Harrah's Cherokee Center facts for kids
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| Former names | Asheville Civic Center Complex (1974–2011) U.S. Cellular Center Asheville (2011–2019) |
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| Address | 87 Haywood Street |
| Location | Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Owner | City of Asheville |
| Capacity | 7,674 (ExploreAsheville.com Arena) 2,431 (Thomas Wolfe Auditorium) 500 (Banquet Hall) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 2, 1970 |
| Opened | June 22, 1974 |
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| Tenants | |
| Asheville Smoke (UHL) (1998–2002) Asheville Altitude (NBDL) (2001–2005) Asheville Aces (SPHL) (2004–2005) Asheville Championship (NCAA Basketball) (2021–2023) |
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The Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville is a big place in Asheville, North Carolina, where lots of fun events happen. It used to be called the U.S. Cellular Center and before that, the Asheville Civic Center Complex. This center opened in 1974. It has an arena, an auditorium, a banquet hall, and rooms for meetings. It's a busy spot for concerts, sports, and other gatherings!
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What's Inside the Center?
The Harrah's Cherokee Center has a few main areas, each for different kinds of events.
ExploreAsheville.com Arena
This is the main and largest part of the center. It was once known as the Asheville Civic Center Arena. It can hold up to 7,674 people. Many exciting sports games and big concerts take place here.
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
The Thomas Wolfe Auditorium is a special theater shaped like a horseshoe. It was first built in 1939 as part of a government project to create jobs. It opened in 1940 and was updated in 1974. This auditorium can welcome 2,431 guests. It's a great place to see plays, musical shows, and other performances.
Banquet Hall
The Banquet Hall is a large room, like a ballroom. It can host almost 500 people. This space is perfect for parties, dinners, and other special events.
A Look Back: The Center's History
The idea for the Asheville Civic Center started in 1968. City leaders wanted to build a new center with an exhibition area, meeting rooms, and an arena. They hoped it would help bring more people and businesses back to downtown Asheville. The arena was the first of its kind in the city.
Many sports teams have called this center home. The Asheville Altitude basketball team played here from 2001 to 2005. Hockey teams like the Asheville Smoke and the Asheville Aces also played their games in the arena.
The center has hosted many famous events over the years. It was the site for big wrestling shows like WCW Clash of the Champions XII and SuperBrawl III. It also held many college basketball tournaments, including the Big South Conference and Southern Conference men's basketball tournaments.
Over time, the building started to get old. So, in 2010, plans began to make improvements to the center. On January 1, 2025, the center hosted a special wrestling event called "Fight for the Fallen." This event helped people in Asheville who were affected by Hurricane Helene.
Plans for the Future: Renovations
Because the center is quite old, many people in the community want to see it updated or even rebuilt. There have been talks about this for many years. The city has spent money on basic repairs and even planned a "living roof" to replace the old one.
The Thomas Wolfe Auditorium has also been considered for renovations since 1982. In 2020, a big plan for a $100 million update was announced. The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, but work on the heating and cooling system (HVAC) began in late July 2023. The auditorium reopened in October 2023 with limited seating and was fully ready by March 2024. Different plans for its future ranged from basic updates costing $42 to $52 million to a more extensive "Broadway" style renovation costing up to $193 million.
How the Center Got Its Names
The center has changed its name a few times. These name changes often happen when a company pays money to have the building named after them. This money helps pay for improvements and upkeep.
- U.S. Cellular Center: In 2011, the Asheville City Council decided to name the center after U.S. Cellular. This name change officially happened on January 1, 2012. U.S. Cellular agreed to pay a large sum of money over several years, which helped fund $5.5 million in renovations.
- Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville: In 2019, the city council approved a new deal with Harrah's Cherokee. This new name took effect in 2020. Harrah's Cherokee agreed to pay $3.25 million over five years.
Exciting Events Held Here
The Harrah's Cherokee Center has been the stage for many memorable events:
- Concerts: On October 6, 2004, the center hosted a "Vote for Change" concert with bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Pearl Jam.
- Sports Tournaments: The Southern Conference men's basketball tournament returned to the arena in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The city made $3.2 million in renovations to prepare for these tournaments. In February 2018, the arena hosted a Fed Cup tennis match between the United States and the Netherlands, featuring famous players Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
- Movie Filming: On August 13, 2014, parts of a major movie called Masterminds were filmed inside and outside the arena. It was made to look like a Mexico airport!
- Rallies: On August 14, 2024, former president Donald Trump held a campaign rally at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. A rally is a large public meeting where people gather to support a political candidate or cause. On August 10, 2025, Senator Bernie Sanders spoke to thousands of people in Asheville as part of his "Fighting Oligarchy Tour."
