Savannah Civic Center

Savannah Civic Center
Address301 West Oglethorpe Avenue
Savannah, Georgia, 31401-3643
LocationSavannah Historic District
OwnerCity of Savannah
OperatorOVG Facilities
Opened1974
Construction cost
$8 million
($49.4 million in 2023 dollars[1])
Banquet/ballroom400 (Civic Center Grand Ballroom)
400 (East & West Promenades)
Theatre seating
7,832 (MLK Jr Arena)
2,524 (Mercer Theatre)
Enclosed space
 • Exhibit hall floor4,840 sq ft (450 m2)
 • Breakout/meeting4,752 sq ft (441.5 m2)
 • Ballroom35,352 sq ft (3,284.3 m2)
Tenants
Savannah Spirits (CBA) (1986-88)
Savannah Rug Ratz (EISL) (1997-98)
Savannah Steam (AIF) (2016)
Savannah Coastal Outlaws (APF) (2017)
Website
Official Website

The Savannah Civic Center is a multi-purpose facility located in Savannah, Georgia, in 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.

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 Bees basketball team, the Continental Basketball Association's Savannah Spirits basketball team, and the Savannah Rug Ratz soccer team of the 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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."[4]

The new arena, originally known as Savannah Arena and subsequently renamed Enmarket Arena after securing a naming rights agreement in July 2021,[5] 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,[6] while AECOM Hunt is in charge of construction.[7] City Council has stated there are no plans to demolish the Civic Center until three to five years after the new arena is built.[8]

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.[9]

Facilities

Venues
Martin Luther King Jr. Arena 7,832
(can be expanded up to 9,600 based on configuration)
Johnny Mercer Theatre 2,524
East and West Promenades 400
Civic Center Grand Ballroom 400

Noted performers

Several noted musicians have performed at the venue, including:[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Evans, Sean (May 9, 2019). "Council votes to authorize $45 million in bonds to go toward over-budgeted arena project". WTOC. Gray Television. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Staunton, Martin (June 7, 2019). "Savannah City Council votes to demolish Civic Center". WSAV-TV. Nexstar Media Group. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Griner, Ken (June 18, 2019). "Savannah man making efforts to 'Save the Mercer'". WTOC. Gray Television. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "'A premier destination': Savannah's new 9,500-seat arena officially gets a name". July 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Rivas, Briana (June 21, 2018). "City of Savannah City Council approves design firm for new arena". WTGS. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Curl, Eric (September 13, 2018). "Savannah moves forward with $11.2 million arena contract". Savannah Morning News. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Johnson, Sharon (August 1, 2019). "Savannah arena center project moves ahead while Civic Center one step closer to closing". WJCL. Hearst Television. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Snyder, Flynn (June 27, 2024). "Savannah City Council votes to demolish MLK Jr. arena, renovate Johnny Mercer theater at Civic Center". WTOC-TV. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Famous Musicians in Savannah 1975-present". Savannah Morning News. Gannett Company. April 8, 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.