Donald L. Tucker Civic Center

Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
Former names Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center (1981-2012)
Address 505 West Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Coordinates 30°26′16″N 84°17′12″W / 30.43783°N 84.28653°WCoordinates: 30°26′16″N 84°17′12″W / 30.43783°N 84.28653°W
Owner Florida State University Board of Trustees
Operator Global Spectrum
Capacity 12,508 (Concerts)
12,100 (Basketball)
9,596 (Hockey/Arena Football)
6,000 (Theatre)
Surface Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground 1978
Opened September 14, 1981
Renovated 1998 (roof), 2014
Construction cost $33.8 Million
($87.7 million in 2015 dollars[1])
Architect Barrett, Daffin and Carlan, Inc.
Website
Venue Website

The Donald L. Tucker Civic Center (DLTCC) (originally known as the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center) is a multi-purpose arena in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, located on the grounds of Florida State University. The arena has the biggest capacity of any arena in the Florida Panhandle. The arena opened in 1981 and was built at a cost of $33.8 million, financed by the city.

Naming

The arena was named the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in 1977 in honor of Donald L. Tucker, Esq., a former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and Special Ambassador for the United States to the Dominican Republic. Upon opening, the venue was named the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center. In 2001, the Florida Senate proposed reverting the civic center to its original name; however, this provision was vetoed.[2] The center reverted to its original name in January 2012.[3] The venue was owned by the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center Authority until 2012.[4]

Arena

Covering 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2), this versatile Arena can accommodate 1,000 people for banquets and receptions for up to 2,000. The Arena has 13,800 upholstered seats for sporting events, concerts, touring Broadway Productions and Family Shows. The arena can increase the capacity with risers. Risers are usually added on to the side of the arena wall blending in perfectly with the permanent seats. Risers are usually only given out to the events of wrestling, basketball and sometimes, concerts. The arena can be configured in a variety of seating arrangements for each type of event.

As a concert venue, the arena can seat between 2,372 and 12,041. As a convention center, it can accommodate 18,900 square feet (1760 m²) in the main arena plus 35,000 square feet (3300 m²) at the adjoining exhibit hall, in addition to 16,000 square feet (1500 m²) of space at the meeting rooms. Concerts, sporting events, trade shows, Broadway shows, conventions, ice shows, circuses, and other events are held here annually.

Theater

The Centre Theater is a 6,000-seat theater used for small concerts, preaching and other theater type events. The theater provides not only a traditional counterweight system for shows accustomed to a conventional theatre venue, but also a perfect setting for musical artists that prefer a more intimate performance space. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system capable of providing reinforcement for upper level and club seat fill, as well as motorized clusters that may be utilized for additional support. The Centre Theater has been proud to host the Tallahassee Broadway Series for the last eleven years and has presented such tours as Les Misérables, Riverdance, Cats, Chicago, Fosse and Rent. In addition, numerous musical artists have chosen to perform in this configuration.

On November 11, 1995; a tornado spawned as part of a cold front hitting the Tallahassee area ripped a 50 foot hole in the roof of the theater during a religious service sponsored by televangelist Kenneth Copeland's ministry.[5]

Renovations

Prior to the summer of 2014, much of the existing infrastructure and equipment in use had been there since the arena opened in 1981. This included some equipment that was so outdated that it couldn't be replaced. Further deferred maintenance occurred while the arena was owned by Leon County and the City of Tallahassee.

The arena received a major and much-needed renovation during the summer of 2014. The arena received new seats, Jumbotrons including new LED ribbon boards, and a new floor, all at the cost of $10 million. Before then, the only major "renovation" occurred in 1998, when the facility's roof was replaced.[6]

Tenants

The civic center has been the home to many sports teams. It has had WCW Thunder, WWF and WWE, including men's and women's basketball. It is also home to the Florida State Seminoles men's and women's basketball teams. Before they moved, it was also host to the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks ice hockey team of the ECHL. Other professional teams that called the center home included the Tallahassee Thunder of arenafootball2 and the Tallahassee Scorpions soccer team of the EISL. In 2007 it was home to the Tallahassee Titans of the American Indoor Football League. The team then left the AIFL for the World Indoor Football League but then folded after the owner failed to acquire enough capital to finance the team. The WIFL then folded as other members jumped to other leagues.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2014. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ Hull, Victor (May 5, 2001). "House Overrides Pet Peeve Provisions in Bill". Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Florida: Halifax Media Group). p. 16A. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Tech Visits No 21 FSU". WCTV. Gray Television. January 31, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  4. ↑ Harvey, Coley (June 8, 2012). "FSU Trustee Board Unanimously Approves Taking Over Civic Center". Orlando Sentinel (Tribune Company). Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LjRUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jI4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2175%2C3607899
  6. ↑ Lattimer, Powell (June 3, 2014). "Big plans, few details for Civic Center Renovation". Warchant.com (Rivals). Retrieved October 2, 2014.

External links