Baltimore Arena opened its doors on October 23, 1962, as the Baltimore Civic Center, a downtown multipurpose venue designed by A.G. Odell Jr. and Associates at a construction cost of about $14 million. Over six decades it carried several names, including Baltimore Arena, 1st Mariner Arena, and Royal Farms Arena, before a major renovation reopened it in 2023 as CFG Bank Arena.
Located at 201 West Baltimore Street near the Baltimore Convention Center, the arena became a civic landmark almost immediately, hosting The Beatles in 1964 and a Martin Luther King Jr. speech in 1966. It also served as the home floor for the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets and later anchored the city’s hockey and indoor soccer scenes.
- Washington Wizards played here 1989–1997. See every Wizards arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Baltimore Bullets (NBA), Baltimore Skipjacks (AHL), Baltimore Blast (soccer)
- Location: 201 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland
- Opened: October 23, 1962 (as Baltimore Civic Center)
- Capacity: About 14,000 for concerts; 11,183 for basketball; 10,582 for hockey
- Architect: A.G. Odell Jr. and Associates
- Notable Fact: Hosted The Beatles in 1964 and Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966
From Civic Center to NBA Home
When it opened in 1962, the Baltimore Civic Center was one of the region’s few large indoor venues, quickly becoming the home floor of the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets from 1963 until the franchise relocated near Washington, D.C. in 1973. The building also hosted the Baltimore Clippers hockey club beginning in 1962, giving the city a year-round sports calendar long before most mid-sized markets had comparable facilities.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, the arena carried the Baltimore name and welcomed the Baltimore Skipjacks of the AHL and the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, which won a league championship during its early tenure there. Name changes followed with new sponsorships, including 1st Mariner Arena and Royal Farms Arena, but the building stayed in continuous use for sports and touring entertainment.
A $250 Million Transformation
In February 2022, Oak View Group led a renovation reported at more than $250 million, modernizing the aging arena while preserving its downtown footprint. The project reopened in February 2023 under the new CFG Bank Arena name, with sold-out shows from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and the Eagles marking the grand reopening weekend.
Today the venue operates as a modern concert and events hall while retaining its identity as the successor to the original Baltimore Civic Center, a building that once hosted The Beatles and a landmark Martin Luther King Jr. address decades before the renovation.
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For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Baltimore Arena FAQs
Is Baltimore Arena still standing?
Yes. The original 1962 building still stands in downtown Baltimore and now operates as CFG Bank Arena following a $250 million renovation completed in 2023.
What NBA team played at Baltimore Arena?
The Baltimore Bullets played their home games at the arena (then the Baltimore Civic Center) from 1963 until the team relocated near Washington, D.C. in 1973.
What was Baltimore Arena’s capacity?
The venue held up to about 14,000 for concerts, 11,183 for basketball, and 10,582 for hockey and arena football events.
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Photo: Mrgoggins90 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.