1st Mariner Arena

Poor ice conditions at 1st Mariner Arena put a damper on the inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic, the city's first pro ice hockey game in 14 years. Frank Remesch, general manager of 1st Mariner Arena, on Wednesday expressed optimism that the Washington Capitals would play another preseason game there in 2012. Still, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis wrote on his blog that “the people in Baltimore were really terrific to work with.” A Capitals spokesman said Thursday morning that the team isn't prepared to make any decisions on potential future preseason games in Baltimore at this time.

Here's our round-up of the week's most notable concerts. For more shows, check out FindLocal . Ticket prices do not reflect any additional surcharges and taxes. On Monday, the wonderfully named I Set My Friends on Fire plays Sonar ( $11/$13 ). On Tuesday, singer-songwriter Jim White performs at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis ( $15 ). On Wednesday, Rammstein performs at 1st Mariner Arena ( $47-$90 ). mainstream hard-rockers Shinedown headline the Avalanche Tour at Rams Head Live ( $35 )

Frank Remesch's mission was clear, if daunting. Somehow, he had to convince people that the hulking, cavernous 1st Mariner Arena , a 1960s relic that civic leaders had been talking about razing for years, was still a player — could still attract big-time concerts to Baltimore. Tough job. But then he had a flash. Maybe the World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band could help? They were in the middle of their 2006 American tour; they'd even played the arena twice before, back in the days when it was still called the Civic Center.

In February, 1st Mariner Arena officials said they were close to finalizing a deal with the Washington Capitals to bring the Baltimore Hockey Classic back to the arena in September. The Capitals made it official Thursday, announcing that they would play a preseason game in Baltimore on September 26. The Capitals, who are presently playing the Boston Bruins in the first round of the NHL playoffs, will host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second annual Baltimore Hockey Classic at 1st Mariner Arena . "We are excited to return to Baltimore," Capitals president Dick Patrick said in a statement on the team's official website.

Three men were stabbed near 1st Mariner Arena late Friday night after an argument between two groups escalated into a physical altercation, according to a Baltimore Police spokesman. Officers responded to the scene in the 200 block of W. Baltimore St. at 11:15 p.m. to find three victims who were stabbed, police said. Two men, ages 19 and 20, were transported to a local hospital for treatment, while a third victim refused medical treatment at the scene, according to police.

By most measures, the inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic at 1st Mariner Arena was a success. The game brought in a sellout crowd. Many of the announced 11,082 fans got into the action, wearing either the Washington Capitals' red or jerseys from the departed Baltimore Clippers, Skipjacks or Bandits. And organizers say the event was a hit financially. But Tuesday night's ice hockey showcase was missing one key ingredient: quality ice. Puddles formed on the ice during the Capitals' 2-0 preseason loss to the Nashville Predators.

1st Mariner Arena, which turns 50 next year, was unharmed after today's earthquake. Building inspectors toured the facility after the earthquake and found only a few cracks on the walls. "The building's infrastructure is in solid shape," said spokeswoman Jamie Curtis. Only Cirque du Soleil experienced a glitch as a result of the tremors. The circus was setting up for Wednesday, the first of five nights at the arena, and had to temporarily pause the installation for the building to be evacuated, like most everywhere downtown.  The circus's engineers also toured the venue after the earthquake and found scant damage.

1st Mariner Arena is the top arena of its size in the U.S., according to industry publications Billboard Magazine and Venues Today. After a star-studded year including performances from Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Jay-Z, the aging venue took the No. 1 spot for arenas with capacities from 10,001 to 15,000. The results were based on the number of tickets sold and gross revenue, according to Frank Remesch, 1st Mariner's general manager. "We had a heck of a run this year," Remesch said.

Officials at 1st Mariner Arena are close to finalizing a deal with the Washington Capitals to host an NHL preseason game for the second straight year. The second annual Baltimore Hockey Classic will be held Sept. 27. An announced sellout crowd of 11,082 packed the Arena last September for the first professional ice hockey game in Baltimore since 1997. The Capitals lost, 2-0, to the Nashville Predators. Despite issues with the ice surface during the game, the Capitals will return to the Baltimore market.

Chris Brown performed Wednesday night at 1st Mariner Arena as part of his F.A.M.E. tour. Frequent Midnight Sun contributor Jeremy Trucker has this review: Before seeing Wednesday night's F.A.M.E. tour at 1st Mariner Arena, I wasn't convinced Chris Brown's talent was special enough to warrant his continued, well, fame.  After seeing the mediocre show, I remain unconvinced.  Brown has charisma and he can dance, though I'm not prepared to say he can sing live.  But there are lots of charismatic kids out there who can dance and lipsync and auto-tune.  Kevin Federline can dance, for instance, and network programming is 93% Simon Cowell-produced singing competitions.   In fact, I'd venture a guess that Cowell and his record company fat cats could find plenty of kids in Baltimore alone with the charisma and talent to match a Chris Brown.   Though the upper level was closed at Wednesday's show, Brown still has fans, mostly young women, who show up and pay good money to swoon over his slow jams and bop around to his pop hits.  As long as that is true, there will always be songwriters (30 plus in  thirty-some "F.A.M.E.

Van Halen is extending its national tour and will perform at 1st Mariner Arena this summer. The band's show has been set for July 15, promoter Live Nation announced Tuesday morning. The show is a huge coup for 1st Mariner, which had badly wanted the band to play the venue on the first leg of the tour but which, in a recurring pattern , lost out to the larger, newer Verizon Center in Washington. It appears the show will be the band's first in the city since 2008.

Officials at 1st Mariner Arena are close to finalizing a deal with the Washington Capitals to host an NHL preseason game for the second straight year. The second annual Baltimore Hockey Classic will be held Sept. 27. An announced sellout crowd of 11,082 packed the Arena last September for the first professional ice hockey game in Baltimore since 1997. The Capitals lost, 2-0, to the Nashville Predators. Despite issues with the ice surface during the game, the Capitals will return to the Baltimore market.

One of the promotions at 1st Mariner Arena this season involves the Blast's cheerleaders passing out free Snickers bars after every goal for the home team. The cheerleaders were busy Wednesday night, and the announced crowd of 2,316 left filled up as the Blast dominated the overmatched Norfolk SharX, 26-4, in a rare mid-week game. The win clinches home-field advantage for the Blast (14-4) in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Division final with six games remaining in the regular season.

When: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. Where: 1st Mariner Arena Video: baltimoreblast/schedule/broadcastschedule Outlook: With seven games left in the regular season, the Blast can clinch the home field in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Division finals with a victory. If past performances are any indication, the Blast should get the job done. This will mark the third time in a span of less than two weeks the teams have met in Baltimore, and the Blast dominated the first two games.

WWE returns to 1st Mariner Arena on Sunday night for WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. The main bout of the pay-per-view event — which starts at 7:45 p.m. — is a Triple Threat Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match featuring CM Punk, The Miz and Alberto Del Rio. Triple H also returns to the ring in Baltimore for the first time in two years for a showdown with Kevin Nash. Another TLC highlight will be the Intercontinental Championship match starring Booker T, who is leaving the broadcast table to settle a grudge against belt-holder Cody Rhodes.

Among arenas seating between 10,000 and 15,000 people, 1st Mariner was the year's highest grossing with nearly $16 million, Billboard magazine said in its year-end issue. It's the second year in a row the 1960s venue has received the honor. In 2009, it came in third behind Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, N.J., and the MGM Grand's Garden Arena in Las Vegas. 1st Mariner opened in 1962 as the Baltimore Civic Center, and has drawn the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen over the years despite its age. After nearly 50 years in business, city officials are seeking funding to replace it with a bigger, slicker facility.

Van Halen is extending its national tour and will perform at 1st Mariner Arena this summer. The band's show has been set for July 15, promoter Live Nation announced Tuesday morning. The show is a huge coup for 1st Mariner, which had badly wanted the band to play the venue on the first leg of the tour but which, in a recurring pattern , lost out to the larger, newer Verizon Center in Washington. It appears the show will be the band's first in the city since 2008.

Superstar rapper Lil Wayne and his prot���©g���© Nicki Minaj headline a star-studded lineup for the "I Am Music II" tour, which will come to Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena March 20, according to concert promoter Live Nation. The pair will be joined by Miami-based rapper Rick Ross and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. The tour, which will be Wayne's first tour since his prison release nearly three months ago, kicks off March 18 in Buffalo, N.Y., and ends May 1 in East Rutherford, N.J. The "I Am Music II" tour is also scheduled to stop at the Verizon Center in Washington on April 3. Wayne, a New Orleans native, has become a fan- and critic-favorite with his unique voice, witty lyrics and catchy beats.

Reporter Chris Kaltenbach reviews a concert by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at 1st Mariner Arena November 25. Funny thing about reviewing Bob Seger in concert: his song titles pretty-much write the review themselves: “Old Time Rock & Roll,” “We've Got Tonight,” “Rock & Roll Never Forgets,” “Night Moves.” If only he had recorded Carole King's “You've Got a Friend,” my work would be done. Thirty-two years after last playing 1 st Mariner (it was known as the Civic Center back then)

With seven new players on a Blast roster that is now dominated by youth, it's understandable that the team may need some time to come together this Major Indoor Soccer League season. But not scoring a goal in its season home opener until the fourth quarter? By the time Max Ferdinand scored the Blast's first goal with 13:04 left to play on Saturday night, the home team had surrendered 13 points to the expansion Syracuse Silver Knights, who went on for a stunningly comfortable 18-7 win in front of an announced crowd of 8,087 at 1st Mariner Arena . Syracuse midfielder Andre Berenzon was the Blast's primary pest, scoring one two-point goal, one three-pointer and adding two assists to finish with seven points.