1st Mariner Arena
Encyclopedia
1st Mariner Arena is an arena located in Baltimore, Maryland
. In 2003, it was renamed by 1st Mariner Bank, which purchased naming rights
to the arena
for 10 years. It was reported that 1st Mariner Bank will need to pay the city $75,000 for the next ten years to keep the naming rights to the complex. 1st Mariner Bank Arena is located about a block away from the Baltimore Convention Center
on the corner of Baltimore Street and Hopkins Place
; it is also only a short distance from the Inner Harbor
. It seats up to approximately 14,000 people though this number varies depending on the type of event.
The arena officially opened in 1962 as the Baltimore Civic Center. It was built on the site of "Old Congress Hall," where the Continental Congress met in 1776. As a major cornerstone for the Inner Harbor redevelopment during the 1980s, it was reopened after renovations and was renamed the Baltimore Arena in 1986. It is owned by the city and is managed by SMG, a private management company. Annually, the 1st Mariner Bank Arena is host to 800,000 people.
A cornerstone to the arena was laid in the arena in 1961 with a vault that included messages from then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy
, then-Maryland
governor J. Millard Tawes
, and then-Baltimore Mayor J. Harold Grady
. The vault was opened in 2006.
The current site that was chosen for the Baltimore Civic Center was actually not one of the many sites proposed to the Greater Baltimore Committee in 1955. Among nine suggested locations there were two in Druid Hill Park
, three at the end of the Inner Harbor basin (where the World Trade Center
and Harborplace
are now located), and one in Clifton Park
.
revealed that an official steps had been taken toward replacing the 1st Mariner Arena, then 42 years old. The Maryland Stadium Authority
had started soliciting proposals for a feasibility study on building an arena in downtown Baltimore, due on November 1, 2004. According to the request for proposals that was released, the new arena would be built on the same site of 1st Mariner Arena and "would have a smaller seating capacity
than would be required for an NHL or NBA team" but it doesn't specify a specific seating capacity.
On May 15, 2007, The Baltimore Sun
reported that the feasibility study that was started in 2004 had been released publicly and the study stated that the current arena has "served its useful life" and that Baltimore must build a new arena or face the risk of losing events. The study rejected a proposal to repair the arena's aging systems, citing an estimated cost of $60 million, and instead suggested that the city demolish 1st Mariner Arena and build a new arena on the same site or elsewhere in Baltimore. Notably the proposed new arena would only seat 15,000 - 16,000 people—the study assumed that Baltimore would never be successful in attracting an NHL or NBA team in the future, either of which would require a minimum of 18,000 - 20,000 seats; however, city officials were still open to this idea. Conceivably, the new arena could be successful in attracting an arena football
team and/or a minor league hockey team, bringing more than 200 new jobs and generating up to $1 million in additional tax revenue. City officials have said that the private sector would need to bear the brunt of the estimated $162 million construction cost of the new arena, as the city is also considering giving up ownership of the arena. The Baltimore Development Corporation
(BDC) stated that it would begin seeking interested developers for the project by June 2007. BDC's President M. J. "Jay" Brody said it was a "miracle" that the current arena books as many events as it does in its current state. City officials have said the location of the new arena would be dependent on what the developers suggest. Officials stated that they are equally comfortable with (1) keeping the current arena, (2) building the new arena in a new location, then demolishing the current arena, or (3) encouraging a mixed-use development in the site of the current arena. Advocates for downtown, including the Downtown Partnership and the Westside Renaissance, want the new arena to remain in the downtown area.
On November 18, 2007, WJZ 13 reported that seven sites have been submitted to the BDC for a new arena, and the choices will be narrowed down by the Spring of 2008.
On July 24, 2008, it was reported that the new arena will be built on the same site as the current one, with capacity to go upwards of 18,500. It was unknown at that time what would happen to concerts and events while construction gets underway, or who would develop the new arena. However, there have been talks about building a temporary facility for events. The arena was planned to be completed within a three-year period.
On August 27, 2008, The Baltimore Sun reported that developers were looking for designers to build an apartment building and outdoor shopping stores to be a part of the new 1st Mariner Arena. Also, the developers announced that they were accepting all design proposals until November 26, 2008, and that, by the Summer of 2009, they planned to make a final design decision.
On December 17, 2008, the Baltimore Examiner reported that the Baltimore Development Corp. had received 4 proposals for the 1st Mariner Arena replacement that could take away a "major entertainment venue" for Baltimore for up to "4 years" and the estimated price is $300 million, but could be more depending on additional retail and hotel uses. The arena is reported to be an 18,500 seat venue built at the same location of the current 1st Mariner Arena. The four proposals were:
ESmith Legacy and Garfield Traub Development: ESmith Legacy was a team led by former NFL player Emmitt Smith
that has offices in Baltimore. This proposal included the following features in addition to the larger arena:
Streuver Brothers Eccles & Rouse: A well known Baltimore-based developer. This proposal included:
Cormony Development and Harrison Development: Respectively, Rockville- and Baltimore-based development firms who have been involved since 2007. This proposal includes:
A&R Development, J Street Development Co., and Accent Development Co.: A partnership of Baltimore based A&R and Washington based J Street and Accent Development under the name Arena Development. This proposal includes:
The Baltimore Examiner reported that the BDC could make a decision on the developer as soon as mid-2009.
On July 8, 2009, Arena Digest.com reported that Baltimore City officials had postponed their plans for constructing a new arena, due in part to the struggling economy, and the officials' decision split between building either an 18,500 seat arena for a possible NBA or NHL franchise, or constructing a mid-size facility for concerts, family events, and minor league sports.
However, on November 12, 2010, with the recession rebounding, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced that city officials are considering new sites for a new arena. The plan calls for 1st Mariner Arena to remain open, while a new arena is constructed. While Rawlings-Blake believes that the new arena is most likely to be erected in the city's West Side, the Greater Baltimore Committee suggest building the arena as an expansion to the Baltimore Convention Center, to help re-develop the Inner Harbor
.
The cost would range from $750 to $930 million, since it would
include the 18,500 seat arena, 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) expansion of the Baltimore Convention Center, an underground garage, and a new 500-room Sheraton hotel. Ironically, the proposed arena site is where the current Sheraton hotel rests.
In 1962 and continuing through 1976, the Baltimore Clippers
of the American Hockey League
played their home games at the Arena. Interestingly, the Clippers withdrew from the AHL in mid-season, 1974–75, to allow the Baltimore Blades (the relocated Michigan Stags
) of the World Hockey Association
(WHA) to finish their season. The Clippers regrouped for one final AHL season 1975-76. The Baltimore Arena has hosted two other AHL franchises. The Baltimore Skipjacks
lasted from 1981-1993. The Baltimore Bandits
played two seasons in Baltimore from 1995-97.
In 1962, the Arena hosted a boxing match between Joey Giardello
and Johnny Morris
.
In 1963, the arena was host to a professional tennis match.
Also in 1963, the arena was home to the Baltimore Bullets
and was the host of the NBA All-Star Game in 1969.
In 1964 The Beatles, Sunday 13 September 1964
In 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
'gives a speech, "Race and the Church," before a gathering of Methodist clergy at the Baltimore Civic Center.'
The venue also hosted Led Zeppelin
several times through the early 1970s. A couple of scenes from the Led Zeppelin concert film The Song Remains the Same
were filmed backstage.
The Grateful Dead
's performance on September 17, 1972 was recorded and later released, as Dick's Picks Volume 23
. It contains the complete concert, except for the encore, which was "One More Saturday Night
". It contains the longest CD version of "The Other One", to date, clocking in at nearly 40 minutes long.
The Civic Center was host to the 1974 and 1975 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
In 1986, the arena was host to popular Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti
.
The Baltimore Arena was the home of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) and later the National Lacrosse League
(NLL) Baltimore Thunder
from 1987 through 1999. The Thunder won the inaugural MILL championship. The Thunder transferred from Baltimore becoming the Pittsburgh CrosseFire in 2000, the Washington Power in 2001, and finally the Colorado Mammoth in 2003 (present team). Notable players include Gary Gait
, Tom Gravante (head Men's Lacrosse coach at Mount St. Mary's University) and Hugh Donovan.
The Baltimore Arena was considered a cornerstone location for NWA/WCW wrestling, its northern capital so to speak. The Great American Bash pay-per-view was held at the arena eight times during the life of the promotion, and by the time WCW was bought by WWE, The Great American Bash
had been in Baltimore for four of the five previous years. It also hosted SuperBrawl V in 1995. Sting defeated Ric Flair to win his first NWA World Championship at 1990 The Great American Bash, and Ron Simmons upset Vader in 1992 for the WCW title, becoming the first African-American to hold a major world title. The nWo
was reformed in 1999 at the First Mariner Arena with Bret Hart
, Kevin Nash
, Scott Hall
and Jeff Jarrett
.
The arena has also hosted many World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE events over the years. Most notably the 1994 King of the Ring
, No Mercy (2003)
, No Way Out 2006
, Backlash 2008
, and Extreme Rules (2010)
as well as multiple Raw
and SmackDown!/ECW tapings. Major title changes to take place in the arena include Superstar Billy Graham over Bruno Sammartino in 1977 for the WWWF championship, Tito Santana over Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in 1985 for the WWF Intercontinental title in a steel cage match.
In 1989, the arena was host to the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships. Three years later, in 1992, the International Olympic Committee
held the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials there. In 1995, the arena was host to the NCAA
Men's Basketball Division 1 games (Rounds 1 & 2).
KISS
were scheduled to perform during their Hot in the Shade Tour
on October 28, 1990, but the show was cancelled for uncertain reasons.
bull riding
tour. It first visited the Arena from 2001 to 2003, then came back again from 2008 to 2010. It will return again in 2012. (Note: In 2001 and 2002, the tour was called the Bud Light Cup tour.)
In July 2004, the arena was host to the US debut of Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel, as part of the anime
and east Asian culture convention Otakon
.
On December 3–4, 2004, the 1st Mariner Arena hosted the last Vans Triple Crown Of Freestyle Motocross
events in history. The Vans Of FMX recently stopped for FMX's placement in the Dew Tour and also a similar Vans of FMX event course can be found in IFMA Of Freestyle Motocross or the Vans Invitational track.
On February 1, 2006, the arena hosted the first concert by The Rolling Stones
, in Baltimore, since 1969, which was at the arena.
On February 19, 2006, WWE PPV No Way Out
was held in Baltimore, their first since No Mercy 2003. Chris Benoit Def Booker T for the United States Championship
It was selected as the site of the 2006 Miss USA Pageant
, for broadcast on live television.
On February 11, 2008, the arena also hosted a rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama
.
On April 27, 2008, WWE PPV Backlash
was held in Baltimore. Triple H
defeated Randy Orton
to win the WWE Championship.
On November 20, 2009, Bruce Springsteen
& The E Street Band
performed at the arena, recreating the entirety of their landmark album Born to Run
; it was their first tour stop in Baltimore since 1973.
On April 25, 2010, the arena played host to WWE Extreme Rules
. It has then played host to Monday Night Raw
on June 20, 2011. This episode was named Power to the People. It is to play host to WWE's TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2011 in 18 December, 2011.
. The Charles Center Metro Subway Station and many bus lines are also nearby.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. In 2003, it was renamed by 1st Mariner Bank, which purchased naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
to the arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
for 10 years. It was reported that 1st Mariner Bank will need to pay the city $75,000 for the next ten years to keep the naming rights to the complex. 1st Mariner Bank Arena is located about a block away from the Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore Convention Center
The Baltimore Convention Center is a convention and exhibition hall located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The Center is a municiple building owned and operated by the City of Baltimore...
on the corner of Baltimore Street and Hopkins Place
Maryland Route 139
Maryland Route 139, known locally for most of its existence as North Charles Street, runs through Baltimore City and through the Towson area of Baltimore County. On the north end it terminates at a traffic circle with Bellona Avenue near Interstate 695 and at the south end it terminates in Federal...
; it is also only a short distance from the Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
. It seats up to approximately 14,000 people though this number varies depending on the type of event.
The arena officially opened in 1962 as the Baltimore Civic Center. It was built on the site of "Old Congress Hall," where the Continental Congress met in 1776. As a major cornerstone for the Inner Harbor redevelopment during the 1980s, it was reopened after renovations and was renamed the Baltimore Arena in 1986. It is owned by the city and is managed by SMG, a private management company. Annually, the 1st Mariner Bank Arena is host to 800,000 people.
A cornerstone to the arena was laid in the arena in 1961 with a vault that included messages from then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, then-Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
governor J. Millard Tawes
J. Millard Tawes
John Millard Tawes , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 54th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1959 to 1967. He remains the only Marylander to be elected to the three positions of State Treasurer, Comptroller, and Governor.-Early life and family:Tawes was born to...
, and then-Baltimore Mayor J. Harold Grady
J. Harold Grady
Joseph Harold Grady was a judge and the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland from 1959 to 1962.Prior to running for mayor, he was an FBI agent and state's attorney for Baltimore city.- References :...
. The vault was opened in 2006.
The current site that was chosen for the Baltimore Civic Center was actually not one of the many sites proposed to the Greater Baltimore Committee in 1955. Among nine suggested locations there were two in Druid Hill Park
Druid Hill Park
Druid Hill Park is a urban park in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. Its boundaries are marked by Druid Park Drive , Swann Drive and Reisterstown Road , and the Jones Falls Expressway...
, three at the end of the Inner Harbor basin (where the World Trade Center
Baltimore World Trade Center
Located on the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, the Baltimore World Trade Center is the world's tallest regular pentagonal building . It was designed by the architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, with the principal architects being Henry N...
and Harborplace
Harborplace
Harborplace is a festival marketplace in Baltimore, Maryland, that opened in 1980 as a centerpiece of the revival of downtown Baltimore. As its name suggests, it is located on the Inner Harbor....
are now located), and one in Clifton Park
Clifton Park, Baltimore
Clifton Park is a public urban park located in the Belair-Edison neighborhood in the northeast section of Baltimore, Maryland. USA. It is roughly bordered by Erdman Avenue to the northeast, Sinclair Lane to the south, Harford Road to the northwest and Belair Road to the southeast...
.
Replacement of 1st Mariner Arena
On October 16, 2004, The Baltimore SunThe Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
revealed that an official steps had been taken toward replacing the 1st Mariner Arena, then 42 years old. The Maryland Stadium Authority
Maryland Stadium Authority
The Maryland Stadium Authority, MSA, was created by Chapter 283, Acts of 1986 Maryland General Assembly. Its initial mission was to return the National Football League to Baltimore. Maryland sought a new football team after former Baltimore Colts owner, Robert Irsay, moved the Colts out of the...
had started soliciting proposals for a feasibility study on building an arena in downtown Baltimore, due on November 1, 2004. According to the request for proposals that was released, the new arena would be built on the same site of 1st Mariner Arena and "would have a smaller seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
than would be required for an NHL or NBA team" but it doesn't specify a specific seating capacity.
On May 15, 2007, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
reported that the feasibility study that was started in 2004 had been released publicly and the study stated that the current arena has "served its useful life" and that Baltimore must build a new arena or face the risk of losing events. The study rejected a proposal to repair the arena's aging systems, citing an estimated cost of $60 million, and instead suggested that the city demolish 1st Mariner Arena and build a new arena on the same site or elsewhere in Baltimore. Notably the proposed new arena would only seat 15,000 - 16,000 people—the study assumed that Baltimore would never be successful in attracting an NHL or NBA team in the future, either of which would require a minimum of 18,000 - 20,000 seats; however, city officials were still open to this idea. Conceivably, the new arena could be successful in attracting an arena football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team and/or a minor league hockey team, bringing more than 200 new jobs and generating up to $1 million in additional tax revenue. City officials have said that the private sector would need to bear the brunt of the estimated $162 million construction cost of the new arena, as the city is also considering giving up ownership of the arena. The Baltimore Development Corporation
Baltimore Development Corporation
The Baltimore Development Corporation is a nonprofit corporation on contract to the City of Baltimore, Maryland, to act as its economic development representative by providing development assistance to new and expanding companies inside Baltimore....
(BDC) stated that it would begin seeking interested developers for the project by June 2007. BDC's President M. J. "Jay" Brody said it was a "miracle" that the current arena books as many events as it does in its current state. City officials have said the location of the new arena would be dependent on what the developers suggest. Officials stated that they are equally comfortable with (1) keeping the current arena, (2) building the new arena in a new location, then demolishing the current arena, or (3) encouraging a mixed-use development in the site of the current arena. Advocates for downtown, including the Downtown Partnership and the Westside Renaissance, want the new arena to remain in the downtown area.
On November 18, 2007, WJZ 13 reported that seven sites have been submitted to the BDC for a new arena, and the choices will be narrowed down by the Spring of 2008.
On July 24, 2008, it was reported that the new arena will be built on the same site as the current one, with capacity to go upwards of 18,500. It was unknown at that time what would happen to concerts and events while construction gets underway, or who would develop the new arena. However, there have been talks about building a temporary facility for events. The arena was planned to be completed within a three-year period.
On August 27, 2008, The Baltimore Sun reported that developers were looking for designers to build an apartment building and outdoor shopping stores to be a part of the new 1st Mariner Arena. Also, the developers announced that they were accepting all design proposals until November 26, 2008, and that, by the Summer of 2009, they planned to make a final design decision.
On December 17, 2008, the Baltimore Examiner reported that the Baltimore Development Corp. had received 4 proposals for the 1st Mariner Arena replacement that could take away a "major entertainment venue" for Baltimore for up to "4 years" and the estimated price is $300 million, but could be more depending on additional retail and hotel uses. The arena is reported to be an 18,500 seat venue built at the same location of the current 1st Mariner Arena. The four proposals were:
ESmith Legacy and Garfield Traub Development: ESmith Legacy was a team led by former NFL player Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
that has offices in Baltimore. This proposal included the following features in addition to the larger arena:
- 7 screen movie theater
- 20,000 SF of retail space
- 1,000 seat concert venue
Streuver Brothers Eccles & Rouse: A well known Baltimore-based developer. This proposal included:
- 300-room hotel
- 43,000 SF of retail space
Cormony Development and Harrison Development: Respectively, Rockville- and Baltimore-based development firms who have been involved since 2007. This proposal includes:
- 400-room hotel
- 240,000 SF office tower
- 12,000 SF to 20,000 SF of retail space
A&R Development, J Street Development Co., and Accent Development Co.: A partnership of Baltimore based A&R and Washington based J Street and Accent Development under the name Arena Development. This proposal includes:
- Up to 100,000 SF of retail space
The Baltimore Examiner reported that the BDC could make a decision on the developer as soon as mid-2009.
On July 8, 2009, Arena Digest.com reported that Baltimore City officials had postponed their plans for constructing a new arena, due in part to the struggling economy, and the officials' decision split between building either an 18,500 seat arena for a possible NBA or NHL franchise, or constructing a mid-size facility for concerts, family events, and minor league sports.
However, on November 12, 2010, with the recession rebounding, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced that city officials are considering new sites for a new arena. The plan calls for 1st Mariner Arena to remain open, while a new arena is constructed. While Rawlings-Blake believes that the new arena is most likely to be erected in the city's West Side, the Greater Baltimore Committee suggest building the arena as an expansion to the Baltimore Convention Center, to help re-develop the Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
.
The cost would range from $750 to $930 million, since it would
include the 18,500 seat arena, 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) expansion of the Baltimore Convention Center, an underground garage, and a new 500-room Sheraton hotel. Ironically, the proposed arena site is where the current Sheraton hotel rests.
1960s-1970s
The arena has been host to many events, ranging from boxing, to music, to sports and to wrestling.In 1962 and continuing through 1976, the Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
played their home games at the Arena. Interestingly, the Clippers withdrew from the AHL in mid-season, 1974–75, to allow the Baltimore Blades (the relocated Michigan Stags
Michigan Stags
The Michigan Stags were a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan that played a portion of the 1974–75 season in the World Hockey Association. On January 18, 1975, the franchise was moved to Baltimore where it was known as the Baltimore Blades. The Stags originated as the Los...
) of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA) to finish their season. The Clippers regrouped for one final AHL season 1975-76. The Baltimore Arena has hosted two other AHL franchises. The Baltimore Skipjacks
Baltimore Skipjacks
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:...
lasted from 1981-1993. The Baltimore Bandits
Baltimore Bandits
The Baltimore Bandits were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena...
played two seasons in Baltimore from 1995-97.
In 1962, the Arena hosted a boxing match between Joey Giardello
Joey Giardello
Carmine Orlando Tilelli was an American boxer who was the middleweight champion of the world from 1963 to 1965, and was better known by his professional pseudonym of Joey Giardello.-Early life:...
and Johnny Morris
Johnny Morris
Ernest John "Johnny" Morris OBE ) was a Welsh television presenter. He is best known for narrating the imported, Canadian-produced Tales of the Riverbank series of stories about Hammy the Hamster, Roderick the Rat, GP the Guinea Pig, and their assorted animal friends along a riverbank and...
.
In 1963, the arena was host to a professional tennis match.
Also in 1963, the arena was home to the Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
and was the host of the NBA All-Star Game in 1969.
In 1964 The Beatles, Sunday 13 September 1964
In 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
'gives a speech, "Race and the Church," before a gathering of Methodist clergy at the Baltimore Civic Center.'
The venue also hosted Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
several times through the early 1970s. A couple of scenes from the Led Zeppelin concert film The Song Remains the Same
The Song Remains the Same (film)
The Song Remains the Same is a concert film by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. The recording of the film took place during three nights of concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City, during the band's 1973 concert tour of the United States. The film premiered on 20 October 1976, at...
were filmed backstage.
The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
's performance on September 17, 1972 was recorded and later released, as Dick's Picks Volume 23
Dick's Picks Volume 23
Dick's Picks Volume 23 is a three-CD album by the rock group the Grateful Dead. It is the twenty-third installment in the Dick's Picks series of live archival recordings. It was recorded on September 17, 1972 at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland...
. It contains the complete concert, except for the encore, which was "One More Saturday Night
One More Saturday Night
One More Saturday Night is a 1986 comedy film, written by Al Franken and Tom Davis, and directed by Dennis Klein.-Cast:*Al Franken ... Paul Flum*Tom Davis ... Larry Hays*Moira Harris ... Peggy*Frank Howard ... Eddie*Bess Meyer ... Tobi...
". It contains the longest CD version of "The Other One", to date, clocking in at nearly 40 minutes long.
The Civic Center was host to the 1974 and 1975 MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
1980s-1990s
The Baltimore Arena was the home of the Major Indoor Soccer League's Baltimore Blast since they arrived in the 1980-1981 season until the league folded in 1992. The Blast won their only championship in the '83-'84 season which was attended by upwards of 11,200 fans. The new-Blast (founded as the Baltimore Spirit in June 1992) still plays at the now, 1st Mariner Arena, and just recently won their 4th championship in the last six years.In 1986, the arena was host to popular Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
.
The Baltimore Arena was the home of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) and later the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
(NLL) Baltimore Thunder
Baltimore Thunder
The Baltimore Thunder were a member of the National Lacrosse League from 1987 until 1999. They were based in Baltimore, Maryland, and won the first Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League championship in 1987...
from 1987 through 1999. The Thunder won the inaugural MILL championship. The Thunder transferred from Baltimore becoming the Pittsburgh CrosseFire in 2000, the Washington Power in 2001, and finally the Colorado Mammoth in 2003 (present team). Notable players include Gary Gait
Gary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
, Tom Gravante (head Men's Lacrosse coach at Mount St. Mary's University) and Hugh Donovan.
The Baltimore Arena was considered a cornerstone location for NWA/WCW wrestling, its northern capital so to speak. The Great American Bash pay-per-view was held at the arena eight times during the life of the promotion, and by the time WCW was bought by WWE, The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash was an annual summer professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the National Wrestling Alliance's Jim Crockett Promotions and then by World Championship Wrestling. It is now produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
had been in Baltimore for four of the five previous years. It also hosted SuperBrawl V in 1995. Sting defeated Ric Flair to win his first NWA World Championship at 1990 The Great American Bash, and Ron Simmons upset Vader in 1992 for the WCW title, becoming the first African-American to hold a major world title. The nWo
New World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
was reformed in 1999 at the First Mariner Arena with Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
, Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
, Scott Hall
Scott Hall
Scott Hall is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name...
and Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett
Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett is an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , an organization he co-founded along with his father and in which he holds some stock but not total control...
.
The arena has also hosted many World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE events over the years. Most notably the 1994 King of the Ring
King of the Ring (1994)
King of the Ring was the second annual King of the Ring professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on June 19, 1994 at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. "King of the Ring" is also the name of the tournament that was the focus of...
, No Mercy (2003)
No Mercy (2003)
No Mercy was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on October 19, 2003 at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the sixth event under the No Mercy chronology and starred wrestlers from the SmackDown! brand.Nine...
, No Way Out 2006
No Way Out (2006)
No Way Out was the eighth annual No Way Out professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on February 19, 2006 at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland and was a SmackDown! brand-exclusive event...
, Backlash 2008
Backlash (2008)
Backlash was the tenth annual Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 27, 2008 at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland...
, and Extreme Rules (2010)
Extreme Rules (2010)
Extreme Rules was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on April 25, 2010 at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the second event promoted under the Extreme Rules name...
as well as multiple Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
and SmackDown!/ECW tapings. Major title changes to take place in the arena include Superstar Billy Graham over Bruno Sammartino in 1977 for the WWWF championship, Tito Santana over Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in 1985 for the WWF Intercontinental title in a steel cage match.
In 1989, the arena was host to the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships. Three years later, in 1992, the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
held the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials there. In 1995, the arena was host to the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Men's Basketball Division 1 games (Rounds 1 & 2).
KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
were scheduled to perform during their Hot in the Shade Tour
Hot in The Shade Tour
The Hot in the Shade Tour was a concert tour by Kiss. It was the last tour with drummer Eric Carr, who died of cancer on November 24, 1991...
on October 28, 1990, but the show was cancelled for uncertain reasons.
2000s
The arena has also been a staple on the PBR's Built Ford Tough SeriesBuilt Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
bull riding
Bull riding
Bull riding refers to rodeo sports that involve a rider getting on a large bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider....
tour. It first visited the Arena from 2001 to 2003, then came back again from 2008 to 2010. It will return again in 2012. (Note: In 2001 and 2002, the tour was called the Bud Light Cup tour.)
In July 2004, the arena was host to the US debut of Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel, as part of the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and east Asian culture convention Otakon
Otakon
Otakon is a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku...
.
On December 3–4, 2004, the 1st Mariner Arena hosted the last Vans Triple Crown Of Freestyle Motocross
Freestyle Motocross
Freestyle Motocross is a variation on the sport of motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts.The two main types of freestyle events are:...
events in history. The Vans Of FMX recently stopped for FMX's placement in the Dew Tour and also a similar Vans of FMX event course can be found in IFMA Of Freestyle Motocross or the Vans Invitational track.
On February 1, 2006, the arena hosted the first concert by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, in Baltimore, since 1969, which was at the arena.
On February 19, 2006, WWE PPV No Way Out
No Way Out (2006)
No Way Out was the eighth annual No Way Out professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on February 19, 2006 at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland and was a SmackDown! brand-exclusive event...
was held in Baltimore, their first since No Mercy 2003. Chris Benoit Def Booker T for the United States Championship
It was selected as the site of the 2006 Miss USA Pageant
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006, the 55th Miss USA pageant, was held at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky...
, for broadcast on live television.
On February 11, 2008, the arena also hosted a rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
On April 27, 2008, WWE PPV Backlash
Backlash (2008)
Backlash was the tenth annual Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 27, 2008 at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland...
was held in Baltimore. Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
defeated Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
to win the WWE Championship.
On November 20, 2009, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
& The E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
performed at the arena, recreating the entirety of their landmark album Born to Run
Born to Run
The album's release was accompanied by a $250,000 promotional campaign by Columbia directed at both consumers and the music industry, making good use of Landau's "I saw rock 'n' roll's future—and its name is Bruce Springsteen" quote. With much publicity, Born to Run vaulted into the top 10 in its...
; it was their first tour stop in Baltimore since 1973.
2010s
Shogun Fights, the first promoter to bring professional Mixed Martial Arts to the state of Maryland, held its second event, Shogun Fights 2, on March 27, 2010.On April 25, 2010, the arena played host to WWE Extreme Rules
Extreme Rules (2010)
Extreme Rules was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on April 25, 2010 at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the second event promoted under the Extreme Rules name...
. It has then played host to Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
on June 20, 2011. This episode was named Power to the People. It is to play host to WWE's TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2011 in 18 December, 2011.
Transportation
1st Mariner Arena is immediately adjacent to the University Center/Baltimore Street stop on the Baltimore Light RailBaltimore Light Rail
The Maryland Transit Administration Light Rail is a light rail system serving Baltimore, Maryland, United States, and the surrounding suburbs.In downtown Baltimore it uses city streets...
. The Charles Center Metro Subway Station and many bus lines are also nearby.