New arena, new opportunity

While the Howard Street department stores were gearing up for the 1964 fall shopping season, a worldwide phenomenon descended on the Holiday Inn on Lombard Street - then distinguished by its revolving rooftop restaurant - when it played host to the Beatles during their performances at what was called the Civic Center, now 1st Mariner Arena.

The downtown department stores have long gone, of course, but the arena remains and, despite some cosmetic renovation, is substantially the same facility that provided the venue for Baltimore's brush with the Fab Four nearly 43 years ago. Now a report commissioned by the Maryland Stadium Authority has concluded that the building has "served its useful life" and should be replaced. Such a recommendation is long overdue.

Inherent deficiencies limited the usefulness of this facility from the beginning. Its rectangular configuration entirely ignored the concept of sightlines, and a permanent stage dominates one entire end. The boxy envelope also meant that many seats have obstructed views, causing the National Hockey League to abandon plans for a Baltimore franchise. Some planned features fell victim to budget cutting, most notably a sliding roof for open-air events. The building's weird roofline is all that remains of that design idea. Capacity was also limited to something less than 12,000.

These fundamental problems can never be entirely corrected by renovation, and they have been joined over time by the glaring absence of what are now considered standard amenities. While it remains an active host for ice shows, circuses and the undeniable fun of indoor soccer, the arena is woefully inadequate as a site for today's major shows and concerts, professional and collegiate sports, and the largest conventions and trade shows. All of these events now bypass Baltimore.

That is significant, because downtown Baltimore today is economically dependent on its ability to attract recreational dollars. The old engines of commerce have been replaced by entertainment and tourism. That was inconceivable in 1964, but it is a fact of life now, thanks to the rejuvenation of the Inner Harbor, the building of the Convention Center and the redevelopment of Camden Yards as a sports complex. Having thus jumped headlong into the saving waters of a vibrant service economy, we are, like it or not, in a competition with many other cities that have adopted the same economic strategy. In this context, the absence of a viable indoor facility is a severe disadvantage.