Ft. Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium Revitalized

WAR UPGRADE: Upgrades at the historic War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale include lighting and sound systems, dressing rooms, multiple bars and VIP seating areas. (Courtesy Venue)

Live Nation is the exclusive promoter and booking partner

The NHL Florida Panthers reopened the historic and revitalized War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, adding a concert and live event venue to the bustling recreation and entertainment complex known as FTL War Memorial.

The 1950s era War Memorial Auditorium situated on the west end of the city’s 93-acre Holiday Park, was reimaged as a contemporary multi-use concert venue with 44,000 square feet of space for 3,500 patrons on the floor and the added premium seating on the mezzanine level. Production upgrades and amenities include modern lighting and sound systems, four large artist dressing rooms, multiple bars and VIP seating areas.

“We’ve done a great job preserving the original structure and the exterior,” explained Bryce Hollweg, Panthers COO. “It will look familiar to people walking up but we have completely transformed the inside – the beautiful second floor mezzanine, the hospitality, bars and VIP spaces. The feel that we were going for is making sure that we are preserving the past but really celebrating the future.”

The venue’s hospitality partner is Florida-based Knallhart Management Group. Live Nation, which has a longstanding relationship with the Panthers, is the exclusive promoter and booking partner at the War Memorial Auditorium. Scheduled shows feature a variety of artists including Melissa Etheridge (Jan. 21), Wallows (Feb. 24) and The Driver Era (March 7). The venue size gives tours another option between the 2,600-cap Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the 7,000-capacity Hard Rock Live theater at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

“Not just Broward County, but South Florida in general you have so many rooms here – whether that’s the casino or the Hard Rock Stadium or our arena, Amerant Bank, the 3,500 – especially GA floor – is such a niche in the area to cater to artists that may not want a fully seated show,” said Hollweg, who started with the Panthers around the same time the project broke ground four years ago.

The venue has the ability to use floor seats and tables as needed. “We can host anything, any genre from comedy to rock ‘n’ roll to DJ sets,” added Hollweg. “We have the ultimate flexibility in that room to pack it and have a great experience.”

The Florida Panthers, who play at the 22,000-capacity Amerant Bank Arena in nearby Sunrise, began leasing the venue in 2019 with plans to renovate it at a cost of $65 million. The city approved a 50 year, $1-a-year lease with an $800,000 grant from money that was already earmarked for renovations as part of the partnership.

The full restoration project was completed in two stages. The first opened earlier this year with the Baptist Health IcePlex, which includes two full-size ice rinks – one that caters to the public with youth and adult hockey and figure skating programs, and the other a Panthers practice rink – a full-service restaurant, team store and offices. The second phase was re-opening the adjacent War Memorial Auditorium in November.

“Our organization is community first,” explained Hollweg. “That’s our foundation. It’s more than just an organizational pillar. Being a good steward of the community is in our DNA. It was a no-brainer to revitalize such an important historic space in Fort Lauderdale that was in desperate need of some love and care.”

Not only is it the only NHL practice facility with a concert venue attached, the reimagined recreation hub for the community also serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Broward County’s military veterans under the stewardship of Vincent Viola, a U.S. Army veteran, graduate of West Point and owner of the Florida Panthers.

The Panthers renovated all veteran art and monuments around the venue including the U.S. Merchant Marine monument, red flags along the exterior walkway representing soldier art, one plaque representing Broward County veterans that served in the Vietnam War and a second plaque representing those killed in service. In the lobby patrons will find a bronze statue of a kneeling soldier.

“Even before you walk in there’s a bronze plaque with the names of those that have fallen while serving. That has an immediate impact,” said Hollweg, an active-duty veteran and graduate of West Point. “And as soon as you walk in the door in the lobby there’s a kneeling soldier – it’s very powerful and impactful.”

A centerpiece of the new marble floor in the lobby is the original in-ground commemorative plaque that describes the building as “a living memorial to those whose valor perpetuates our liberty.”

“There really was no expense spared from the Viola family not only to ensure a great experience – state-of-the-art sound and lighting and the room itself – but no expense spared to preserve these extremely important artifacts that honor our veterans of Broward County,” said Hollweg.

When it opened on Jan. 14, 1950, the War Memorial Auditorium hosted U.S. Presidents, performers and celebrities from Buddy Holly to World Boxing Champion Héctor Camacho and the professional boxing debut of Mickey Rourke in 1991.

Over the years, the venue was better known for hosting trade shows, flea markets and wrestling matches including Championship Wrestling from Florida between 1951 and 1987. It was home to television tapings for Ladies Major League Wrestling in 1990 and “UWF Fury Hour” in 1991. It was also host to ECW Hardcore Heaven in 1997, HOH Showdown in the Sun in 2012 and MLW WarGames in 2003 and 2018.

“The building lost its luster over the years,” offered Hollweg. “But with a great public/private partnership with the City of Fort Lauderdale and the plan to build the ice rinks, the restaurant and the flagship team store, the restoration of the War Memorial creates a true sports and entertainment hub that is the gem of the city in Holiday Park.”