Mobile Civic Center (formerly Mobile Municipal Auditorium) was a multi-purpose facility located in Mobile, Alabama. Owned by the City of Mobile and operated by ASM Global, the facility consisted of three venues: a theater, an expo hall, and an arena. It was suitable for large indoor events including sporting events and trade shows. The theater seated for 1,938, while the expo hall seated 3,000. The largest venue of the Mobile Civic Center was the arena, which could seat 10,112.
The Civic Center started redevelopment in March 2018.
Background
The structure opened as the Mobile Municipal Auditorium on July 9, 1964. It was built with the city's longtime Mardi Gras celebrations in mind. The concourse area was often used for balls during Mardi Gras. The preceding year, the Civic Center posted losses of $435,000. The fraud charges, plus competition from other Gulf Coast auditoriums (in Biloxi and Pensacola) and the city's open Convention Center caused the complex to go into a decline. 11 months later, Stimpson delayed the closing by two years, needing more time to find a private partner interested in redevelopment.
Demolition of the facility began in September 2024, with its replacement, a 10,275-seat arena expected to be completed by 2027. The new venue will cost $300 million and feature a rectangular design, three levels with premium seating and suites, and a large balcony to overlook Mardi Gras parades. Plans for the new facility do not include a theater.
- Tina Turner performed here on November 21, 1987, during her Break Every Rule Tour.
- Led Zeppelin performed at Municipal Auditorium on May 13, 1973.
- Guns N' Roses performed at Municipal Auditorium on November 3, 1987, as part of the Appetite for Destruction Tour.
- The Eagles performed at Civic Center during the "Hell Freezes Over" tour May 12, 1995
- Elton John performed at the Civic Center during his Wonderful Crazy Night Tour on March 15, 2016.
- Van Halen performed at the Civic Center in 1980 and 1982.
- The Wiggles performed at the Civic Center during their "Wiggledancing! Live On Stage" tour on July 30, 2006.
- Bon Jovi performed on September 27, 1989, the first sellout show in years following a 1985 fraud scandal that caused big-name bands to boycott Mobile.
- The Club MTV Live Tour '89, featuring Information Society, Milli Vanilli, Was (Not Was), Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Tone Loc, Paula Abdul and other artists, made a stop at the Civic Center on June 27, 1989.