27:
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earmarked $ 1.5 million for the implementation of a "living roof" to replace the aging conventional roof. The ultimate path for the Civic Center was unclear. A complete renovation was still an option. The most popular proposals from the community were to tear down and rebuild in the same location, or to rebuild in an area south of city hall, at the
Biltmore Square Mall site, or near the Western North Carolina Agriculture Center.
364:
repairs expected to take six to nine months. At an August 21 meeting, five plans were presented using numbers based on a 2028 start date for work. A basic plan would cost $ 42 to $ 52 million, while the most expensive or "Broadway" plan would require $ 183 to $ 193 million. The auditorium technically
352:
The City of
Asheville and State of North Carolina have been pressured by many in the community to replace or renovate the aging Civic Center with more modern facilities. This debate has been going on for years, with no apparent end. City Council passed a measure funding basic maintenance and has
377:, provided no other companies made a higher bid by December 31. The name change was effective January 1, 2012. U.S. Cellular will pay $ 810,000 or more over five years and up to $ 1.35 million over eight years. The money will help with $ 5.5 million in renovations.
256:
In July 1968, the
Asheville City Council approved a civic center plan which would add an exhibition center, meeting space and an arena to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. As downtown was declining due to suburban development and
496:
415:
brought the 2012, 2013, and 2014 basketball tournaments to the arena. In anticipation of the tournament, the city pledged a $ 3.2 million renovation of the facility. In
February 2018 the arena hosted a
759:
237:(originally the "Asheville City Auditorium" from 1940 to 1975) is a horseshoe-shaped theatre located to the north of the arena. The auditorium was originally built in 1939 as a part of the
553:
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delayed that plan but as of 2023 the funding plan had still not been completed. However, starting in late July, the auditorium could no longer be used until
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Renovation of the Thomas Wolfe
Auditorium has been considered since 1982 but nothing was done until 2020, when a $ 100 million plan was announced. The
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reopened in
October with a capacity of 1,200 but had not events scheduled until January 2024, with full capacity to be ready March 2024.
231:(formerly the "Asheville Civic Center Arena" from 1974–2011) is the main arena/venue of the civic center. It holds 7,674 guests.
488:
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men's basketball tournament. The age and the condition of the facility helped lead to the
Southern Conference's departure.
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1088:
168:
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261:, the complex would be a way to help downtown make a comeback. The arena was the first venue of its type in the city.
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624:
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241:. Opening in January 1940, it was renovated in 1974 and reopened December 1975. It can hold 2,431 guests.
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was filmed outside and inside at the arena standing in as a Mexico airport with palm trees everywhere.
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219:. Opened in 1974, the complex is home to an arena, auditorium, banquet hall and meeting rooms.
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648:"Answer Woman: After McCormick pledge, will Asheville music venue get $ 100M for renovation?"
26:
1042:
686:"$ 100 million plans discussed for Thomas Wolfe Auditorium renovation as building crumbles"
381:
327:
280:
146:
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523:"Asheville's U.S. Cellular Center, once in political limbo with a leaky roof, now thrives"
8:
1451:
1427:
1144:
1027:
878:
705:"Answer Woman: Why renovate Asheville's Thomas Wolfe Auditorium instead of building new?"
412:
401:
331:
760:"Asheville City Council approves Harrah's Cherokee bid for downtown venue naming rights"
1307:
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667:"Downtown Asheville's Thomas Wolfe Auditorium HVAC system failure: What to know"
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With the Civic Center losing money, improvements took place starting in 2010.
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On
November 22, 2011, Asheville City Council voted to name the facility for
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441:
815:
Pearl Jam FAQ: All That's Left to Know About
Seattle's Most Enduring Band
397:
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268:
902:"Trump campaign paid Asheville $ 82K in advance for auditorium rental"
1234:
405:
319:
874:"Luck of the draw: how a Waynesville mansion made the silver screen"
420:
tennis tie between the United States and the
Netherlands, featuring
1239:
417:
813:
Corbett, Bernard M.; Harkins, Thomas Edward (April 1, 2016).
489:"Portrait of the past: Haywood & Page in Asheville, 1960"
380:
On May 29, 2019, Asheville City Council approved a bid from
1290:
727:
361:
284:
384:. The five-year $ 3.25 million deal took effect in 2020.
444:
held a campaign rally at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
463:"NAMING RIGHTS: U.S. CELLULAR CENTER ASHEVILLE (N.C.)"
1634:
Buildings and structures in Asheville, North Carolina
215:, is a multipurpose entertainment center, located in
16:
Entertainment center in North Carolina, United States
392:The arena played host to the politically motivated
986:
554:"Asheville will pay for U.S. Cellular Center sign"
431:On August 13, 2014, a major motion picture named
1664:Tourist attractions in Asheville, North Carolina
1615:
1211:North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
617:"Asheville Civic Center Considering Living Roof"
591:"No Cheap Fix for Aging Thomas Wolfe Auditorium"
330:men's basketball tournament and 1984–1995
1639:College basketball venues in the United States
812:
396:on October 6, 2004, featuring performances by
1276:
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1180:Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts
247:is a ballroom that holds nearly 500 guests.
1283:
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1215:Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
979:
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339:University of North Carolina at Asheville
1094:Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
547:
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1654:Ice hockey venues in the United States
1616:
783:
1669:1974 establishments in North Carolina
1264:
1003:Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
960:
757:
542:
520:
461:Boudevin, Jessica (January 4, 2012).
440:On August 14, 2024, former president
341:were last held in the venue in 1999.
511:
205:Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville
20:Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville
1659:Sports in Asheville, North Carolina
1629:Basketball venues in North Carolina
1356:George M. Holmes Convocation Center
1089:George M. Holmes Convocation Center
872:Johnson, Becky (October 19, 2016).
853:: Southern Conference. June 3, 2010
735:. November 10, 2011. Archived from
703:Honosky, Sarah (October 18, 2023).
623:. November 11, 2006. Archived from
589:Kracher, Frank (January 26, 2016).
13:
900:Hackett, Laura (August 13, 2024).
851:Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
552:Burgess, Joel (January 12, 2012).
487:Neufeld, Rob (December 17, 2015).
14:
1685:
1245:Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival
1109:Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum
847:"SOCON CONCLUDES SPRING MEETINGS"
784:Dansby, Andrew (August 4, 2004).
684:Hofmann, Will (August 23, 2023).
499:from the original on May 28, 2024
368:
665:Honosky, Sarah (July 31, 2023).
646:Honosky, Sarah (April 3, 2023).
283:'s Asheville Smoke and also the
275:, before the franchise moved to
25:
1674:Sports venues completed in 1974
1649:Indoor arenas in North Carolina
1018:Coastal Credit Union Music Park
893:
865:
839:
806:
777:
751:
715:
696:
521:Davis, Dillon (June 14, 2019).
337:Commencement exercises for the
46:U.S. Cellular Center Asheville
41:Asheville Civic Center Complex
1585:Asheville-Weaverville Speedway
786:"Artists to Rock Swing States"
758:Davis, Dillon (May 29, 2019).
723:"CIVIC CENTER TO GET NEW NAME"
677:
658:
639:
609:
582:
480:
454:
213:Asheville Civic Center Complex
1:
1320:Beaver Field at Smith Stadium
1150:Durham Performing Arts Center
447:
326:as well as the 1999 and 2000
239:Works Progress Administration
907:Blue Ridge Public Radio News
82:(ExploreAsheville.com Arena)
7:
1644:Defunct NBA G League venues
1219:Greensboro Coliseum Complex
10:
1690:
1155:The Garage (Winston-Salem)
597:. Sinclair Broadcast Group
299:Clash of the Champions XII
251:
229:ExploreAsheville.com Arena
207:, previously known as the
1576:
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1524:North Wilkesboro Speedway
1299:
1227:
1206:AvidxChange Music Factory
1198:
1170:The Pour House Music Hall
1130:Carolina Theatre (Durham)
1117:
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387:
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217:Asheville, North Carolina
192:
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87:(Thomas Wolfe Auditorium)
74:
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60:Asheville, North Carolina
53:
37:
33:
24:
1380:Harrah's Cherokee Center
1368:Greenwood Baseball Field
1332:Brevard Memorial Stadium
1250:Hopscotch Music Festival
1084:Harrah's Cherokee Center
733:Sinclair Broadcast Group
1033:Koka Booth Amphitheatre
1008:Bank of America Stadium
943:35.597547°N 82.555384°W
823:Hal Leonard Corporation
764:Asheville Citizen-Times
709:Asheville Citizen-Times
690:Asheville Citizen-Times
671:Asheville Citizen-Times
652:Asheville Citizen-Times
559:Asheville Citizen-Times
528:Asheville Citizen-Times
493:Asheville Citizen-Times
322:-led Four Horsemen and
318:wreaked havoc over the
235:Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
1404:Hickory Motor Speedway
1344:E. J. Whitmire Stadium
1293:Western North Carolina
1175:Raleigh Little Theatre
1023:Kenan Memorial Stadium
294:The venue also hosted
211:and originally as the
175:Asheville Championship
1199:Multi-venue complexes
1013:Carter Finley Stadium
948:35.597547; -82.555384
570:on September 28, 2013
1043:Red Hat Amphitheater
739:on November 14, 2011
348:Proposed renovations
328:Big South Conference
281:United Hockey League
209:U.S. Cellular Center
1452:L. P. Frans Stadium
1428:Kidd Brewer Stadium
1145:Carolina Crossroads
1059:Bojangles' Coliseum
1028:Kidd Brewer Stadium
939: /
879:Smoky Mountain News
495:. Gannett Company.
413:Southern Conference
402:Death Cab for Cutie
332:Southern Conference
264:It was home to the
21:
1624:Asheville Altitude
1308:ASU Soccer Stadium
1185:Tremont Music Hall
1140:The Clayton Center
1118:Theaters and clubs
1038:PNC Music Pavilion
627:on August 25, 2007
266:Asheville Altitude
153:Asheville Altitude
19:
1611:
1610:
1548:Varsity Gymnasium
1291:Sports venues in
1258:
1257:
1074:Dean Smith Center
849:(Press release).
819:Winona, Minnesota
382:Harrah's Cherokee
358:COVID-19 pandemic
324:Fall Brawl (1995)
201:
200:
70:City of Asheville
57:87 Haywood Street
1681:
1529:North Wilkesboro
1500:Memorial Stadium
1285:
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1271:
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1165:Ovens Auditorium
987:Music venues of
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566:. Archived from
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314:where the famed
311:WCW Monday Nitro
279:in 2005 and the
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182:) (2021–present)
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1464:McCormick Field
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1160:The Orange Peel
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1104:Spectrum Center
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422:Serena Williams
394:Vote for Change
390:
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180:NCAA Basketball
177:
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142:Asheville Smoke
131:
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1512:Moretz Stadium
1508:
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1488:Meares Stadium
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1416:Justice Center
1412:
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1392:Hennon Stadium
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1069:Crown Coliseum
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1064:Cabarrus Arena
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989:North Carolina
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794:. Wenner Media
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426:Venus Williams
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369:Naming history
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306:SuperBrawl III
289:Asheville Aces
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164:Asheville Aces
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125:Lindsey Gudger
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92:(Banquet Hall)
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1597:College Field
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1536:Ramsey Center
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1099:Lenovo Center
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885:September 18,
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857:September 18,
852:
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832:9781617136603
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798:September 18,
793:
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791:Rolling Stone
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743:September 18,
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375:U.S. Cellular
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434:Masterminds
398:Gob Roberts
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43:(1974–2011)
1618:Categories
934:82°33′19″W
931:35°35′51″N
913:August 14,
467:Venues Now
448:References
269:basketball
62:28801-2852
1590:Asheville
1541:Cullowhee
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1493:Mars Hill
1469:Asheville
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1228:Festivals
406:Pearl Jam
320:Ric Flair
128:John Cort
119:Architect
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769:April 3,
534:June 14,
497:Archived
76:Capacity
1577:Defunct
1517:Hickory
1457:Hickory
1409:Hickory
1337:Brevard
1300:Current
1190:Ziggy's
996:Outdoor
418:Fed Cup
252:History
188:Website
136:Tenants
54:Address
1563:Future
1052:Arenas
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621:Encore
388:Events
223:Venues
111:Opened
85:2,431
80:7,674
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277:Tulsa
259:malls
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424:and
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