James Brown Arena

Last updated
James Brown Arena
James Brown Arena.PNG
James Brown Arena
Former namesAugusta-Richmond County Civic Center (1980–2006)
Location601 7th Street
Augusta, GA 30901
OwnerAugusta–Richmond County Coliseum Authority
Operator Global Spectrum
Capacity 9,167
6,557 (hockey)
7,255 (basketball)
Construction
Broke ground1968
Opened1974 (Exhibition hall)
January 24, 1980 (Arena) [1]
ClosedMay 31, 2024 [2]
Construction cost$11 million [3]
($68 million in 2023 dollars [4] )
Architect Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Holroyd, Johnson, Hughes, Beattie & Davis [5]
Structural engineer LeMessurier Associates [5]
Services engineerCosentini Associates LLP [5]
Tenants
Augusta Lynx (ECHL) (1998–2008)
Augusta Stallions (af2) (2000–2002)
Augusta Spartans (AIFL/WIFL) (2006–2007)
Augusta RiverHawks (SPHL) (2010–2013)
James Brown Arena in 2017 James Brown Arena, Augusta May 2017.jpg
James Brown Arena in 2017

James Brown Arena (formerly known as Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center) is a multi-purpose complex located in Augusta, Georgia. It is managed by Spectra Experiences.

Contents

It features an 8,000-seat arena, renamed the James Brown Arena, in honor of musician James Brown on August 22, 2006. The complex also features a 2,800-seat theater, the William B. Bell Auditorium, and a 14,500-square-foot (1,350 m2) exhibit hall that opens into a 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) arena floor.

The James Brown Arena is the former home of the ECHL's Augusta Lynx from 1998 to 2008, the AF2's Augusta Stallions from 2000 to 2002, Augusta Spartans from 2006 to 2007, and the Southern Professional Hockey League's Augusta RiverHawks from 2010 to 2013.

The Arena hosted UFC 11.

The arena has also hosted many concerts and pro wrestling events, including ECW's December to Dismember in 2006. Many bands have played the arena including Van Halen, Rush, Heart, Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, KISS, Bon Jovi, Molly Hatchet, John Cougar, Kansas, Charlie Daniels Band, Alabama, Blackfoot, Mother's Finest, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Marshall Tucker Band, and Loverboy.

The center-hung Fair Play scoreboard dates to the arena's opening in 1980, and in recent years has been joined by additional scoreboards and a Trans-Lux LED video display which can be found at each end of the arena.

The Future of the Arena

Local high school students attend CSRA College Night at the James Brown Arena. College Night Aiken-Augusta (25982464248).jpg
Local high school students attend CSRA College Night at the James Brown Arena.

In August 2017, the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted 4–2 to relocate the James Brown Arena to the former Regency Mall location off on Gordon Highway in South Augusta. The proposed site called for a new development at the Regency Mall site called Regency Town Center & Park. The development would feature a new James Brown Arena, new retail shops and restaurants, and new apartments as well. Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis was a key proponent of the move as he pushed for more redevelopment efforts in the Gordon Highway area in an area he called SOGO (South of Gordon Highway). [6] Soon following the Coliseum Authority's vote, local residents launched the "Save The J" campaign which advocated for keeping the James Brown Arena at its current location in Downtown Augusta.

Augusta commissioners voted down the proposed site in a December 2017 before ultimately deciding to put the question of the new JBA location on the Republican and Democratic primary ballots as a non-binding referendum in May 2018. Augustans voted 57% to 43% to keep the JBA at its current location in Downtown Augusta. [7]

Plans soon began to be developed for a new James Brown Arena to be constructed on the current site before plans were revealed in early 2021 for a new arena. The new arena plans call for a 10,000 seat capacity featuring meeting rooms, twelve suites, and a new connector between the Bell Auditorium and the James Brown Arena all with an estimated cost of $228 million for construction. [8]

The new James Brown Arena was on the November 2021 ballot for a bond referendum vote. Had the bond referendum passed, the estimated time of completion would have been Fall 2024. [9] [10] Despite low voter turnout, the bond referendum was rejected, forcing the Coliseum Authority to look for alternate sources of funding. [11]

In the November 2023 elections, Richmond County residents voted in favor of levying a half-cent special-purpose local-option sales tax to cover the cost of the new arena. [12] The old James Brown Arena closed on May 31, 2024, coinciding with the reopening of the Bell Auditorium following a $20 million renovation; construction of the new arena is scheduled to start in July 2024, starting with the demolition of the existing arena. [2]

Incidents

In late February 2013, the arena's ice system malfunctioned, causing all of the arena's ice to melt. As a result, following the playing of the remaining 2012-13 regular season home games at the RiverHawks practice facility, the Augusta RiverHawks suspended operations for the 2013–14 season. After team owner Bob Kerzner, the city of Augusta, and Global Spectrum failed to reach an agreement on how to replace the $1.2 million ice system as well as compensation for the remaining home games lost to the system's failure, Kerzner and the SPHL announced that the RiverHawks would move to Macon and resume play as the Macon Mayhem for the 2015-16 SPHL season. [13] [14]

On November 18, 2022, the arena was evacuated before a concert was scheduled to begin after a gas leak was discovered, which resulted in the death of a maintenance worker who was servicing the arena's HVAC system. [15] In April 2023, an autopsy report by the Richmond County Coroner confirmed that the arena employee had died of asphyxiation from leaked refrigerant; the Coroner also noted that the decedent had a pre-existing health condition which also contributed to their death. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon, Georgia</span> Consolidated city-county in Georgia, United States

Macon, officially Macon–Bibb County, is a consolidated city-county in Georgia, United States. Situated near the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is 85 miles (137 km) southeast of Atlanta and near the state's geographic center—hence its nickname "The Heart of Georgia".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta, Georgia</span> Consolidated city-county in the United States

Augusta is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Georgia's third most populous city, Augusta is located in the Fall Line section of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McCamish Pavilion</span> Basketball arena in Atlanta, Georgia

Hank McCamish Pavilion, nicknamed The Thrillerdome and originally known as Alexander Memorial Coliseum, is an indoor arena located on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball and Yellow Jackets women's basketball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SPHL</span> Ice hockey league of the eastern United States

The SPHL is a professional ice hockey independent minor league based in Huntersville, North Carolina, with teams located primarily in the southeastern United States as well as Illinois and Indiana in the midwestern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moncton Coliseum</span> Event venue in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

The Moncton Coliseum is an event venue and former ice hockey arena in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Atlantic Canada's largest trade show facility, the Coliseum has over 125,000 square feet (11,600 m2) of exhibition space and a drawing power of 1.4 million people within a 2½ hour drive.

The Florida Seals were a minor league ice hockey franchise, a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Originally based in Orlando, Florida, as the Orlando Seals, they later moved to Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in Osceola County. The Seals were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by David Waronker starting in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Coast Coliseum</span>

Mississippi Coast Coliseum is an 11,500-seat reserved seating, 15,000 festival seating, multi-purpose arena in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was built in 1977. It hosted the WCW Beach Blast in 1993 and the Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament in 1992 and 1993. The Metro Conference men's basketball tournaments were contested there in 1990 and 1994. In addition, the rematch between legendary boxing former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and his fellow former world heavyweight champion Mike Weaver was held at the Coast Coliseum on November 17, 2000; Holmes winning by sixth-round technical knockout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Coliseum</span>

The Macon Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena in Macon, Georgia, United States. It is home to the Macon Mayhem, a minor-league hockey team in the SPHL. The Centerplex was home to the Macon Whoopee (ECHL), Macon Whoopee (CHL) and Macon Trax ice hockey teams and the Macon Knights arena football team. It seats 7,182 for hockey and arena football and up to 9,252 for concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrah's Cherokee Center</span> Entertainment center in North Carolina, United States

The Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, previously known as the U.S. Cellular Center and originally as the Asheville Civic Center Complex, is a multipurpose entertainment center, located in Asheville, North Carolina. Opened in 1974, the complex is home to an arena, auditorium, banquet hall and meeting rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Trax</span> Ice hockey team in Macon, Georgia

The Macon Trax were a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Macon, Georgia. They played in the low minor league Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002–03), World Hockey Association 2 (2003–04), and Southern Professional Hockey League (2004–05), playing their home games at the Macon Coliseum. They went to the championship finals in both the WHA2 and the SPHL, losing in each series to the league champion. This history prompted head coach Tommy Stewart to tell the Macon Telegraph that the team was "always a bridesmaid, never a bride."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regency Mall (Augusta, Georgia)</span> Defunct shopping mall in Augusta, Georgia, US

Regency Mall was a major regional mall in South Augusta, Georgia, United States. Located at 1700 Gordon Highway, Regency Mall was open from 1978 to 2002. It was anchored by J.B. White, Belk, Montgomery Ward and Cullum's, and also featured a three-screen movie General Cinema theatre. Developed by Edward J. DeBartolo and Associates, Regency Mall was Augusta's first shopping mall, opening one week before Augusta Mall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knight Center Complex</span> Venue in Miami, Florida, United States

The James L. Knight Center is a contemporary entertainment and convention complex located in Downtown Miami, Florida. Located within the Miami Central Business District, the venue opened in 1982. The complex is named after famed newspaper publisher, James L. Knight. Since its opening, the complex has hosted many business, entertainment and political events. Annually, it hosts Miami Dade College graduation ceremonies. It also hosted Miss Universe in 1984 and 1985, Miss USA in 1986 and Miss Teen USA in 1985 and the OTI Festival in 1989.

Sports in Georgia include professional teams, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Augusta, Georgia</span>

Augusta, Georgia was founded in 1736 as part of the British colony of Georgia, under the supervision of colony founder James Oglethorpe. It was the colony's second established town, after Savannah. Today, Augusta is the second-largest city in Georgia, and the largest city of the Central Savannah River Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arts and culture in Augusta, Georgia</span>

The culture of Augusta, Georgia is influenced by the many different perspectives and histories of its community members, as well as its own history. The large military population of the area as well as the city's rural surroundings have affected the types of festivals and culture produced within the city. Another major influence on the culture of the city is the annual Masters golf tournament held in April of each year. The most prolific cultural medium produced by the city is its musicians, as evidenced by James Brown, Jessye Norman, and Wycliffe Gordon. Though notably, the writer Frank Yerby and visual artist Jasper Johns were Augusta natives as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta RiverHawks</span> Ice hockey team in Augusta, Georgia

The Augusta RiverHawks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Augusta, Georgia. They played in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) from 2010 to 2013. They played their home games at the James Brown Arena.

The 2013–14 Southern Professional Hockey League season is the 10th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeated the Columbus Cottonmouths in the President's Cup final 2 games to none to repeat as winners of the President's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special routes of U.S. Route 25</span>

Several special routes of U.S. Route 25 (US 25) exist. In order from south to north, they are as follows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Mayhem</span> Ice hockey team in Macon, Georgia

The Macon Mayhem is an SPHL team based in Macon, Georgia that plays in the Macon Coliseum. The team was formerly the Augusta RiverHawks, which suspended operations for the 2013–14 season due to an ice-system failure at James Brown Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice hockey in Georgia</span>

Georgia has a very mixed history with ice hockey. The state has seen many expansion teams at multiple levels but few have been able to establish a foothold in the public consciousness.

References

  1. ↑ "Center Opening". Waycross Journal. January 12, 1980.
  2. 1 2 Dickherber, Audrey (May 28, 2024). "Bell Auditorium reopens, James Brown Arena closes this week". WRDW. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Civic Center Hope of Downtown, Says Charlotte Coliseum Official". The Rock Hill Herald. July 2, 1973.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 3 "Pei Cobb Freed & Partners". Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  6. ↑ Turner, Stephanie. "Regency Mall site eyed for proposed James Brown Arena relocation". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  7. ↑ McCord, Susan. "Downtown arena 'yes' votes prevail". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  8. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (2020-09-19). "New James Brown Arena design unveiled". Arena Digest. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  9. ↑ Harris, Kennedi. "Construction plans unveiled for new James Brown Arena". www.wrdw.com. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  10. ↑ "Home". The New James Brown Arena. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  11. ↑ "Richmond County voters reject funding new James Brown Arena". Augusta Chronicle. November 2, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ Eskola, George (November 8, 2023). "New arena approval could possibly bring hockey… and new name". WJBF-TV. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ Seibel, Ron. "Macon Mayhem to hit ice in 2015". Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "SPHL Approves RiverHawks' Move To Macon, GA For 2015-2016 Season". The SPHL. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Rioux, William (November 18, 2022). "Many details still unknown about JBA gas leak that killed 1". WRDW-TV. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  16. ↑ Rioux, William (April 26, 2023). "Leaked gas, health condition blamed in arena worker's death". WRDW-TV. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
Events and tenants
Preceded by Ultimate Fighting Championship venue
UFC 11
UFC 13 		Succeeded by

33°28′12″N81°57′59″W / 33.47000°N 81.96639°W / 33.47000; -81.96639

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.