The Florida Panthers' revitalization of the War Memorial Auditorium and construction of a new state-of-the-art practice and community ice facility in Fort Lauderdale is underway and slated for a Summer 2022 debut.
Originally announced in April of 2019, the Panthers’ privately financed $65 million War Memorial Auditorium revitalization, created through a public-private partnership with the City of Fort Lauderdale, marks one of the largest revitalizations of a community space in South Florida since the onset of the pandemic.
Standing as a tribute to military heroes on the western end of Fort Lauderdale’s 93-acre Holiday Park, the historic War Memorial Auditorium first opened in 1950 as a popular music and entertainment venue, drawing U.S. Presidents and celebrity icons from Buddy Holly to world boxing champion Héctor Camacho over the decades.
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The Panthers-led War Memorial Auditorium revitalization project will not only restore the iconic landmark to its original glory through adaptive reuse of its existing structure, but transform Fort Lauderdale’s largest park into a vibrant sports, entertainment, and recreation destination for all members of the community.
"We’re deeply committed to Broward County, and believe that the addition of this world-class sports and entertainment venue in the city of Fort Lauderdale will not only provide a unique and exciting opportunity for our players to connect with fans, but create a vibrant, centrally-located recreation destination where local families and members of the community can have fun and stay active,” said Panthers President and CEO Matt Caldwell.
When complete, the new ROSSETTI-designed 144,000 sq. foot sports and entertainment venue will house South Florida’s first-of-its-kind ballroom-style concert and performance venue, capable of accommodating up to 3,800 people for intimate live music and events.
The redesigned theater will preserve the War Memorial Auditorium’s classic art-deco character, while new enhancements and technical upgrades will modernize the space to accommodate global tour productions and larger-scale events. The auditorium will also continue to serve as an honored memorial for the Broward County community’s military veterans under the stewardship of the veteran-owned and led Florida Panthers.
“War Memorial Auditorium has served as a pillar in our Fort Lauderdale community for more than 70 years, and its revitalization will bring new life to an important and iconic social hub,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis
The addition of a state-of-the-art practice facility will feature two regulation-sized indoor ice rinks, including a dedicated public rink that will host a robust variety of youth and adult hockey programs, public skating, and figure skating for community members of all ages.
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The Panthers’ practice rink, which will primarily be used to further support community ice programming, will also feature stadium seating for up to 1,000 fans during practices and training camps. Admission will be free and open to the public. The facility will also be home to the Florida Panthers Foundation’s Youth Hockey Scholarship program, launching Spring 2021 in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County.
Additional project components include a sit-down indoor and outdoor restaurant, new community fitness and recreation spaces, and upgrades to the park’s existing sports and recreation facilities.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the site on May 25 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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