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  RP Funding Center Location within Florida Show map of Florida RP Funding Center Location within the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Former names | Lakeland Civic Center(1974-94) Lakeland Center(1994-2017) |
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| Address | 701 W Lime St Lakeland,Florida 33815-4534 |
| Location | Downtown Lakeland |
| Coordinates | 28°02′28″N81°57′49″W / 28.041053°N 81.963619°W /28.041053; -81.963619 |
| Owner | City of Lakeland |
| Capacity | Venues
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| Opened | November 16, 1974 |
| Tenants | |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies(NASL) (1983–84) Lakeland Loggerheads(WHA2) (2003–04) Lakeland Thunderbolts(NIFL/AIFA) (2005–07) Lakeland/Florida Marine Raiders(UIFL/XLIF) (2012–15) Central Florida Jaguars(AIF) (2016) Florida Tropics SC(MASL) (2016–2023) Lakeland Magic(NBAGL) (2017–2023) Florida Tarpons(AAL) (2018) Tampa Bay Tornadoes(AAL) (2021) | |
TheRP Funding Center (formerly theLakeland Civic Center and theLakeland Center) is a multipurpose entertainment complex inLakeland, Florida, comprising aconvention center,arena andtheater. Formerly, it was the home of theLakeland Magic, theOrlando Magic's affiliate in theNBA G League[1] and theFlorida Tropics SC of theMajor Arena Soccer League.
It was home to theLakeland Loggerheads of theWorld Hockey Association 2 during the 2003–04 season, theLakeland Thunderbolts of theNational Indoor Football League and later theAmerican Indoor Football Association from 2005 until 2007, the Lakeland Raiders of theUltimate Indoor Football League (later to be known as theFlorida Marine Raiders ofX-League Indoor Football) from 2012 until 2015, and theCentral Florida Jaguars of theAmerican Indoor Football in 2016. In 2018, theFlorida Tarpons of theAmerican Arena League relocated to Lakeland to use the arena for its home games.[2]
TheTampa Bay Rowdies of the defunctNorth 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.[3]
In 1975 and 1976 the arena hostedNational Hockey League exhibition matches between theMinnesota North Stars and theAtlanta Flames. Atlanta won both matches by the scores of 3–2 and 5–2, respectively.[4][5] Beginning with their inaugural season (1992–93), theTampa Bay Lightning used the center for training camp and exhibition games for several years. On September 23, 1992, hockey history was made asManon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game as the Tampa Bay Lightning played against theSt. Louis Blues.[6]
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).
Kiss performed here in 1976 when guitaristAce Frehley was electrocuted leading him to later go on and write his song "Shock Me", included on theLove Gun album.[7]
Duran Duran played theLakeland Civic Center on March 26, 1984, as part of theirSing Blue Silver world tour.
Since 2019 it is the current home of the Central Florida Comic Con.[8]
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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