from-the-weight-of-snow/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=[[WDHN]]}}</ref> with its replacement, a 10,275-seat arena expected to be completed by 2027. The new venue will cost $300 million and feature a rectangular design, three levels with premium seating and suites, and a large balcony to overlook Mardi Gras parades. Plans for the new facility do not include a theater.<ref name="replacement"/>
During demolition in January 2025, the roof of the Civic Center collapsed under the weight of excessive snow from a historic snowstorm just after 11{{Nbsp}}am on January 22.<ref name=":0" />
== The Theater == The 1,940-seat theater was used for [[concerts]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] shows, and other theatrical events. The Theater was connected to the Arena by a glass promenade. The theater was known for its acoustics, unobstructed views, and backstage facilities. It contained a 90 by 60 foot (27 by 18 m) stage.
== Expo Hall == With 28,000 square feet (2600 m<sup>2</sup>) of space, the '''Expo Hall''' was used for conventions, trade shows, sporting events, banquets, and even concerts as well as other events. It seated 2,200 for seating events and up to 3,000 for concerts. It had a 40 by 32 foot (12 by 28 m) portable stage and a dance floor that accommodated 1,500.
== The Arena == The tallest building in the complex at seven stories tall, the '''Civic Center Arena''' (previously known as the '''Municipal Auditorium''') featured a domed roof. It featured 80,000 square feet (7400 m) of space for sporting events and trade shows. There were 6,120 permanent seats at the arena, which for sporting events and concerts seated up to 10,112. The arena's main floor was encircled by 15 meeting rooms. There were eight concession stands, plus three locker rooms. In addition to trade shows, concerts, and sporting events, ice shows, circuses, wrestling, conventions and banquets could have been held at the arena. The arena hosted the [[Mobile Mysticks]] of the [[East Coast Hockey League]], [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]] [[Beach Blast (1992)]], and [[Uncensored (1998)]], as well as hosting the [[Mobile Seagulls]] of the [[National Indoor Football League]] and [[Mobile Wizards]] of the [[af2]]. It also was the site of the 1991 [[Sun Belt Conference]] men's basketball tournament. The [[Mobile Revelers]] played at the venue from 2001 to 2003 until the team folded citing low attendance.
While the Mobile Civic Center Arena was still in use, it served as the Mobile stop of [[World Wrestling Entertainment]], [[Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus]], [[Disney on Ice]] and [[Champions on Ice]].
Seating capacities were: Hockey, 8,030; Basketball, 8,000; End-stage concerts, 8,119-9,920; Center-stage concerts, boxing and wrestling, 10,000.
== Notable concerts ==
*[[The Monkees]] performed here on August 12, 1967, as part of their 1967 US tour. *[[Bob Dylan]] performed at the Municipal Auditorium on April 29, 1976, During His [[Rolling Thunder Revue]] Tour *[[Elvis Presley]] performed at Municipal Auditorium on seven occasions (14 September 1970, 20 June 1973, 2 June 1975 (two shows), 29 August 1976 (two shows) and 2 June 1977.) *[[The Jacksons]] performed at Municipal Auditorium on July 18, 1981, during their [[Triumph Tour]].<ref>[[Triumph Tour]]</ref> *[[Tina Turner]] performed here on November 21, 1987, during her [[Break Every Rule Tour]]. *[[Led Zeppelin]] performed at Municipal Auditorium on May 13, 1973.<ref>[[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1973]]</ref> *[[Guns N' Roses]] performed at Municipal Auditorium on November 3, 1987, as part of the [[Appetite for Destruction Tour]]. *[[The Eagles]] performed at Civic Center during the "Hell Freezes Over" tour May 12, 1995 *[[Elton John]] performed at the Civic Center during his [[Wonderful Crazy Night Tour]] on March 15, 2016. *[[Van Halen]] performed at the Civic Center in 1980 and 1982. *[[The Wiggles]] performed at the Civic Center during their "Wiggledancing! Live On Stage" tour on July 30, 2006. *[[Bon Jovi]] performed on September 27, 1989, the first sellout show in years following a 1985 fraud scandal that caused big-name bands to boycott Mobile. *The [[Club MTV]] Live Tour '89, featuring [[Information Society (band)|Information Society]], [[Milli Vanilli]], [[Was (Not Was)]], [[Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam]], [[Tone Loc]], [[Paula Abdul]] and other artists, made a stop at the Civic Center on June 27, 1989.<ref name="x195">{{cite web | title=Jun 27, 1989: Milli Vanilli at Mobile Civic Center Mobile, Alabama, United States | website=Concert Archives | date=1989-06-27 | url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/milli-vanilli--10652860 | access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.asmglobalmobile.com}}
{{S-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|et}}}} {{succession box | title = [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] venue | years = [[UFC 17]] | before= [[Pontchartrain Center]] | after = [[Ginásio da Portuguesa]] }} {{end}} {{Mobile, Alabama}} {{South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball navbox}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:1964 establishments in Alabama]] [[Category:College basketball venues in Alabama]] [[Category:South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball]] [[Category:South Alabama Jaguars sports venues]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Mobile, Alabama]] [[Category:Concert halls in the United States]] [[Category:Ice hockey venues in Alabama]] [[Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship venues]] [[Category:Mobile Revelers]] [[Category:Sports venues in Mobile, Alabama]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1964]]