Augusta Civic Center

The Augusta Civic Center is a convention center located in Augusta, Maine. It has a total of 49,000 square feet (4,600 m2) and 26 rooms. The main room is 32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2). The facility includes a main auditorium, two ballrooms, and 23 meeting rooms and full catering services. The arena can host many events such as concerts, gatherings and sporting events.

Not to be confused with Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center in Augusta, Georgia.
Augusta Civic Center
The Civic Center in October 2008
Address76 Community Dr
Augusta, ME 04330-8008
OwnerCity of Augusta
Capacity5,099 (Auditorium)
Construction
Broke groundMay 1972
OpenedJanuary 6, 1973
ArchitectBunker & Savage
General contractorStewart & Williams

Concerts

Elvis Presley played at the Center during his spring 1977 tour on May 24, 1977. He was scheduled to perform at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine, for two concerts on August 17 and 18. On August 16, Presley was pronounced dead at age 42 at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee due to heart failure after years of prescription drug abuse.[1] The Center sold over 12,000 tickets for the two scheduled shows.

The Grateful Dead performed at the Center on three occasions, including a performance on September 2, 1979 and a celebrated two-night run spanning October 11–12, 1984.

Phish performed on October 19, 2010 during their Fall Tour.

Pearl Jam performed during their No Code Tour on September 26, 1996, with The Fastbacks as their opening act. Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman attended the show and during the climax of "Alive", came onstage to offer Vedder some red wine. To the excitement of the crowd, Vedder responded by hopping on Rodman's back and riding him piggyback style across the stage while singing. Rodman later received a Walkman carved with Vedder's initials containing the concert recording and cited this as one of his most thrilling experiences.[2]

The thrash metal band Slayer filmed their 2004 live performance DVD Still Reigning at the Augusta Civic Center.[3]

Sporting events
State Cheering Competition Awards 2015

The Center hosts concerts and sporting events such as basketball, cheerleading, dance, boxing, fencing, and wrestling[4] The center is used for high school, collegial and youth competitions and games, most notably the Maine State High School Basketball tournament each February. The Center is used mostly by colleges such as University of Maine, University of Maine at Augusta, Central Maine Community College and many other local schools.

Most State and Regional competitions and games take place here. Many of these events are involved in Cheerleading Competitions, Basketball Games, and Wrestling matches at the High School level.

References
  1. Routhier, Ray. "It's been 33 years since Elvis fans were all shook up". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2011-02-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Atkinson, Peter (24 April 2006). "Songs about God and Satan – Part 1: An Interview with Slayer's Kerry King". KNAC. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  4. "Augusta Civic Center | Basketball | Boxing | The Maine Sports Commission". www.mainesportscommission.com. Retrieved 2015-11-03.


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