Lakeland Center, Lakeland Civic Center, RP Funding Center — our city’s largest event venue has gone by many names since opening in November 1974. Before it celebrates 50 years in business, look back at its biggest acts + events of the last five decades.
1970s
The King must have really liked Lakeland. Elvis Presley first performed at the Polk Theatre in 1956, then returned to the Lakeland Civic Center in 1975 + 1976.
Air Supply was “All Out of Love” when they performed here in 1983.
Photo via Florida Memory
1980s
Prince recorded the music video for “Little Red Corvette” onstage during tour rehearsals in 1983, opting not to drive around a lake in an actual Corvette. What a shame.
1990s
Many rock bands performed at the Civic Center during the ‘90s, from Nirvana to U2, but it was Slayer who recorded part of their live album “Decade of Aggression” there before it was renamed “the Lakeland Center” in 1994.
2000s
The Rocket Man himself, Elton John, rang in the new decade with a show in 2000, performing an encore of “Candle in the Wind.” Disney on Ice soon followed with a flurry of frosty performances, debuting “Toy Story 2" in the Jenkins Arena in 2001.
2010s
Sports took over in the last 10 years. The Florida Tropics played a few seasons at the RP Funding Center starting in 2016, and the Orlando Magic moved their D-League team there in 2017. Both teams left Lakeland in 2023.
2020s
What’s next? Check out the RP Funding Center’s upcoming events, including Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Free Play Florida, and “The Nutcracker.”
