Sheboygan Armory
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.[1][2] 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.[3] 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.[citation needed] 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.[2]
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.
Spaceport Sheboygan moved out of the Armory in early 2014.[3] At that time, the Armory was being used to house offices for area businesses.[3]
References
- ^ Mead Public Library timeline
- ^ a b The Sheboygan Press "City may shut down Armory", Sept. 20, 2006, pages A1–A2
- ^ a b c Weyandt, Janet (March 4, 2014). "Blastoff to a New Journey". Sheboygan Press.
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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