The Florence Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Florence, South Carolina. The arena was known as the Florence Civic Center until it rebranded in November 2017.[6]
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| Former names | Florence Civic Center (1993–2017) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3300 West Radio Drive Florence, South Carolina 29501 |
| Coordinates | 34°11′8.50″N 79°50′16.40″W / 34.1856944°N 79.8378889°W |
| Owner | City of Florence, County of Florence |
| Operator | SMG |
| Capacity | Hockey: 7,526 Basketball: 7,686 Concert (Center Stage): 9,736 Concert (End Stage): 7,000 Theater: 1,400 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 8, 1991[1] |
| Opened | August 4, 1993[2] |
| Construction cost | $22 million ($46.4 million in 2023 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Odell Associates[4] |
| General contractor | M. B. Kahn Construction Co.[5] |
| Tenants | |
| Pee Dee/Florence Pride (ECHL) (1997–2005) Carolina Stingrays (NIFL) (2004) Florence Flyers (USBL) (2004) Pee Dee Cyclones (SPHL) (2005–2007) Florence Phantoms (AIFL/AIFA) (2006–2009) Pee Dee Vipers (PBL) (2014) Carolina Havoc (AAL) (2019) | |
It hosted the infamous eighth WWE 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 Goodyear 400 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 venue currently hosts the South Carolina High School League championships in basketball (since 2024) and wrestling (beginning in 2025).
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
edit- ^ Harrison, Brenda; Leach, Jennifer (2004). Florence. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-1609-7.
- ^ "History". Florence Civic Center. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ^ 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 February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Play". Odell Associates, Inc. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ^ "Featured Projects". M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc. Archived from the original on June 24, 1998. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ^ "Florence Civic Center unveils new name, branding design". SCNow.com. November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Georgia arena football team will relocate to Florence". The Morning News. July 26, 2018.