The RP Funding Center (formerly the Lakeland Civic Center and the Lakeland Center) is a multipurpose entertainment complex in
Lakeland, Florida, comprising a
convention center
A convention center (American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typica ...
,
arena and
theater. Currently, it is home to the
Florida Tropics SC of the
Major Arena Soccer League and the
Lakeland Magic, the
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The franchise was establ ...
's affiliate in the
NBA G League.
About
It was home to the
Lakeland Loggerheads of the
World Hockey Association 2 during the 2003–04 season, the
Lakeland Thunderbolts of the
National Indoor Football League and later the
American Indoor Football Association from 2005 until 2007, the Lakeland Raiders of the
Ultimate Indoor Football League (later to be known as the
Florida Marine Raiders
The Florida Marine Raiders (formerly the Lakeland Raiders) were a professional indoor football team; though they began play in 2012 as a member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, for 2014 they became a charter member of the X-League Indoor Fo ...
of
X-League Indoor Football) from 2012 until 2015, and the
Central Florida Jaguars
The Central Florida Jaguars, commonly known as the Jags, were a professional indoor football team based in Lakeland, Florida.
The Jags were the third indoor football team to call Lakeland home; the first team was the Lakeland Thunderbolts which ...
of the
American Indoor Football in 2016. In 2018, the
Florida Tarpons of the
American Arena League relocated to Lakeland to use the arena for its home games.
The
South Florida Bulls men's basketball team played many home games at the then Lakeland Civic Center throughout the 1970s, and during the 2011–12 season when the
Sun Dome
Yuengling Center (formerly the USF Sun Dome) is an indoor arena on the main campus of the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, Florida. Construction began in November 1977, and it opened on November 29, 1980. It is located in USF's Athl ...
was being renovated.
The
Tampa Bay Rowdies of the defunct
North American Soccer League used the arena for indoor soccer on several occasions including three of their sixteen home games during the 1983-84 indoor season. This would also prove to be the league's final indoor campaign before suspending operations following the 1984 outdoor season.
In 1975 and 1976 the arena hosted
National Hockey League exhibition matches between the
Minnesota North Stars and the
Atlanta Flames. Atlanta won both matches by the scores of 3–2 and 5–2, respectively.
Beginning with their inaugural season (1992–93), the
Tampa Bay Lightning used the center for training camp and exhibition games for several years. On September 23, 1992, hockey history was made as
Manon Rhéaume
Manon Rhéaume (born February 24, 1972) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. An Olympic silver medalist, she achieved a number of historic firsts during her career, including becoming the first woman to play in exhibition game in any of t ...
became the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game as the Tampa Bay Lightning played against the
St. Louis Blues.
Elvis Presley played the Civic Center on April 27, 1975 (two shows, a matinee and an evening performance) and another evening performance on April 28, 1975. He played the center again a year later on September 4, 1976 (two performances, a matinee and an evening show).
The Grateful Dead performed at the arena on May 21, 1977. The show makes up half of the archival live album, ''
Dick's Picks Volume 29''.
Duran Duran
Duran Duran () are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer and bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. With the addition of drummer Roger ...
played here on March 26, 1984 as part of their
Sing Blue Silver world tour.
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald (American musician), Hugh McD ...
performed two back-to-back, sold-out shows at the arena in September 1989 as part of their
New Jersey Syndicate Tour. The shows were recorded and some tracks released as B-Sides.
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
performed here during the
Clash of the Titans tour
Clash of the Titans was a concert tour co-headlined by American thrash metal bands Megadeth and Slayer, which took place in September and October 1990 and again from May to July 1991. Launched in support of their respective albums ''Rust in Peace ...
on July 13, 1991, headlining together with
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...
and
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
, and supported by
Alice in Chains. Slayer's set was recorded and released as part of a double live-album, entitled ''
Decade of Aggression
''Decade of Aggression'' is a double live album by Slayer, released on October 22, 1991, through Def American, Def American Records (later renamed to American Recordings (US), American Recordings) and record producer, produced by Rick Rubin. The a ...
''.
U2 started the Zoo TV Tour on February 29, 1992 with a sold out concert with a total of 7,400 people.
Kiss performed here in 1976 when guitarist
Ace Frehley was electrocuted leading him to later go on and write his song "Shock Me", included on the ''
Love Gun'' album.
References
External links
Official website of RP Funding CenterThe Concert Database
{{Authority control
Arena football venues
Basketball venues in Florida
Buildings and structures in Lakeland, Florida
Defunct indoor soccer venues in the United States
Florida Tropics SC
Indoor arenas in Florida
Indoor ice hockey venues in Florida
Indoor soccer venues in the United States
Lakeland Magic
Music venues in Florida
NBA G League venues
North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor venues
Tampa Bay Rowdies sports facilities
Sports venues in Lakeland, Florida
Sports venues completed in 1974
1974 establishments in Florida
Former South Florida Bulls sports venues