Asheville Civic Center
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It has been proposed that Asheville Civic Center be renamed and moved to U.S. Cellular Center (Asheville, North Carolina) (Discuss). |
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U.S. Cellular Center (formerly the Asheville Civic Center) is a 7,654-seat multi-purpose arena, in Asheville, North Carolina.
It was home to the Asheville Altitude basketball team in the NBDL, before the franchise moved to Tulsa in 2005 and the United Hockey League's Asheville Smoke and also the SPHL's Asheville Aces.
The venue also hosted WCW SuperBrawl 1993, WCW Monday Nitro where the famed nWo wreaked havoc over the Ric Flair-led Four Horsemen and Fall Brawl 1995 as well as the 1999 and 2000 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament and 1984-1995 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament.[citation needed] The condition of the facility helped lead to the Southern Conference's departure.[1]
Commencement exercises for the University of North Carolina at Asheville were last held in the venue in 1999.
The arena played host to the politically-motivated Vote for Change Tour on October 6, 2004, featuring performances by Gob Roberts, Death Cab for Cutie and Pearl Jam.[2]
The city of Asheville and State of North Carolina have been pressured by many in the community to replace or renovate the aging Civic Center with more modern facilities. This debate has been going on for years, with no apparent end. Asheville city council passed a measure funding basic maintenance [1], and has earmarked $1.5 million for the implementation of a "living roof" to replace the aging conventional roof [2].
The ultimate path for the Civic Center was unclear. A complete renovation was still an option. The most popular proposals from the community were to tear down and rebuild in the same location, or to rebuild in an area south of city hall, at the Biltmore Square Mall site, or near the Western North Carolina Agriculture Center.
The Southern Conference will be bringing the 2012, 2013, and 2014 basketball tournaments to the Asheville Civic Center. In anticipation of the tournament, the city pledged a $3.2 million renovation of the facility.[3]
On November 22, 2011, Asheville City Council voted to name the facility for U.S. Cellular, provided no other companies made a higher bid by December 31.[4] The name change was effective January 1, 2012. U.S. Cellular will pay $810,000 or more over five years and up to $1.35 million over eight years. The money will help with $5.5 million in renovations.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Burgess, Joel (2012-01-12). "Asheville will pay for U.S. Cellular Center sign". Asheville Citizen-Times. http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120113/NEWS/301140003/City-will-pay-US-Cellular-sign-Civic-Center?odyssey=tab. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
- ^ http://www.backstreets.com/setlists2004.html
- ^ http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22064&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000&ATCLID=204954740
- ^ "Asheville City Council discusses Civic Center renaming". Asheville Citizen-Times. 2011-11-23. http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20111123/NEWS01/111122013/Civic-Center-renaming-OK-d-delayed-implementation?odyssey=tab. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
Coordinates: 35°35′51″N 82°33′19″W / 35.5975469°N 82.5553841°W
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