Roy
Wilkins Auditorium, located in the St Paul RiverCentre complex, is a true asset
to downtown St Paul. It has a comfortable and retro feel that makes downtown St. Paul an entertainment destination for all different ages and backgrounds. It is an
ideal setting for rock, hip-hop, jazz, country, comedy and folk audiences
alike.
The
auditorium was built in 1932 as the Saint Paul Civic Center Auditorium. In 1984
it was renamed the Roy Wilkins Auditorium and after renovations in 1986, can
seat 5,844 guests for concerts, speaking or sporting events. The Legendary Roy
Wilkins Auditorium, boasts 44,800 sq ft and has hosted headliner acts such as
The Grateful Dead, David Bowie, KISS, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan just to
name a few.
While big
name acts are great, and the memories of those events will last forever in the
minds of Roy Wilkins patrons, it's the intimate experience that will have a
profound effect on the music and entertainment lovers.
Named for
the famous civil riots leader, Roy Wilkins, the auditorium would continue to
make him proud today. Roy Wilkins was raised in the predominantly
African-American Rondo neighborhood of St Paul. Located near what is now Rice Park in downtown St. Paul, Rondo Avenue was where Wilkins attributed his life lessons that
helped shape him into the prominent leader that he became. Most referred to Roy
Wilkins as the Father of Civil Rights due to his strong leadership of the NCAAP
and his ability to help pass legislation.
It is a
fitting tribute that the nearby entertainment venue that sits just one block
from Rice Park was re-named after Roy Wilkins in 1985. The Legendary Roy
Wilkins Auditorium, like the old memories of Rondo Avenue, is itself a
destination for music-lovers looking to experience a blend of musical genres.
It has transformed into an intimate venue suited to attract all types of
entertainment tastes.
If Mr. Wilkins
were still alive today, there is no doubt that he would be beaming with pride
at the sight of a flourishing St. Paul. The auditorium named after him will
always "keep music in abundance" and "seethe with the pulsating
beauty of the lives of its people."
The venue
is comfortable yet distinctive, spacious yet intimate. In addition to major
concert seating, the auditorium offers showcase entertainment in A Forum Event,
and the room can be transformed into an intimate club setting. Roy Wilkins is
proud to host recognizable performers and offer its patrons some of the most memorable
performances in entertainment history. The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium is
a great reason to go downtown St. Paul and enjoy a show!
Some great progressive music has been played at the Roy Wilkins auditorium, only fitting for the man it is named after. Open-minded bands like 311 have taken a liking to the venue and continue to come back to the Twin Cities to play Roy Wilkins. Mostly rock shows are the most popular at Roy Wilkins, with bands like The Killers, Incubus and Hinder finding the spacious auditorium plenty capable of housing their fan bases. Roy Wilkins is an important institution to the city of St. Paul, allowing music industry veterans as well as bands on their way to the A-list to play a concert in the capital city.
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