What's the future of the Civic Center?

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - From its past to its present, the Mobile Civic Center has hosted numerous events - ranging from concerts and Mardi Gras Balls, to Disney on Ice.

“There were flower shows. There were concerts. There were dances. It had a calendar that was very full during that period,” said Mobile research historian Charles Torrey.

Since 2011, the economic impact from the Civic Center dropped from an average of $40 million to $33 million, a $7 million decrease.

Torrey believes it’s a change of the times.

“It’s just a change in the way people live basically, and what they enjoy. And it’s hard for producers and people here to bring events in if the public doesn’t support it, and that’s the major key,” he said.

Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson said the city has been toying with how to retrofit the center to reduce the operating costs.

He said the air conditioning unit that’s currently being used is cooling the entire facility, and that’s costing a lot of money.

He said, however, he does not want to tear down the structure because it’s needed for events that can’t be held elsewhere, like Mardi Gras balls.

Tuesday, November 13, Richardson’s granddaughter, 23-year-old Crystal Womack, was appointed to the Mobile Civic Center Advisory Board. Richardson hopes she can bring some new ideas to the table. 

“If we get a company here that’s going to provide us something different from what we have but yet has a facility that we can bring the medium size events to our city, I say let’s do it,” said Richardson.

We asked if having his granddaughter on the advisory board will be a conflict of interest. Richardson said since it’s a volunteer position and no money is exchanged, it won’t be.

Urban Planner Andres Duany met with Mobile civic leaders earlier in November and mentioned demolishing the Civic Center Arena.

He also brought up the idea of turning the arena into a Target department store or a neighborhood grocery store.

If the Civic Center does close, it's estimated to save the city about $148,000 per year.

The future of the Civic Center lies in the hands of the City of Mobile's administration but they were unavailable for comment.