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Attraction >Landmark
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Description and Basic Information ::
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 The historic Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall is the premier sports and family entertainment facility in southern New Jersey. The result of a $100 million state-subsidized renovation project, Boardwalk Hall plays host to more than 120 events annually. Entertainment here ranges from family shows, ice shows, the New Jersey State Wrestling Championships and a variety of concerts with acts ranging from Andrea Bocelli to Brittany Spears. The Boardwalk Hall is also home to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, an ECHL team which plays thirty-six home games from October through March.
Originally built in 1929 as the Atlantic City Convention Hall, the building was the largest auditorium in the world built without roof posts or pillars, and was heralded for its architectural and engineering achievements. Its clear span space spread 456-feet long and 310-feet wide, with a 137-foot-high barrel vault ceiling. Much like the new Boardwalk Hall of today, the original project boasted technical advances in lighting, acoustics, and performance design.
After Convention Hall was relocated several blocks west in the mid 1990s, the State of New Jersey decided to redevelop the historic Boardwalk structure and turn it into a permanent site for events, which included a more contemporary setting for the annual Miss America Pageant. The primary focus of the restoration revolved around the ceiling, the loggia, and the proscenium stage and curtain. This allowed for the insertion of a modern seating bowl in the lower portion of the original auditorium space.
The new seating bowl was installed below the historic arcade level to accommodate flexible modern seating that can be set in a variety of configurations. Seating capacity is approximately 13,800 for boxing and concerts, and 10,500 for hockey. 3,500 portable seats and 416 club seats were also installed.
Boardwalk Hall's floor area spreads for approximately 119,500 square feet. The original 137-foot barrel vaulted ceiling has been restored to provide improved acoustics and high-tech lighting effects. Modern sound and rigging technologies, including a moveable-rigging grid with a 90,000-pound hanging capacity, can accommodate a wide array of events. New amenities were also included in the redevelopment project, such as larger, more comfortable seating, a spacious concourse with a variety of concession facilities, and a full service kitchen suitable for catering special events.
The result of this planning is a spectacular venue that restores the splendor of the hall and which, through the use of modern technology, recreates the original lighting concept as a backdrop for contemporary events. The elaborate scheme of incandescent lights has been replaced by a computer-controlled network of colorized luminaries designed to efficiently up-light the restored ceiling with a full spectrum of colors. |
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:: Atlantic City >Midtown >Boardwalk :: |
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