James Brown Arena

src: showtechnology.com

James Brown Arena (formerly known as Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center) is a multi-purpose complex located in Augusta, Georgia. It is managed by Spectra Experiences.

It features an 8,000 seat arena, renamed the James Brown Arena, in honor of musician James Brown on August 22, 2006. The complex also features a 2,800 seat theater, the William B. Bell Auditorium, and a 14,500-square-foot (1,350 m²) exhibit hall that opens into a 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m²) arena floor.

The James Brown Arena is the former home of the ECHL's Augusta Lynx from 1998-2008, the AF2's Augusta Stallions from 2000-2002, American Indoor Football's Augusta Colts from 2006-2008, and the Southern Professional Hockey League's Augusta RiverHawks from 2010-2013.

The Arena hosted UFC 11.

The arena has also hosted many concerts and pro wrestling events, including ECW's December to Dismember in 2006. Many bands have played the arena including Van Halen, Rush, Heart, Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, KISS, Bon Jovi, Molly Hatchet, John Cougar, Kansas, Charlie Daniels Band, Alabama, Blackfoot, Mother's Finest, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Marshall Tucker Band, and Loverboy.

The center-hung Fair Play scoreboard dates to the arena's opening in 1980, and in recent years has been joined by additional scoreboards and a Trans-Lux LED video display which can be found at each end of the arena.

Video James Brown Arena

Incidents

In late February 2013, the arena's ice system malfunctioned, causing all of the arena's ice to melt. As a result, following the playing of the remaining 2012-13 regular season games at the RiverHawks practice facility, the Augusta RiverHawks suspended operations for the 2013-14 season. After team owner Bob Kerzner, the city of Augusta, and Global Spectrum failed to reach an agreement on how to replace the $1.2 million ice system, Kerzner and the SPHL announced that the RiverHawks would move to Macon and resume play as the Macon Mayhem for the 2015-16 SPHL season.