Neal S. Blaisdell Center
| Neal S. Blaisdell Center | |
|---|---|
| Address | 777 Ward Ave Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-2166 |
| Location | Downtown Honolulu, Oahu |
| Owner | City and County of Honolulu |
| Opened | September 12, 1964 |
| Renovated | 1994 |
|
Construction cost
|
$14 million |
|
Former names
|
Honolulu International Center (1964-76) |
|
Classroom-style seating
|
72 (Oahu Room) 64 (Maui Room) 48 (Kauai Room) |
| Banquet/ballroom | 1,000 (Hawaii Suite) 700 (Pikake Room) 350 (Carla Coray Galleria) |
|
Theatre seating
|
8,800 (Blaisdell Arena) 2,157 (Blaisdell Concert Hall) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 65,000 square feet (6,000 m2) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 3,200 square feet (300 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 23,700 square feet (2,200 m2) |
| Website | Venue Website |
The Neal S. Blaisdell Center in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii is a community center for the City & County of Honolulu. Constructed in 1964 on the historic Ward Estate and originally called the Honolulu International Center, the center was renamed after Mayor of Honolulu Neal S. Blaisdell, who oversaw its construction. The multi-purpose complex is composed of an internationally renowned arena, concert hall, conference rooms, galleria and exhibition hall. It was remodeled and expanded in 1994. The complex is overseen by the City's Department of Enterprise Services which also oversees the Waikiki Shell. The City is seeking to redevelop the site with extensive stakeholder and public involvement to assess the community’s goals. Implementation of this plan will require significant investment by the City and its partners over the coming years, and the outcome will be an iconic symbol of the City and County of Honolulu.
The Neal S. Blaisdell Arena is a circular performance facility used for concerts and major sporting events. The arena can accommodate 7,700 seats for sports events, and up to 8,800 seats for stage events with seats set up on the arena floor.
Elvis Presley's "Aloha from Hawaii" concert was held here on 14 January 1973. In recognition of the concert, a bronze statue of Elvis was installed in 2007 outside the front of the arena. The statue was sponsored by the cable channel TV Land.
Other events at the arena include WWE, Disney on Ice, American Idol Live!, Sesame Street Live, college basketball and volleyball, and international gymnastics, as well as a fundraising concert for victims of Hurricane Iniki, with Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt, and a 1965 Billy Graham crusade.
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