Welsh Auditorium

{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name      = Welsh Auditorium
| nickname          = 
| image             = Civic auditorium, Grand Rapids, Michigan (64097).jpg
| fullname          = Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium
| location          = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|42.967658|-85.673940|display=it|type:landmark}}
| broke_ground      = 1932
| built             = 1932-1933
| opened            = 1933
| renovated         = 1984,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.erhardtcc.com/Projects/Municipal-Civil/Welsh-Auditorium.aspx|title = Erhardt Projects Page}}</ref> 2005
| expanded          = 
| closed            = 2003
| demolished        = 
| owner             = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
| operator          = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
| surface           = 
| construction_cost = 1.5 Million 
| architect         =Robinson & Campau; Smith, Hinchman and Grylls 
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor=Owens-Ames-Kimball
| project_manager   =City Manager George Welsh 
| main_contractors  = 
| former_names      = Civic Auditorium (1933&ndash;1975)
| tenants           = [[Grand Rapids Hornets]] ([[National Professional Basketball League (1950&ndash;51)|NPBL]]) (1950)<br />[[Grand Rapids Hoops]] ([[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]) (1989&ndash;1996)
| seating_capacity  = 3,800 
| 
}}
'''Welsh Auditorium''' also known as "Civic Auditorium," was a 3,800-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] and [[convention center]] in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]. The front façade and lobby remain today.

==History==

According to the History of Grand Rapids: "Though desired for many years, Grand Rapids finally obtained a public auditorium during the Great Depression. Hoping to put the city’s unemployed to work on the project, City Manager George Welsh coordinated a one-and-a-half million-dollar public bond effort in 1930 to fund the construction project.  The building committee selected the riverfront site of the old interurban station at Lyon and Campau.

Local architects Robinson & Campau produced a design that combined Renaissance and Art Deco elements.  The building included an exhibition hall, meeting rooms, a concert space, and the main arena for a total capacity of over 8,000 spectators.  The vast lobby reflects the sleek, polished metal and marble of the Art Deco style."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historygrandrapids.org/audio/2499/civic-auditorium|title = Civic Auditorium}}</ref>

Civic Auditorium was home to the [[Grand Rapids Hornets]] of the [[National Professional Basketball League (1950-1951)]] and the [[Grand Rapids Hoops]], of the [[Continental Basketball Association]]. It also hosted many concerts and events.

In 1975, Civic Auditorium was renamed the "George Welsh Civic Auditorium," after the former City Manager and Mayor. The name shortened to "Welsh Auditorium" over time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://devosperformancehall.com/history-1 |title=History {{!}} DeVos Performance Hall |website=devosperformancehall.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110211057/http://devosperformancehall.com/history-1 |archive-date=2013-11-10}} </ref>

With the "Civic Auditorium" front façade and lobby remaining intact, the auditorium portion was imploded on July 19, 2003, and in February 2005 was incorporated as a part of the Steelcase Ballroom of the [[DeVos Place Convention Center]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historygrandrapids.org/audio/2499/civic-auditorium|title = Civic Auditorium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grandrapidsbuildings.com/civic-auditorium-1|title = Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grandrapidsbuildings.com/civic-auditorium/|title = Civic Auditorium}}</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.historygrandrapids.org/items.php?itemId=424&full=1 Venue information]

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Music venues completed in 1933]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1933]]
[[Category:Defunct sports venues in Michigan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
[[Category:Convention centers in Michigan]]
[[Category:Concert halls in Michigan]]
[[Category:Defunct indoor arenas in the United States]]
[[Category:1933 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2003]]
[[Category:2003 disestablishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Michigan]]
[[Category:Indoor arenas in Michigan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished by controlled implosion]]

{{Michigan-sports-venue-stub}}