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Located just south of the Twin Cities Metro Area, the Mayo Civic Center has hosted its share of big name events. Named after the famous Mayo Clinic, the Mayo Civic Center is a multi-purpose arena based in Rochester, Minnesota. The entire center hosts over 1300 events annually. The Mayo Civic Center's Taylor Arena plays host to a variety of concerts, family shows, and sporting events each year. This 25,000 square foot arena space can seat up to 5,200 concert goers and offers great views and acoustics.
The idea for a Civic Center in Rochester began way back in 1938 when civic leaders dedicated a new Mayo Civic Auditorium. The Auditorium was designed as a dual-venue complex and provided much needed entertainment for the citizens of the growing Rochester community. The original building housed a 1,700 seat athletic arena and hockey rink and a 1,340 seat theatre for theatre and music productions. The complex had separate entrances for each venue but a connected back-of-house area. The original brick and concrete structure was expertly designed by Ellerbe and Company of St. Paul, MN.
In 1972, the Mayo Civic Auditorium underwent modifications and improvements to the air conditioning systems for the arena and theatre. The Rochester community was continuing to grown and the Auditorium was used on a regular basis. In this first major renovation project, a room was added to the south of the arena to accommodate new mechanical equipment to modernize the facility. Then, in 1978, the Zumbro River flooded a large part of the facility damaging the lobby and seating in the theatre. City leaders promptly added a flood control gate to the entrance as a further preventive measure.
In 1984, the Mayo Civic Auditorium officially became the Mayo Civic Center when it added on Taylor Arena. This 18 million dollar project included the addition of a sky lit grand lobby that connected the sports arena and the theatre to the new 4,500 seat Taylor Arena. Taylor Arena was used to draw in big musical acts including Bob Dylan, Barry Manilow and Lorie Line just to name a few.
In early 1995, the Mayo Civic Center got hooked up to the Rochester Skyway System, giving visitors’ easy controlled climate access year round to the arena, parking ramps, hotels and restaurants. In 1997, an expansion to the west side added a much needed concourse to the theatre, four Civic Center Suites and a Grand Ballroom. Also in 1997, the theatre received a facelift of its own getting a lager lobby, refurbished seating, a new light and sound system and a fresh paint job. In 1998, Rochester voters authorized the extension of the city's 1/2% sales tax which when combined with a bonding grant from the state of Minnesota would offer another renovation of the auditorium, adding a north lobby and 25,000 square foot exhibit hall, updating connectivity technology, and updating existing HVAC and finishes.
In 2001, the new 25,200 square foot Exhibit Hall addition was completed, creating a facility of 120,000 square feet, making it southern Minnesota / Northern Iowa’s largest event center. The contemporary massive complex serves the residents of Rochester and all Minnesotans very well. A concert at Taylor Arena will be sure to please even the pickiest music aficionado. The Mayo Civic Center offers a variety of entertainment choices. Whether you are a sports fan or music buff, love the theater or want to see the latest and greatest products, the Mayo Civic Center will surely have something to appeal to your tastes! Buy your tickets Now!
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The Mayo Civic Center prides itself in being Southern Minnesota’s largest events center. Today it hosts a wide range of different events including national basketball tournaments, music concerts, conferences and ballets. The summer 2007 lineup includes The Honeydogs, Eddie from Ohio, Loverboy and Sesame Street Live. Buy tickets for the Mayo Civic Center and come down from the Twin Cities to see an event at one of Rochester’s main attractions.
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