BREAKING: Mobile Civic Center to be demolished, rebuilt

Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” kicked off Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s press conference, where he announced that he was taking a wrecking ball to the Mobile Civic Center. The 60-year-old building, a central hub for Mardi Gras balls & activities, will be replaced with a new + improved version.

“You wanted it, now you’ve got it” – Councilman Cory Penn

The Civic Center has had its share of issues, especially in the past few years. It’s a 60-year-old building that was not growing as the city did. Most recently, the City Council approved nearly a quarter-million dollars to repair a brick siding that was potentially dangerous to people walking along the sidewalk underneath it.

“It became abundantly clear that building a new facility from the ground up was the most fiscally responsible decision.”

Bradley Byrne, Mobile Chamber President & CEO

And that fiscally responsible decision still has a $300 million price tag, paid for by partners, city funds + sponsorship opportunities.

More than a Civic Center

The Civic Center will no longer be just a venue. The master plan includes utilizing the extra 16 acres of Civic Center land to build:

• A Residential Community
• A theater
• A Parking garage (already in progress)
• A Hotel
• Mixed-use facilities

Live Nation & OVG Partnership

“We will build a world-class entertainment facility that will be unrivaled along the Gulf Coast.”

Mayor Sandy Stimpson, city of Mobile

One big goal is to bring more live events to Mobile. We’re talking Disney on Ice, sports tournaments and concerts. To help with that, the city is now partnering with Live Nation – which handles booking artists like Chris Stapleton, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Nicks, to name a few.

The city is also handing over management of the Civic Center to a new company – Oak View Group. They will manage the Civic Center, Convention Center & the Saenger Theater in Mobile.

The Civic Center will be increasing in capacity, now able to hold 10,000 spectators for whatever event is booked.

What about Mardi Gras?

The Civic Center is where many Mardi Gras krewes hold their annual balls. And, while they may not be able to do that until the new Civic Center is completed, Mayor Stimpson and the construction groups working on the new Civic Center kept Mardi Gras at the front of their minds. In fact, it was promised this afternoon that the construction would impact no more than two Mardi Gras seasons.

What’s next?

July is when we will know if everything is going according to plan (and budget) and preparations will be made to demolish the Civic Center. If approved, construction could start as soon as August.

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