Florence Center

The Florence Center is a 10,000-seat multipurpose arena in Florence, South Carolina. The arena was known as the Florence Civic Center until it rebranded in November 2017.[6]

Florence Center

Former namesFlorence Civic Center (1993–2017)
Location3300 West Radio Drive
Florence, South Carolina 29501
Coordinates34°11′8.50″N 79°50′16.40″W
OwnerCity of Florence, County of Florence
OperatorSMG
CapacityHockey: 7,526
Basketball: 7,686
Concert (Center Stage): 9,736
Concert (End Stage): 7,000
Theater: 1,400
Construction
Broke groundMay 8, 1991[1]
OpenedAugust 4, 1993[2]
Construction cost$22 million
($44.6 million in 2022 dollars[3])
ArchitectOdell Associates[4]
General contractorM. B. Kahn Construction Co.[5]
Tenants
Pee Dee/Florence Pride (ECHL) (19972005)
Carolina Stingrays (NIFL) (2004)
Florence Flyers (USBL) (2004)
Pee Dee Cyclones (SPHL) (20052007)
Florence Phantoms (AIFL/AIFA) (20062009)
Pee Dee Vipers (PBL) (2014)
Carolina Havoc (AAL) (2019)

It hosted the infamous eighth WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1996, during which a storm knocked out the power and thus the broadcast signal during the event. The card was re-telecast two nights later from North Charleston, South Carolina, at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Since 2005 it is home to the annual Darlington Car Hauler Parade that kicks off Bojangles' Southern 500 race week at Darlington Raceway. In 2019, an indoor football team called the Carolina Havoc of the American Arena League, is announced to begin play at the Florence Center for the 2019 season.[7]

The building was the home of the South Carolina Fire Ants of Major League Roller Hockey in 1998, two ice hockey teams: the Pee Dee/Florence Pride (1997–2005) and the Pee Dee Cyclones (2005–2007), two indoor football teams: Carolina Stingrays (2004) and Florence Phantoms (2006–2009), two basketball teams: the Florence Flyers and the Pee Dee Vipers, and to the Florence Symphony Orchestra.

The Florence Center has hosted: Sent by Ravens (from Hartsville) in '11, Lady A in '11, Willie Nelson in '13, Marshall Tucker Band with Charlie Daniels Band in '13, The Beach Boys in '13, Switchfoot with Needtobreathe in '15, Mary J. Blige in '15, and Boyz II Men in '19.

References

  1. Harrison, Brenda; Leach, Jennifer (2004). Florence. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-1609-7.
  2. "History". Florence Civic Center. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  3. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. "Play". Odell Associates, Inc. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  5. "Featured Projects". M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc. Archived from the original on June 24, 1998. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. "Florence Civic Center unveils new name, branding design". SCNow.com. November 14, 2017.
  7. "Georgia arena football team will relocate to Florence". The Morning News. July 26, 2018.
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