Baltimore Civic Arena

Royal Farms Arena

Chicken Coup
Exterior of arena (c.2012)
Former names	Baltimore Civic Center (1961–1986) Baltimore Arena (1986–2003, 2013–2014) 1st Mariner Arena (2003–2013)
Address	201 West Baltimore Street
Location	Baltimore, Maryland
Public transit	Charles Center University Center / Baltimore Street
Owner	City of Baltimore
Operator	SMG
Executive suites	2
Capacity	Concerts: 14,000 (center stage) 13,650 (end stage) Basketball: 12,289 Ice Hockey/Arena Football/Indoor Soccer: 11,286
Record attendance	14,679 (Bruce Springsteen, 2009)
Construction
Broke ground	December 1959
Opened	October 23, 1962 (1962-10-23)
Renovated	1986, 2003
Construction cost	$14 million ($115 million in 2016 dollars)
Architect	AG Odell Jr. and Associates
Tenants
Baltimore Clippers (AHL/SHL) (1962–1977) Baltimore Bullets (NBA) (1963–1973) Baltimore Banners (WTT) (1974) Baltimore Blades (WHA) (1974–1975) Baltimore Blast (MISL I) (1980–1992) Baltimore Skipjacks (AHL) (1981–1993) Baltimore Thunder (MILL/NLL) (1987–1999) Baltimore Bayrunners (IBL) (1999–2000) Baltimore Blast (MASL) (1992–present) Baltimore Bandits (AHL) (1995–1997) Baltimore Blackbirds (AIFA) (2007) Baltimore Mariners (AIFA) (2008–2010, 2014) Baltimore Charm (LFL) (2011–2014) Baltimore Brigade (AFL) (2017–present)
Website
Venue Website

Coordinates: 39°17′19″N 76°37′8″W / 39.28861°N 76.61889°W / 39.28861; -76.61889

Royal Farms Arena (originally the Baltimore Civic Center and formerly Baltimore Arena) is an arena located in Baltimore. The 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 11,100 and can be expanded up to 14,000, depending upon the event.

The arena officially opened October 23, 1962. Designed by AG Odell Jr. and Associates, it was built on the site of "Old Congress Hall", where the Continental Congress met in 1776. As a cornerstone for the Inner Harbor redevelopment during the 1980s, it was reopened after renovations and was renamed the Baltimore Arena in 1986. 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 paid the city $75,000 a year to keep the naming rights to the complex. When this naming rights agreement ended in 2013, the arena was briefly returned to its "Baltimore Arena" name, until Royal Farms purchased the naming rights in September 2014. This deal calls for Royal Farms to pay $250,000 annually for five years to the city, and gives Royal Farms first rights to renew or restructure their deal at the end of the contract, or in the event that the city constructs a new arena. The Royal Farms Arena is owned by the city of Baltimore and is currently managed by SMG, a private management company.