ASHEVILLE, N.C.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MOLTON_CivicCenterName-330x255.jpeg)
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
The choice between U.S. Cellular and Harrah’s, the brand of two casinos owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will determine the logo that will grace the Civic Center’s signs, pole banners, receipts and event advertising for the next several years once the current agreement with U.S. Cellular expires on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Oralene Simmons founded Asheville’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast in 1982 for residents of the neighborhood surrounding the Montford Recreation Center. It quickly grew into an Asheville tradition that’s still going strong as Simmons plans this year’s 35th community commemoration of Dr. King’s life and legacy.
“Brian Haynes, Rich Lee and Keith Young have endorsed preservation of St. Lawrence Green as a public space. That’s one of many reasons I have endorsed them for Council. “
This morning, there were rumors that the Sesame Street event at the U.S. Cellular Center was canceled due to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s Thursday visit. But according to center staff, the promoter canceled the event due to low ticket sales.
At the close of business yesterday, no other company had submitted an upset bid to the city of Asheville, so the Asheville Civic Center will now be named the U.S. Cellular Center. The sale of the center’s naming rights, confirmed in a Nov. 22 City Council vote, was a controversial step.
It seems that everything wonderful about Asheville is under attack and being changed without the support — or even input — from the people who live here. Whatever forces are behind this seem determined to make the real Asheville just disappear. Want some examples? How did the scandalous, underhanded renaming of our Civic Center manage […]
I recently attended the String Cheese Incident concert at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at the Asheville Civic Center and was very disappointed by the way the crowd was being (mis)handled. Circumstances forced me to arrive about 10 minutes before show time, so I expected to breeze right in, most of the crowd already inside. Or […]
At their Nov. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council members voted 6-1 to approve a $1.3 million deal that gives U.S. Cellular naming rights to the Asheville Civic Center in an attempt to help renovate the aging facility. But other companies or organizations that want to counter-bid have a chance to do so — up till Dec. 31. During public comment on the matter, many speakers took issue with the deal, asserting it gives a corporate face to a unique piece of infrastructure with little return.
Xpress received a large volume of letters about the proposed agreement between the city of Asheville and U.S. Cellular. Announced on Nov. 10, the deal would grant naming rights to the Chicago-based company in exchange for an investment of “up to $1.3 million over eight years.” The deal is subject to Council approval, scheduled for the Nov. 22 meeting. Dozens of readers responded with a similar argument — the negotiations were too covert; corporate sponsorship clashes with Asheville’s distinct character; the bidding process for such a deal should be open — but many of the perspectives are unique. Two readers applaud the potential deal. In the following special post, Xpress compiled the letters on the proposed agreement. (Image provided by U.S. Cellular.)
My wife surprised me the weekend of Nov. 4 and took me to downtown Asheville for our wedding anniversary. We supported all the local restaurants and establishments for the weekend. One of my surprises was going to the Anthony Bourdain event at the Civic Center on Nov. 5. I was excited to see someone who […]
Asheville City Council needs to vote “no” on naming the Asheville Civic Center the U.S. Cellular Center (it sounds like a place to take your cell phone). It was very, very deceptive of City Council member Jan Davis to not mention this renaming before the election and to decide on it and not ask the […]
While most of us appreciate the voluminous time and effort on Asheville City Council’s part, interfacing with citizens on the “face” of Asheville, as expressed in the future name of the Civic Center, is central to the core of what Asheville is. Shame on Council for (seemingly) hiding behind time and circumstance and not exposing […]
Starting today and running through Sunday, the Asheville Civic Center will play host to the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. Check out our Xpress video preview of the event, featuring some of the event’s craftspeople talking about their work.
Apparently London has a folk scene, too. Two of its bands (along with The Low Anthem, from Rhode Island, and a surprise Mariachi band) performed to a capacity crowd on Tuesday night. Photos by Rich Orris.
Click here to check out a photo gallery from the 2010 Christmas Jam!
Photo by Jonathan Welch
Xpress has learned that Sir Elton John will perform live in concert at the Asheville Civic Center on November 16, 2011 at 8pm. Tickets will go on sale Monday, October 4th at 10am. Photo courtesy eltonjohn.com
Xpress staff reporter Michael Muller interviews Sam Powers, General Manager of the Civic Center and Director of Economic Development for the City of Asheville. In this exclusive video, Powers takes Xpress viewers on a guided tour and explains some of the changes coming to the 35-year old downtown institution.
The local roller derby team goes up against the Texas Hell Marys on Saturday, July 31.
Asheville’s Economic Development Director has been appointed to oversee the Asheville Civic Center.