Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
New ‘authentically Mobile’ arena hits halfway mark
Reading time: 3 minutes
In early 2025, the city broke ground on the Mobile Arena, where the Mobile Civic Center previously stood. With a tight construction plan, officials are happy to share that the city’s most expensive and ambitious project is ahead of schedule.
Last week at their “Topping Out” ceremony, the raising of the final steel beam was celebrated, and this officially signaled the halfway point of this project.
Public officials and visitors signed the beam before it was hoisted onto the structure and marked a major step in the arena’s progress. By the end of June, the structure will be completely enclosed, and work on the inside of the structure can come into focus.
Keep reading for the inside scoop on arena events and more.
Bigger space for bigger events
This space is designed with Mobile in mind and has a seating capacity of 10,000. Of course, the main arena is the star of the show, but this 300,000-square-foot structure will include multiple ballrooms capable of hosting events of all kinds like
- Mardi Gras balls
- Concerts
- Touring shows
- Sporting events
Notably, Mobile’s first hockey franchise in over 20 years will be hosted by the all-new arena.
“The new franchise will be the first professional hockey team in Mobile since the Mysticks, who played in the Civic Center from 1995 to 2002.”
Dale Liesch, City Spokesman
Remembering the Mobile Civic Center
The city is paying homage to the since-demolished Mobile Civic Center complex.
Two mosaic murals entitled“Mardi Gras” and “Circus,” by artist Conrad Albrizio, were part of the original campus in the mid-1960s. They encapsulate what the civic center was originally built for: celebrating Mobile’s unique carnival traditions and signifying the importance of community gathering.
Naturally, these same principles apply to the arena.
“The city is undertaking extensive preservation work on those beautiful pieces to carefully remove, store, and incorporate the historic mosaics into the Mobile Arena so they remain part of the site’s story. The addition of the murals will help make the arena authentically Mobile.”
Dale Liesch, City Spokesman
Read more of our coverage about the Mobile Arena.
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