Boardwalk Hall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boardwalk Hall, also known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall is an arena which served as the primary convention center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, until the 1997 opening of the Atlantic City Convention Center.
Boardwalk Hall played host to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies ice hockey team from 2001-2005. The arena seats 10,500 people for hockey, and can accommodate over 17,000 for concerts. It was the regular venue of the Miss America Pageant until 2004, and hosted the WWF's WrestleMania IV and V in 1988 and 1989. The Atlantic 10 Conference will hold its 2007 and 2008 men’s basketball championships there. In 2001, the Boardwalk Hall's $90 million renovation was unveiled to the public. The restoration received many awards, including the 2003 National Preservation Award, Building Magazine's 2002 Modernization Award, and Billboard magazine recognized Boardwalk Hall as the top grossing mid-sized arena in the United States in 2003 and 2004.
It was also the host of the 1964 Democratic National Convention that nominated Lyndon Baines Johnson for President only months following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. The following week, thousands of screaming rock fans packed the Hall for one of The Beatles largest concerts in their first American tour. The arena was also the spot of a classic and widely boot-legged Rolling Stones concert in 1989. The concert which was shown on Pay-per-view television was widely remembered by fans for a mishap where viewers were cut off from the performance during the song Satisfaction. It was also the venue of the former Boardwalk Bowl college football game in the 1960s and 70s, and the 1964 Liberty Bowl. In 1996, Boardwalk Hall saw the United States beat Spain 5-0 in Fed Cup (Women's version of Davis Cup) and saw Monica Seles's return following her 1993 stabbing.
Built in 1929, it became the home of the world's largest pipe organ, the Main Auditorium Organ, as listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, due to a lack of stewardship, the condition of the organ was allowed to deteriorate and is no longer fully functional. A restoration program is currently underway.
The Boardwalk Hall is adjacent to the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino.
| Preceded by Pontiac Silverdome |
Host of WrestleMania IV & WrestleMania V 1988 - 1989 |
Succeeded by Skydome |
