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| War Memorial Auditorium 1967 Florida State Archives |
800 NE 8th Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
https://www.fortlauderdale.gov
Owned and operated by Fort Lauderdale, the War Memorial Auditorium opened January 14, 1950. The building seated 2,100 and served as a venue for wrestling matches, exhibits, shows, graduations, dances and more.
Miami News columnist William McHale, Jr. wrote about the memorial building, constructed for $450,000, shortly after it opened:
In the summer of 1946 civic groups began talking about a suitable commemoration for men
and women of Fort Lauderdale who had served in the recent war.
Ideas on what that memorial should be were plentiful, but Fort Lauderdale was in the swirl of a rapid growing period, and the need for a big gathering spot was pretty apparent. So the plan to
build an auditorium was approved by the civic organizations and work began in a hurry -
Miami News, Feb. 23, 1950
In 1948, some residents thought the auditorium would be too big for a small city the size of Fort Lauderdale. When it opened, others said it was not only a tribute to those who died in war but also a symbol of what the living could accomplish.
Today, the War Memorial Auditorium is seen as too small for this growing city. It is undergoing a major transformation.
The city of Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Panthers hockey team entered into agreement in June 2019 to renovate the facility. The Panthers are providing $45 million to build a public skating rink and a team training rink. The city will contribute $800,000 and lease its seven acres for $1 per year for 50 years to the Florida Panthers. The project should be completed summer of 2022.
Today, the War Memorial Auditorium is seen as too small for this growing city. It is undergoing a major transformation.
The city of Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Panthers hockey team entered into agreement in June 2019 to renovate the facility. The Panthers are providing $45 million to build a public skating rink and a team training rink. The city will contribute $800,000 and lease its seven acres for $1 per year for 50 years to the Florida Panthers. The project should be completed summer of 2022.
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| Under renovation 2020 |
It is expected the facility will serve as a new family destination. Skaters can cool off in the rink. It will also seat 4,000 for a variety of performances or shows. A 5,000 sq ft restaurant will overlook the park, which will be newly landscaped with additional trees. Lots of excitement to come--and frustration with traffic.
For what's to come see: https://ftlwarmemorial.com
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Sources:
Fort Lauderdale News, Aug. 24, 1948
Fort Lauderdale News, Jan. 14, 1950
Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 26, 2018
Sun-Sentinel, Oct. 18, 2019
Sun-Sentinel, March 3, 2022
Tags: Fort Lauderdale in the 1950s, War Memorial Auditorium, Florida Panthers,
Fort Lauderdale history
