Memories of the Lansing Civic Center: 1955-1999

I saw – and emceed – some decent concerts at the old Lansing Civic Center in downtown Lansing during the 70s and 80s. Who performed there, some may ask? Well, dig these:
ADAM ANT
ALDO NOVA
ALICE COOPER
APRIL WINE
ART GARFUNKEL
ASSOCIATION
BABYS
BAD COMPANY
BEACH BOYS
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
BLUE OYSTER CULT
BOBBY RYDELL
BON JOVI
BUDDY MILES
CANNED HEAT
CARPENTERS
CHEAP TRICK
CHUCK BERRY
CLIFF RICHARD
CRESTS
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH
DANNY AND THE JUNIORS
DAVE CLARK 5
DAVE MASON
DEL SHANNON
DOLLY PARTON
DONNIE IRIS
DUKE ELLINGTON
EDDIE MONEY
FOGHAT
FOUR SEASONS
FRANKIE AVALON
FRANKIE VALLI
FREDDY CANNON
GENE AUTRY
GORDON LIGHTFOOT
GUESS WHO
HALL AND OATES
HARRY CHAPIN
INXS
IRON MAIDEN
ISLEY BROTHERS
J. GEILS BAND
JAMES BROWN
JEFFERSON STARSHIP
JERRY LEE LEWIS
JOHN DENVER
JOHNNY CASH
JOHNNY TILLOTSON
JOSE’ FELICIANO
JOURNEY
JUDAS PRIEST
KISS
KINKS
LEO SAYER
LETTERMEN
LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS
LITTLE FEAT
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
MEN AT WORK
MERLE HAGGARD
MOLLY HATCHET
MOTLEY CRUE
NAZARETH
NEIL YOUNG
OZZY OSBOURNE
PETER FRAMPTON
PSYCHEDELIC FURS
QUIET RIOT
RAINBOW
RATT
REO SPEEDWAGON
ROBERT PALMER
ROMANTICS
RONNIE JAMES DIO
RUSH
SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS
SAMMY HAGAR
SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS
SHEENA EASTON
STEVE MARTIN
STRAY CATS
TED NUGENT
38 SPECIAL
TRIUMPH
TURTLES
WAYLON JENNINGS
WHITESNAKE
ZZ TOP

Not only did the center host rock shows, but also circuses and conventions.

The Civic Center was located at 525 W. Allegan on the southwest corner of Allegan and South Pine. It opened with a capacity of 6,500 in 1955. When the newer Lansing Center was constructed in the 1980s, the Civic Center was re-named 'Civic Arena' so it wouldn't be confused with the other. The name change took place in 1987.

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1994: The center is sold to Heart of the City Associates
1999: The center is demolished

Why was it torn down? There were plans to turn the center into offices for the state but expenses for the change were too high. “Ah, let's just tear it down.” Bad move. There were too many memories for anyone walking through the center and within those walls that we can never get back.

The gallery below features a good handful of those memories...