1st Mariner Arena
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| 1st Mariner Arena | |
|---|---|
| Location | 201 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 |
| Broke ground | 1961 |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Closed | Open |
| Demolished | N/A |
| Owner | The City of Baltimore |
| Operator | SMG |
| Former names | |
| Baltimore Civic Center (1961-1986) Baltimore Arena (1986-2003) |
|
| Tenants | |
| Baltimore Bullets (NBA) (1963-1973) Baltimore Blades (WHA) (1974-1975) Baltimore Skipjacks (AHL)(1984-1985, 1989-1990) Baltimore Thunder (MILL, NLL)(1987-1999) Baltimore Bayrunners (IBL)(1999-2000) Baltimore Blast (MISL I)(1980-1992) Baltimore Spirit/Blast (NPSL/MISL II)(1992- present) Baltimore Blackbirds (American Indoor Football Association (2007-future)) |
|
| Seats | |
| 11,271 (Hockey) 13,500 (Concert) |
|
1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland USA was formerly known as the Baltimore Arena. In 2003, it was renamed by 1st Mariner Bank, which purchased naming rights to the arena for 10 years. It was reported that 1st Mariner Bank will need to pay the city $75,000 for the next ten years to keep the naming rights to the Baltimore Arena. 1st Mariner Bank Arena is located about a block away from the Baltimore Convention Center on the corner of Baltimore Street and Hopkins Place; it is also only a short distance from the Inner Harbor. It seats up to approximately 13,000 people though this number varies depending on the type of event.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Arena officially opened in 1962 as the Baltimore Civic Center. As a major cornerstone for the Inner Harbor redevelopment during the 1980s, it was reopened after renovations and was renamed the Baltimore Arena in 1986. The arena itself is 40 years old as of 2003 and is owned by the city and managed by SMG, a private management company. Annually, the 1st Mariner Bank Arena is host to 800,000 people.
A cornerstone to the arena was laid in the arena in 1961 with a vault that included messages from then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy, then-Maryland governor J. Millard Tawes, and then-Baltimore Mayor J. Harold Grady, the vault is expected to be opened in 2061.
[edit] Events and tenants
The Arena has been host to many events, ranging from boxing, to music, to sports, to wrestling. In 1962 it was host to the boxing match of Joey Giardello vs. Johnny Morris. In 1963, the arena was host to a professional tennis match. Also in 1963, the arena was home to the Baltimore Bullets and was the host of the NBA All-Star Game in 1969.
In 1964, the arena was host to the popular '60s music group the Beatles. The arena also hosted rock group Led Zeppelin several times through the late 60's and early 70's. In 1986, the arena was host to the popular Italian Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. Elvis Presley performed there twice, in November,1971 and May,1977.
In 1989, the arena was host to the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships. Three years later, in 1992, the International Olympic Committee held the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials there. In 1995, the arena was host to the NCAA Men's Basketball Division 1 games (Rounds 1 & 2). In 1998, the arena was host to two popular singers, Shania Twain and Elton John. In 1999, the arena was host to Janet Jackson. In 2000, the arena was host to three popular singers, Britney Spears, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw. In 2001, the arena was host to the music group U2. The arena has been a continuous host for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling, Sesame Street Live!, Disney's World On Ice, and the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
On October 16th, 2004, The Baltimore Sun revealed that an official step has started into replacing the 42-year-old 1st Mariner Arena. The Maryland Stadium Authority recently started solicting proposals for a feasibility study on building an arena in downtown Baltimore, the request for proposals are due on November 1st, 2004. According to the request for proposals that was released, the new arena would be built in the same site of 1st Mariner Arena and "would have a smaller seating capacity than would be required for an NHL or NBA team" but it doesn't specify a specific seating capacity. (Source: Ideas solicited for city arena Requires Site Registration)
On December 3-4 2004, the 1st Mariner Arena hosted the last Vans Triple Crown Of Freestyle Motocross events in history. The Vans Of FMX recently stopped for FMX's placement in the Dew Tour and also A similar Vans of FMX event course can be found in IFMA Of Freestyle Motocross or the Vans Invitational track.
On February 1, 2006, the Arena hosted the first Rolling Stones concert in Baltimore since 1969.
On February 19, 2006, the 1st Mariner Arena hosted the WWE No Way Out Pay-Per-View event. Previously it hosted the WWF King of the Ring tournament, in 1994, and WWE No Mercy 2003.
It was selected as the site of the 2006 Miss USA Pageant, for broadcast on live television.
The Baltimore Arena was considered a cornerstone location for NWA/WCW wrestling, its northern capital so to speak. The Great American Bash pay-per-view was held at the arena eight times during the life of the promotion, and by the time WCW was bought by WWE, The Great American Bash had been in Baltimore for four of the five previous years. It also hosted WCW SuperBrawl 1995.
[edit] Transportation
1st Mariner Arena is immediately adjacent to the University Center/Baltimore Street stop on the Baltimore Light Rail.
[edit] External link
| Preceded by: Chicago Coliseum 1962–1963 |
Home of the Baltimore Bullets 1963–1973 |
Succeeded by: Capital Centre 1973–1997 |
| Current Arenas in the Major Indoor Soccer League |
| 1st Mariner Arena | Stockton Arena | Sears Centre
Compuware Sports Arena | U.S. Cellular Arena | Wachovia Spectrum |
| Current arenas in the American Indoor Football Association |
||
| Northern Division | Southern Division | |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sandy Superstore Arena | Cambria County War Memorial Arena | Canton Memorial Civic Center | David S. Palmer Arena | Louis J. Tullio Arena | Rostraver Ice Garden | Sovereign Center | 1st Mariner Arena | BancorpSouth Center | Cabarrus Arena & Events Center | Donald L. Tucker Center | Florence Civic Center | Garrett Coliseum | Lakeland Center | North Charleston Coliseum | |
Categories: Sports in Baltimore | Indoor arenas in the United States | Buildings and structures in Baltimore | Basketball venues in the United States | Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States | Indoor lacrosse venues in the United States | Soccer venues in the United States | Sports venues in Maryland | 1962 establishments | Baltimore Bullets | Baltimore Skipjacks | Baltimore Bandits | Professional wrestling venues | NBA All-Star Game Venues | World Hockey Association venues | Arena football venues
