Rochester Minnesota downtown aerial view

The Mayo Civic Center is a multi-purpose

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 ...

and event facility in

Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota, the city is the home and birthplace of the renowned Mayo Clinic. Acco ...

. The original building was built in 1938, as a gift to the city by Dr. Charles H. Mayo and Mayo Properties Association (now

Mayo Clinic The Mayo Clinic () is a nonprofit American academic medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research. It employs over 4,500 physicians and scientists, along with another 58,400 administrative and allied health staff, ...

) and has been expanded and renovated several times over the years. It consists of a ballroom (40,000 sq. ft.) used for conferences and galas, an arena (5,200 seats) used for concerts, wrestling, and basketball, an auditorium (3,000 seats) used for concerts, performing arts, and sporting events, an exhibit hall for consumer shows and a theatre for the arts (1,084 fixed seat theatre). The Mayo Civic Center also has 23-meeting rooms/suites varying in size. Mayo Park, a serene, 11-acre park, adjacent to the venue offers groups the opportunity to host outdoor events. It was home to the

Rochester Mustangs The Rochester Mustangs were a senior ice hockey team from Rochester, Minnesota that played in the United States Hockey League from 1961 until the senior Mustangs ceased operations after the 1969-70 season. Notable players *Herb Brooks, NHL head c ...

ice hockey team and various professional basketball franchises. It is perhaps famous to music fans for being the shooting location for

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 ...

's music video for

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

's "

Wanted Dead or Alive Wanted Dead or Alive may refer to: Film and television * ''Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1951 film), an American film of 1951 * ''Wanted Dead or Alive'' (TV series), a 1958–1961 TV series starring Steve McQueen * ''Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1987 fil ...

Convention Center Expansion

In 2017, the Mayo Civic Center nearly doubled in size by adding a convention center to its existing footprint. The $84 million expansion features a 40,000 sq. ft Ballroom (can divide into three sections), 16 meeting rooms/suites, and two-executive boardrooms. The expanded center hosts medical and technical conferences, large business meetings and healthcare summits.

Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Civic Center acts as the main place for meeting and events of the

, as it plays host to medical lectures and company gatherings.

Sports and Entertainment hosted

Professional wrestling events

The

American Wrestling Association The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The territory was originally part o ...

held a weekly television broadcast for both syndication, and cable on ESPN, from 1989-1990. Other promotions like World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling also held shows here prior to their demise. The Civic Center recently has hosted World Wrestling Entertainment house shows with the WWE Raw, Smackdown and

ECW ECW may refer to: Professional wrestling * Extreme Championship Wrestling (originally Eastern Championship Wrestling), a professional wrestling promotion that operated from 1992 to 2001 * The Alliance (professional wrestling) (originally the WCW/E ...

appearing.

TNA TNA may refer to: Organisations * Tamil National Alliance, a political coalition in Sri Lanka * The National Alliance, a political party in Kenya * The National Archives (United Kingdom), a UK public body * Tonga Nurses' Association, a trade union ...

has hosted events here as well.

Other events

Notable events held the Civic Center are Disney Live,

Elmo Live Elmo Live! is a toy based on the Sesame Street character Elmo. It tells jokes, stories, sings and dances. Elmo Live is marketed by Fisher-Price Fisher-Price is an American company that produces educational toys for infants, toddlers and prescho ...

, Blue Man Group and other events. The

Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, and comedy in their style of play. Created in 1926 by Tommy Brookins in Chicago, Illinois, the team adopted the name ''Harlem'' because of i ...

and artists, such as KISS, Chris Young, Little Big Town,

Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three li ...

, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Bob Dylan, Hinder,

Celtic Woman Celtic Woman is an all-female Irish musical ensemble conceived and created by David Kavanagh, Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show ''Riverdance.'' In 2004, Downes recruited five Irish female music ...

Disturbed Disturbed may refer to: Books * ''Disturbed'', a 2011 novel by Kevin O'Brien (author) Film and TV * ''Disturbed'' (film), a 1990 film starring Malcolm McDowell * "Disturbed" (''Numb3rs''), a 2009 episode of ''Numb3rs'' * "The Disturbed", a 20 ...

, have performed in the arena. The Mayo Civic Auditorium is used for performing arts as well as concert events. Shows like "The Chocolate Factory" and 1940's Big Band Swing Revue " In the Mood" and other arts events have taken place here, as well as Broadway shows such as ''

Rent Rent may refer to: Economics *Renting, an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property *Economic rent, any payment in excess of the cost of production *Rent-seeking, attempting to increase one's share of e ...

''. Every two years, the

University of Minnesota Marching Band The University of Minnesota Marching Band (also known as UMMB, Minnesota Marching Band, and The Pride of Minnesota) is the marching band of the University of Minnesota and the flagship university band for the state of Minnesota. The Pride of Minne ...

performs its indoor concert at the venue in addition to its traditional series at Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis. It annually hosts the NYWA Youth Wrestling State Championships which is one of the biggest wrestling tournaments in the United States. It hosted the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship in 2001 and 2002.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1938 establishments in Minnesota Buildings and structures in Rochester, Minnesota Indoor arenas in Minnesota Indoor ice hockey venues in Minnesota Sports venues in Minnesota Tourist attractions in Olmsted County, Minnesota Continental Basketball Association venues