War Memorial Auditorium Reopens After $65 Million Renovation

Remember War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale? It's been offline for the past couple of years, but it's reopening soon as South Florida's newest midsized venue.

The 3,400-person venue located in the heart of the city's 93-acre Holiday Park will host its official ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, November 13. The revitalization has been five years in the making, a public-private partnership between the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Panthers, the latter investing $65 million to restore and enhance the property. (Don't worry, the midcentury modern façade remains intact.)

"This really completes the circle of turning Holiday Park into an entertainment and recreations hub," Bryce Hollweg, chief operating officer of the Florida Panthers, tells New Times. "We have the Baptist Health IcePlex, the park itself, and now a go-to place for concerts and a night out. This building, in many ways, is a tribute to our fallen heroes, too. While it may have lost some of its luster through the years, we've brought it back to life while honoring and preserving its past."

War Memorial Auditorium originally opened in 1950 as one of the city's first largest indoor spaces. Over the years, it hosted everything from U.S. presidents to rock icon Buddy Holly and world boxing champion Héctor Camacho. Earlier this year, and just in time for playoff watch parties amid the Panthers' historic Stanley Cup run, the Baptist Health IcePlex opened. It includes two sheets of hockey-ready ice, the Federal bar and restaurant, a Pantherland team store, team offices, and more.

The auditorium boasts 44,000 square feet of space, encompassing a general admission floor space and a premium, seated mezzanine level. Paying homage to the past, there's a soldier statue right inside its front doors honoring Broward County servicemen and women. There are two plaques throughout its grounds as well, paying respect to Broward County veterans who served during the Vietnam War as well as one honoring those who lost their lives defending our country.
"It really is a state-of-the-art facility that puts our community first," says Hollweg. "Thus far, our players have really enjoyed the complex, too, with many driving their golf carts to practice and more. It really is all first-class."

Live Nation is handling the venue's booking. On the uniqueness of the space, Brittany Flores, regional president of Live Nation in Florida, tells New Times, "War Memorial Auditorium is the only ballroom of its kind in South Florida. It offers a unique mix of a GA floor and loge seating, giving fans an intimate concert experience while still being able to accommodate artists with larger audiences."

Initial shows booked for War Memorial Auditorium include roots rock icon Melissa Etheridge (January 21); indie rock band Wallows (February 24), which features frontman-actor Dylan Minnette of 13 Reasons Why fame; and alt-rock duo the Driver Era (March 7).

On future bookings and all that may be ahead, Flores says, "We're always evolving to meet market demand, and we'll be looking to our fans for feedback. There's always something exciting on the horizon as we continue to adapt and grow with the South Florida market."

War Memorial Auditorium. 800 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-835-7080; ftlwarmemorial.com.