SalemCivicCenter.com
Title
Salem Civic Center - Salem, Virginia
Description
The Salem Civic Center, the hub of the James E. Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex, became a part of Salem’s landscape October 1967. Salem Town Council first recognized the need for a building of its type in 1955, and seven years later citizens were encouraging city leaders to pursue the construction of an arena-type structure in Salem. In 1963 council bought a 74-acre tract (the civic center location) for about $290,000 from the Lutheran Children’s Home. At about this same time Roanoke City officials were debating constructing a stadium; Salem officials invited the City of Roanoke to join them in erecting a community building that could be jointly shared and operated. However, Roanoke City rejected the offer for various reasons. Salem went ahead with plans to construct a smaller center, but shortly thereafter Roanoke County became interested and provided Salem financial support, making it possible to enlarge the civic center to the full-size arena it is today. The $2.5 million civic center operated for a number of years as the Salem-Roanoke Valley Civic Center. In 1983 the City of Salem assumed sole proprietorship.
