Partially-Completed CFG Bank Arena to Open Next Week for CIAA Basketball Tournament

CFG Bank Arena, which has been closed for renovations since March of last year, will reopen next week for the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. However, the arena renovation will only be partially completed and won’t make its full debut until its Grand Opening on April 7th for the Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band concert.

A spokesperson for Oak View Group (OVG), the arena’s developer, said the entire upper bowl will be closed, but lower bowl seats, bathrooms, and some concessions will be open next week. Capacity will be 14,000 when CFG Bank Arena returns in April, an increase from the previous capacity of 12,289.

OVG did not say what the capacity would be for the CIAA Tournament. The two championship games last year in Baltimore had a combined attendance of 13,207.

OVG CEO Tim Leiweke commented in a press release: “As planned and promised, we will be ready to host the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments on February 21. That said, attending fans will only get a glimpse of what to expect at CFG Bank Arena. We look forward to revealing the fully completed world-class facility to Baltimore and the surrounding region at our grand opening performance celebration on April 7 with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.”

OVG along with its partners Fundamental Advisors, and Thirty Five Ventures have fully-funded the approximately $200-million renovation of CFG Bank Arena. They will lease the building for the next 30 years through an entity called Baltimore Arena Co.

Renovation details form OVG:

Renovations to the arena include the removal of the permanent stage, adding seats and suites, refurbishing concourses, upgrading concessions areas, and changing the building’s appearance. Additional upgrades to the facility will include focuses on sustainability such as using locally sourced materials such as repurposing the steel from the original venue. Other new features include LED lighting, low flow and waterless fixtures, and more; world-class acoustics to amplify the audio experience; next-generation touchless and self-serve technologies for food & beverage and merchandise purchases to minimize transaction times; renovations to the venue’s back of house; structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting and fire protection upgrades; as well as construction encompassing, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, lighting; and updates to the arena’s telecommunications infrastructure, wireless network, and video/network/security systems.

The Bethesda-based Clark Construction Group is the general contractor on the project.

Following the sold-out Springsteen concert marking the arena’s Grand Opening, the Eagles will perform “Hotel California” and their greatest hits at CFG Bank Arena on Saturday, April 8. Other upcoming events include:

• Straight Jokes No Chaser – Fri, Apr 14, 2023
• Jeff Dunham Still Not Canceled – Sat, Apr 15, 2023
• New Edition: Legacy Tour with Keith Sweat, Guy and special guest Tank – Sat, Apr 22, 2023
• Monster Jam – Fri, Apr 28, 2023 – Sun, Apr 30, 2023
• Lizzo: The Special 2our – May 9, 2023
• Janet Jackson: Together Again Special Guest Ludacris – Sat, May 13, 2023
• Anita Baker: The Songstress with the Legendary Babyface – May 14, 2023
• blink-182 Tour 2023 – Fri, May 26, 2023
• Stars On Ice – Fri, Jun 2, 2023
• Bryan Adams: So Happy It Hurts 2023 with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Jun 6, 2023
• Dude Perfect PandaMonium – Jun 25, 2023
• Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show – Sat, Jul 15, 2023
• Thomas Rhett: Home Team Tour 23 – Fri, Jul 21, 2023

Additional sporting events eyed for CFG Bank Arena include UFC, tennis, boxing, NBA exhibition games, NCAA events, tournaments, and more.

CFG Bank Arena was first constructed in 1961 and was named Royal Farms Arena in recent years. It was also previously 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore Arena, and Baltimore Civic Center.

Rendering courtesy of OVG

Screenshot from the Clark Construction OxBlue construction camera

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.