Built more than six decades ago, the Sanford Civic Center is an antiquated facility that sorely needs to be replaced with a larger, modern events center, city leaders and many downtown business owners say.
The acoustics in the main auditorium are so poor, they say, that visitors often have trouble hearing speakers or musical performances. The facility lacks meeting rooms. And the architecture and beige-colored exterior hail back to the bygone era of the mid-1950s when it was constructed.
“Quite honestly, it’s outdated,” said Charles Davis, chairman of Sanford’s Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency. “There’s very little space for major events or banquets. And right now, it’s really just attracting Class B exhibits and gun shows.”