MLK Renaming

A renaming ceremony for the Civic Center honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was held on January 17, 2026. The event included arena tours, interactive activities and a community memory-collection initiative preserving residents’ reflections and historical materials connected to the venue and Dr. King’s impact on Savannah. 

Watch a recap of the event:

• Download the Renaming Celebration and Ceremony event program

Savannah's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center: A Brief History

A new Civic Center was first proposed in 1960 to replace the City’s aging Municipal Auditorium on Orleans Square. In 1967, the City Council approved the construction of a new Civic Center and hired architects Ben Ritzert and Vernon Nowell to design a combined arena and theatre complex. Using federal Urban Renewal funds and a general obligation bond issue, the $7.9 million construction project exemplified the New Formalist architectural style popular with high-profile cultural and municipal buildings of the era.

The Savannah Symphony hosted the Civic Center’s first event in December 1971, before construction was finished. The official grand opening was a week-long affair in February 1972, highlighted by a gala featuring songwriter, lyricist, and Savannah native Johnny Mercer.

In 1978, the theatre was named in honor of Johnny Mercer. At the request of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the City Council named the arena in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in July 1984.

In 1996, a $5.5 million renovation and expansion included the addition of 9,000 square feet of second-floor community meeting rooms, extending beyond the exterior walls under the portico. All the rooms were named in honor of African Americans and women who made significant contributions to Savannah’s history across a wide range of time periods and issues, including Mary Musgrove, Andrew Bryan, Jane Deveaux, James Simms, Flannery O’Connor, and Franklin Traub.

On June 27, 2024, following the opening of Savannah’s EnMarket Arena, the City Council approved the demolition of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena and the renovation of the Johnny Mercer Theatre, ballroom, and community meeting rooms, while retaining the name and legacy of Dr. King. On December 11, 2025, the Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution renaming the Savannah Civic Center as Savannah’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center.