Berglund Center (Roanoke)

Berglund Center (Roanoke)
Name	Berglund Center
Former names	Roanoke Civic Center
Location	Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Broke ground	1970
Opened	1971
Owner	City of Roanoke
Operator	Spectra Venue Management
Capacity	10,000

Berglund Center (Roanoke) is a multi-purpose arena and convention facility in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. Opened in 1971 as the Roanoke Civic Center, the venue has hosted sports competitions, concert tours, political rallies, and conventions for regional and national audiences. The complex sits near the banks of the Roanoke River and serves as a focal point for cultural and commercial activity in the Roanoke Valley and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

History

The site was conceived amid urban redevelopment initiatives in Roanoke, Virginia during the late 1960s, influenced by municipal leaders and planners who also engaged with institutions such as the Virginia General Assembly, the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce, and federal programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Groundbreaking occurred as civic stakeholders negotiated financing with regional banks and architectural firms experienced with arenas like the Richmond Coliseum and Norfolk Scope. When the facility opened in 1971, it joined a national cohort of mid‑century municipal arenas that included Madison Square Garden renovations and the newer Spectrum (Philadelphia) models, while hosting performances by major touring artists associated with promoters such as Live Nation and AEG Presents.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the center attracted touring productions from artists connected to labels and managers that frequently routed through venues like The Forum (Inglewood) and Rupp Arena. The center also became a home for minor league franchises patterned after markets with teams like the Hershey Bears and Springfield Falcons. Political figures including delegates, governors, and national candidates staged rallies, mirroring events at venues such as The Olympic Center and Xcel Energy Center.

Facilities and layout

The complex comprises an arena bowl, an exhibition hall, multiple meeting rooms, and support spaces used by promoters, teams, and conventions. The arena bowl configuration parallels designs seen at Civic Center (San Jose), with seating adaptable for ice hockey, basketball, and end-stage concert setups similar to layouts in the Knicks era of Madison Square Garden. Backstage infrastructure supports touring companies associated with the American Federation of Musicians and production crews that have worked on Grammy Awards‑level tours. Concourse amenities include concession stands operated in partnership with regional caterers and hospitality vendors linked to the Roanoke Civic Center Authority and municipal procurement contracts. Loading docks and rigging points accommodate articulated trucks used by production companies servicing acts that previously performed at PNC Arena and TD Garden.

The exhibition hall and meeting rooms host trade shows, community meetings, and collegiate conferences patterned after those held at centers like the Baltimore Convention Center and the Hynes Convention Center. Technical systems have been upgraded over time to meet standards promoted by organizations such as the National Association of Venue Managers.

Events and tenants

As a tenant and event host, the center has accommodated a range of sports franchises and touring acts. Ice hockey clubs inspired by franchises like the Roanoke Express and modeled on markets like the Toledo Walleye have called the arena home. Basketball events, including collegiate matchups featuring teams from the NCAA and local institutions such as Roanoke College, have been staged alongside wrestling cards promoted by organizations like World Wrestling Entertainment and regional independent promoters akin to Ring of Honor.

Concerts have featured performers on tours similar to those of Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, and newer acts associated with international promoters. Family shows, including touring productions comparable to Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, have been recurring attractions. Political rallies, commencement ceremonies for institutions like Virginia Tech and Radford University, and regional conventions for groups associated with trade bodies have also used the venue.

Renovations and expansions

The center has undergone multiple renovation campaigns to modernize seating, electrical systems, HVAC, and patron amenities. Capital projects mirrored upgrades implemented at peer venues such as the Spectrum Center and Bridgestone Arena, addressing ADA compliance under guidelines influenced by the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessibility best practices advocated by groups like the United Spinal Association. Naming rights agreements with corporate partners led to rebranding similar to deals seen with Pepsi Center and Staples Center; the Berglund family acquisition of naming rights followed philanthropic patterns seen with family foundations supporting civic institutions.

Phased expansions improved lobby circulation, hospitality suites, and media facilities to accommodate broadcasting partners including regional affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox Sports for televised events. Infrastructure investments were coordinated with municipal capital planning and regional economic development initiatives involving the Roanoke Regional Partnership.

Community impact and outreach

The venue functions as an economic engine for downtown Roanoke, Virginia, driving hotel bookings at properties affiliated with chains like Hilton, Marriott International, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and stimulating dining corridors frequented by patrons who also visit institutions such as the Taubman Museum of Art and the Mill Mountain Star. Outreach programs have partnered with local nonprofits, school districts, and health organizations including Carilion Clinic for community health fairs, youth sports clinics, and educational initiatives modeled on outreach efforts at arenas nationwide.

Cultural collaborations with performing arts organizations, regional orchestras resembling the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and touring Broadway productions contribute to the civic calendar alongside festivals and municipal celebrations coordinated with the City of Roanoke and regional tourism boards. The center’s role in disaster response and emergency planning aligns with practices employed by municipal venues during crises coordinated with agencies such as the FEMA regional offices.

Category:Sports venues in Virginia Category:Buildings and structures in Roanoke, Virginia