Mobile Arena celebrated a major project milestone as city leaders and project partners recently gathered for a topping out ceremony. The event marked the placement of the final steel beam, bringing the $300 million facility closer to completion.
The ceremony was held as the last beam was put into place on the 10,000-seat arena’s structural framework. Scheduled to open in early 2027, Mobile Arena will be perfectly suited for live concerts, family shows and sporting events, including ice hockey and the city’s beloved Mardi Gras traditions. To elevate the experiences inside Mobile Arena, the City of Mobile has partnered with Oak View Group (OVG), a global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality. The state-of-the-art facility will serve as the foundation for continued investment and a new entertainment district on the 22-acre site of the former Mobile Civic Center.
Less than a year after breaking ground, the arena is approximately 50% done, moving ahead with construction on time and on budget. As excitement for the project grows, work will continue inside the facility, where the arena’s premium amenities and fan-first design will come to life.
The design of Mobile Arena is the result of a collaborative process driven by input from local stakeholders and the city’s operational partners. Developed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) and Populous Architects, the design aims to provide exceptional experiences throughout, featuring retail spaces, luxury suites, VIP clubs, premium seating, great sightlines and dynamic acoustics. The new arena will also reflect Mobile’s unique cultural identity, with flexible ballrooms and event spaces tailored to support Mardi Gras balls and other local celebrations.
GMC is serving as the architect of record and landscape architect on the project. Additional project partners include Volkert, program manager; Henderson Engineers, MEP engineer and Walter P. Moore, structural engineer.
About Goodwyn Mills Cawood
Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) is one of the largest architecture and engineering firms in the Southeast. Whether designing schools, parks, hospitals and other commercial developments, or providing clean water, safe streets and restoring resilient environments, GMC takes great pride in serving our communities through the transformative work we do. Every project is guided by the foundational concept that communities are built by people, not companies, and we strive to serve our communities with quality, integrity, creativity and care.
One of the Southeast’s most comprehensive multi-disciplined firms, GMC is equipped to provide all the services associated with architecture; interior design; civil engineering; coastal engineering; environmental services; landscape architecture; planning; transportation engineering; geotechnical engineering; mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; surveying; and disaster recovery. www.gmcnetwork.com