Former names | Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center (1980–2006) |
---|---|
Location | 601 7th Street Augusta, GA 30901 |
Owner | Augusta–Richmond County Coliseum Authority |
Operator | Global Spectrum |
Capacity | 9,167 6,557 (hockey) 7,255 (basketball) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1968 |
Opened | 1974 (Exhibition hall) January 24, 1980 (Arena)[1] |
Closed | May 31, 2024[2] |
Construction cost | $11 million[3] ($68 million in 2023 dollars[4]) |
Architect | Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Holroyd, Johnson, Hughes, Beattie & Davis[5] |
Structural engineer | LeMessurier Associates[5] |
Services engineer | Cosentini Associates LLP[5] |
Tenants | |
Augusta Lynx (ECHL) (1998–2008) Augusta Stallions (af2) (2000–2002) Augusta Spartans (AIFL/WIFL) (2006–2007) Augusta RiverHawks (SPHL) (2010–2013) |
James Brown Arena (formerly known as Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center) is a multi-purpose complex located in Augusta, Georgia. It is managed by Spectra Experiences.
It features an 8,000-seat arena, renamed the James Brown Arena, in honor of musician James Brown on August 22, 2006. The complex also features a 2,800-seat theater, the William B. Bell Auditorium, and a 14,500-square-foot (1,350 m2) exhibit hall that opens into a 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) arena floor.
The James Brown Arena is the former home of the ECHL's Augusta Lynx from 1998 to 2008, the AF2's Augusta Stallions from 2000 to 2002, Augusta Spartans from 2006 to 2007, and the Southern Professional Hockey League's Augusta RiverHawks from 2010 to 2013.
The Arena hosted UFC 11.
The arena has also hosted many concerts and pro wrestling events, including ECW's December to Dismember in 2006. Many acts have played the arena including Elton John, Van Halen, Rush, Heart, Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, KISS, Bon Jovi, Molly Hatchet, John Cougar, Kansas, Charlie Daniels Band, Alabama, Blackfoot, Mother's Finest, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Marshall Tucker Band, and Loverboy.
The center-hung Fair Play scoreboard dates to the arena's opening in 1980, and in recent years has been joined by additional scoreboards and a Trans-Lux LED video display which can be found at each end of the arena.