It was home to the
Lakeland Loggerheads of the
World Hockey Association 2 during the 2003–04 season, the
Lakeland Thunderbolts of the
National Indoor Football League and later the
American Indoor Football Association from 2005 until 2007, the Lakeland Raiders of the
Ultimate Indoor Football League (later to be known as the
Florida Marine Raiders of
X-League Indoor Football) from 2012 until 2015, and the
Central Florida Jaguars of the
American Indoor Football in 2016. In 2018, the
Florida Tarpons of the
American Arena League relocated to Lakeland to use the arena for its home games. The
Tampa Bay Rowdies of the defunct
North 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. In 1975 and 1976 the arena hosted
National Hockey League exhibition matches between the
Minnesota North Stars and the
Atlanta Flames. Atlanta won both matches by the scores of 3–2 and 5–2, respectively. Beginning with their inaugural season (1992–93), the
Tampa Bay Lightning used the center for training camp and exhibition games for several years. On September 23, 1992, hockey history was made as
Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game as the Tampa Bay Lightning played against the
St. Louis Blues. 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 guitarist
Ace Frehley was electrocuted leading him to later go on and write his song "Shock Me", included on the
Love Gun album.
The Rolling Stones started their
The Rolling Stones US Tour 1978 at the Civic Center on June 10, 1978.
Van Halen played the Civic Center on January 22, 1984 and April 10, 1986.
Miss USA 1985 was held at the Civic Center on May 13, 1985.
Bon Jovi performed at the Civic Center on September 25, 1989.
Duran Duran played the Lakeland Civic Center's arena on March 26, 1984, as part of their
Sing Blue Silver Tour. Since 2019 it is the current home of the Central Florida Comic Con. ==References==