Myrtle Beach Convention Center
 | |
 | |
| Address | 2101 North Oak St. |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | October 1967 |
| Architect | Riddle and Wilkes |
| Tenants | |
| Myrtle Beach Stingrays (NIFL) (2003–2004) Myrtle Beach Freedom (AIF) (2016) | |
Myrtle Beach Convention Center is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It hosts various local concerts, conventions, and sporting events for the Myrtle Beach area.
History
The original facility opened in October 1967 and was built at a cost of $1.12 million. Riddle and Wilkes were the architects of record. The facility opened with a 2,500 seat auditorium.[1]
The South Carolina Hall of Fame has been located on the convention center grounds since 1973.[2]
The center was expanded in 1993-94.[3]
The convention center was the site of the January 10, 2008 presidential primary debate. Six Republican presidential hopefuls attended the debate, which was broadcast by Fox News. Four years later, the convention hosted five candidates in a January 16, 2012 Republican presidential primary debate, also broadcast by Fox News.[4]
Sports
The convention center was the home arena for the Myrtle Beach Stingrays of the National Indoor Football League in 2003 and one game in 2004.[5] Another indoor football team, the Myrtle Beach Freedom, played at the convention center for one season in 2016.[6]
The convention center has also hosted college basketball tournaments.[7]
References
- ^ Thompson, James W. (October 5, 1967). "New Myrtle Beach Convention Center". The Greenville News.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Dedication Scheduled". The Greenville News. February 10, 1973. p. 12.
- ^ "Writer, blacksmith inducted into Hall of Fame". The Times and Democrat. February 1, 1994.
- ^ "Live Blogging the Myrtle Beach Debate". January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Stingrays to finish the season in Florence". Morning News. April 29, 2004. Archived from the original on August 31, 2004. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ "Myrtle Beach Freedom indoor football team switches leagues". www.myrtlebeachonline.com. Myrtle Beach Online. October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ Blondin, Alan (August 18, 2018). "Why a pair of holiday basketball tournaments in Myrtle Beach are expanding this year". Myrtle Beach Online.