Sheboygan Armory

Entrance

2006

Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory (commonly known as The Armory) is 52,000 sq. ft indoor arena located on the lakefront in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was built in Streamline Moderne style in 1942 as a WPA project. The building seats 3,974, with permanent balcony seating and bleacher seating on the floor level. The Sheboygan Armory has a higher seating capacity then the Eagles ballroom, Pabst Theatre, Turner Hall and Riverside Theater in Milwaukee.

Plans

City Administrator Jim Amodeo states that the building will only cost $180,000 to demolish. An identical Armory in Rock Island Illinois cost $738,000 to demo. The city is accepting redevelopment proposals from interested parties until October 31, 2014. An alternative suggested by the non-profit Armory Foundation is to Preserve, Improve, and provide Enjoyment at the building at no cost to the taxpayers. Heating costs where $19,960 dollars in 2013.

The building hosted the National Basketball Association's Sheboygan Redskins from 1942 until 1951. It was the site of the cross-town basketball rivalry between Central/South High and North High from the building's opening until 2006, when both schools opened large on-campus fieldhouses that seat approximately 3,000.

Many of the events that helped shape generations of Sheboyganites were held at this venue. Local events, such as Lakeland College basketball games, Boy Scout Scout-o-Ramas, Rockets for Schools, the Hmong Festival, the Festival of Trees, the Mayor's International Festival, job fairs, and military gatherings, took place here, along with nationally-known entertainment, such as All Star Wrestling, Golden Gloves boxing, the Harlem Globetrotters, Hank Williams Jr., Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show , Johnny Carson, and circuses. The building was also used for Great Lakes Aerospace Science & Education Center (GLASEC) promotional events from 2007 -2014.It was closed at the request of GLASEC supporters, while they raise funds for Spaceport Sheboygan.

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3/4/1963 – The Armory and Lakeland College are awarded a home game in the upcoming state NAIA basketball play-offs. As Lakeland begins a twelve year run as conference champions and basketball powerhouse, these become almost yearly events. (Lakeland loses to Carroll College in front of 2,400 fans.)

11/4/1973 – Professional Wrestling

11/12/1973 -The Annual city budget meeting is held

11/21–23/1973 – Wishbone Ash and REO Speedwagon play to a crowd estimated to be 5,000 (past capacity). Due to the behavior of the audience and damages to the premises, other than graduation parties, this is the last rock concert/ dance to be held at the Armory for a lengthy period.

1/3/1974 – Professional Wrestling

2/10/1974 -The Accents Drill Team holds a regional competition

21221197 4 – Professional Wrestling

3/30/1974 – The Green Bay Packers vs. The Sheboygan Redskins reunion team in an exhibition basketball game.

4/27/1974 – Country Music Show (sponsored by Policeman’s Benevolent Association)

5/11/1974 – Scout-0-Rama (First held since 1968)

5/18/1974 – U.S. Army Field Band

6/6/197 4 – Combined North/South high school graduation is held at the Armory. 1,200 graduates and guests attend “casino” themed event

6/28/1974 – Dick Contino/ Horace Heidt talent competition

6/28/1974 – Professional Wrestling

9/30/1974 -UAW – Kohler Company labor contract ratification vote takes place. Contract is approved.

10/12/197 4 – The Lakeland College Men’s Basketball team plays the Danish National Team in exhibition game.

11 /10/1974 – Lakeland College Men’s Basketball team plays The Czech National team in exhibition game

11/29/1974 – Professional Wrestling returns to the Armory before 3,431 fans.

12/16/197 4 – Sheboygan city budget meeting is held

1/25/1975 – The Green Bay Packers vs. the Sheboygan Jaycees in exhibition basketball game.

2/7/1975 – Professional Wrestling

2/23/1975 – Accents Drill Team competition

3/1/1975 -The March of Dimes holds a 24 hour basketball marathon fundraiser.

317/1975 – Professional Wrestling

3/15/1975 – Buccaneer Drill Team competition

4/21/1975 -The 1975 regional Scout-o-Rama. 6,000 Scouts attend.

4/27/1975 – The Don Gibson Show with Sherry Bryce perform.

4/28/1975 – The Sheboygan County Deputies sponsor the Hippodrome Circus, 3,800 attend.

5/31/1975 – Meat Cutters and Butchers Union meeting is held. A venue of the size of the Armory is needed due to the potential closing of The Armour Leather plant.

6/29/1975 – Professional Wrestling

8/6/1975 – The Duke Ellington Orchestra performs in concert in front of a crowd of less than 500.

9/13/1975 – Evangelist Bob Harrington preaches to an audience of over 3,000 people.

10/11/1975 – Campus Life sponsors a Contemporary Christian concert featuring three bands.

10/21/1975 -The Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Development advises either to end deficit operation at the Armory, or raise the structure.

11/24/1975 – The Sheboygan City Budget meeting is held.

11130/1975 – The Harlem Globetrotters play/perform.

1/11/1976 – Professional Wrestling. A crowd of 2,278 attends.

3/1/1976 – The Accents Drill Team holds a competition

3/13 -14/1976 – Polka Festival

4/22-24/1976 – “Heritage Days,” a multi-event festival is planned to celebrate the cities history during the nation’s bicentennial year.

4/29/1976 – The Buccaneer Drill Team competition

5/3/1976 – Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass.

10/7/1976 – The U.S. Armed Forces combine to perform the bicentennial show “Bicentennial” before 4,000.

11/6/1976 – Campus Life sponsor a Christian youth event referred to as “Super Saturday.”

11/7/1976 – Professional Wrestling

11/11/1976 – Roy Orbison performs in concert.

11/22/1976 – The Sheboygan City Budget meeting is held.

12/111976 – Donkey Basketball

12/12/1976 -The Buccaneer drill team competition.

2/9/1977 – Golden Gloves Boxing

This list is a work in progress. We want it to stretch into 2200

ARMORYSHEBOYGAN

SHEBOYGAN PRESS EDITORIAL

JANUARY 14, 2014 LEAVE A COMMENT EDIT

“It might be tempting for the City of Sheboygan to throw in the towel and rid itself of the 72-year old Armory building. The Armory is, after all, in need of expensive repairs and there are those who argue its useful life is at an end. That kind of thinking is a mistake. The city should take a step back and thoroughly examine all of its options, particularly now that a citizen group has came forward in hopes of revitalizing the facility. The Armory Foundation wants to partner with the city to make the Armory a viable operation after Spaceport Sheboygan vacates the facility in February and moves to the South Pier District.

The options appear relatively clear:

1. Sell the Armory to a third party;

2. Raze the structure; or

3. Work with the Foundation to revitalize it.

History dictates that the city make every effort to exercise the third option before resorting to either of the other two. Generations of Sheboygan area residents have attended community events, festivals, or private and public gatherings at the Armory. It was home to the NBA’s oldest team, the former Sheboygan Red Skins, and was the site of many memorable North-South boys and girls basketball games over the years. Almost everyone in the greater Sheboygan County area hasan Armory story or cherished memory.They don’t make buildings like the Armory any more, and razing the structure would leave a gaping hole in the city’s historic footprint. We agree with Kirk Obear of the Armory Foundation that the Armory “is a unique structure that could not be replaced by modern construction methods.”

The bottom line may ultimately play a bigger role in decision making than history, however, and the economics of the situation also indicate the city should go slow. The city will realize economic benefits if the Foundation can engage its volunteer forces to make the Armory viable again.That will take a plan and time. The Foundation will have neither if the city makes a hasty decision to sell or demolish the Armory. Mayor Mike Vandersteen said he will meet with the Armory Foundation in the near future. That is a hopeful sign and indicates the city’s willingness to explore all options. The mayor is noncommittal at this point, but admits there is “a strong community attachment to the building.” He promises to “thoroughly explore” efforts to revitalize the Armory, also a good sign. The Common Council should take the same open-minded approach as it considers the intimate details of the matter, including several undisclosed proposals already submitted for the historic lakefront building.

We hope the Foundation is given an ample opportunity to be a player in the Armory negotiations. It has promised to seek grants, donations and volunteers to raise money for facility needs, along with helping to manage the Armory. Promises only go so far, however. We hope the Foundation garners the public support it needs to turn its vision into reality. The city, meanwhile, should afford it that chance.”

Sheboygan Press Editorial – January 11, 2014

External links

• The Armory Foundation
• History of the Sheboygan Armory and Auditorium
• It Came from the Armory - Spotify playlist featuring bands playing in the Sheboygan Auditorium and Armory