Construction Starts On Africatown Welcome Center, Mobile Arena

The City of Mobile has announced that ground has been broken on the long-awaited Africatown Welcome Center. Designed by community stakeholders, the facility will teach tourists about how they can experience Africatown’s history firsthand at venues like Lewis Landing, Lewis Quarters, the Africatown Heritage House and the site in the Mobile River Delta where the Clotilda was sunk. Additionally, construction has begun on the Mobile Arena at the site of the former Civic Center. Through an operational partnership with Oak View Group and Live Nation, the new 10,000-seat, 298,000-ft² facility is to “bring bigger and better shows to the area [and] provide updated facilities for Mardi Gras balls and other local events,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. Construction was originally planned to begin in March.