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==History==
The Civic Center was built in [[1985]] with the help of $12.5 million in state funding procured by State Senator [[W. D. Childers]]. In Childers' honor, the stretches of [[Chase Street|Chase]] and [[Gregory Street]]s that surround the complex were renamed [[W. D. Childers Plaza]] in {{date needed}}the same year.<ref>"Signs posted to distinguish Childers Plaza near downtown." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 30, 2006.</ref>
In August 2001, in a year with only five booked concerts, none of which sold out,<ref>"Civic Center enjoying the sweet sound of music." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 9, 2003.</ref> then-[[Escambia County Commission|County Commissioner]] Childers decried the Civic Center as an "albatross" for its failure to turn a profit and pursued an incentive-based contract with the management company.<ref>"W.D. shaping up for year 2." ''Pensacola News Journal'', November 18, 2001.</ref> [[Ogden Enterprises]], which had managed the Civic Center since its opening, had failed to turn a profit every year excluding [[1997]], the Ice Pilots' inaugural year, when they turned a $4,800 profit.<ref name="notprofitable">"Entertainment venues often aren't profitable, but Escambia officials want their subsidized facility to do better." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 30, 2002.</ref> When Ogden was bought by [[Wikipedia:Aramark|Aramark]], they turned over the management portion of their contract to SMG. When the venue began to show signs of vitality, Childers amended his previous statement: "It was an albatross, but maybe we can make an eagle out of it."<ref name="bouncingback">"Concert venue bouncing back." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 18, 2002.</ref>
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! 1995-96
| style="background:#ffcccc" | -$560,561<ref>Includes 84 days closed for ice installation</ref> || 11
|-
! 1996-97
| style="background:#ccffcc" | +$4,804 || 8
|-
! 1997-98
| style="background:#ffcccc" | -$94,192 || 7
|-
! 1998-99
| style="background:#ffcccc" | -$249,618 || 4
|-
! 1999-00
| style="background:#ffcccc" | -$176,995 || 8
|-
! 2000-01
|-
! 2001-02
| style="background:#ffcccc" | -$469,000 || 5
|-
! 2002-03
==References & notes==
{{reflist|2}}
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[[Category:Sports facilities]] [[Category:Music venues]] [[Category:Properties owned by Escambia County]]
