Mid-Hudson Civic Center


Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center is a venue located in Poughkeepsie, New York, consisting of Mair Hall and the McCann Ice Arena. It was built in the 1970s as part of the general attempt at rehabilitation of the central district of the City of Poughkeepsie. It is located at 14 Civic Center Plaza, on a segment of what was formerly known as Market Street near the former Main Mall. The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, at 40 Civic Center Plaza, is adjacent on the same block and was originally designed to be constructed concurrently with the civic center and financed by Hilton, but the hotel construction was abandoned after the foundation was laid. Four years after the completion of the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Radisson Hotels bought the hotel property and after a re-design of the original hotel plans, construction of the hotel resumed.
The Nesheiwat Convention Center, a private, not-for-profit community organization dedicated to providing cultural, recreational and educational opportunities to the Hudson Valley is a dual venue comprising Mair Hall and McCann Ice Arena. Mair Hall is a space with the capacity to host 3,050 seated spectators and large expos and trade shows.
On December 3, 2018 the Mid-Hudson Civic Center issued a press release announcing the name change of the Poughkeepsie building to the Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center. Majed "Mitch" Nesheiwat is a long time resident and business man of Dutchess County New York.
Nesheiwat is the Founder and CEO of Gas Land Petroleum, which distributes petroleum products for companies such as Exxon Mobil, Shell, Sunoco, Gulf, Citgo, Phillips 66, and Conoco. Aside from distribution, Nesheiwat is a well-known and highly regarded real estate developer; he has diversified experience in all facets of the real estate industry. Nesheiwat made his mark in real estate through commercial development, specifically with retail plazas and residential sub-divisions.,.

McCann Ice Arena

The McCann Ice Arena serves youth organizations, leagues and individuals for both recreational and competitive figure skating and ice hockey and offers open ice slots, group and private lessons, public skating sessions and private parties. McCann Ice Arena had briefly been the home of the Hudson Valley Bears and the Poughkeepsie Panthers, two semi- professional hockey teams in the 1980s.

Mair Hall

Mair Hall opened with a sold-out performance by Pete Seeger.

ECW

May 16, 1999 the Mid Hudson Civic Center was where ECW hosted their Hardcore Heaven pay-per-view event.

WWF/WWE

Between July 1984 and August 1986 the Mid Hudson Civic Center was where the World Wrestling Federation taped their internationally televised WWF Championship Wrestling. Notable wrestlers who wrestled in the building during this time include then WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, André the Giant, Bret Hart, Brutus Beefcake, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, The British Bulldogs, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, King Kong Bundy, Big John Studd, Ken Patera, Tito Santana, Don Muraco, The Iron Sheik, "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Hercules Hernandez, Adrian Adonis and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Television commentators for the show at the Civic Center were WWF owner Vince McMahon and "Professional wrestlings only living legend" Bruno Sammartino, with Jesse "The Body" Ventura occasionally joining the duo or filling in for Sammartino.
The Mid-Hudson Civic Center was also where "Macho Man" Randy Savage first introduced Miss Elizabeth as his chosen manager on an episode of Championship Wrestling on August 24, 1985. Heel managers Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Mr. Fuji, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, Luscious Johnny V, and "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart had been "bidding" for his services in the previous months and had gathered in the ring to hear who Savage had chosen.
The Center was also where Heenan Family members Big John Studd and Ken Patera faced André the Giant and S.D. Jones in a tag team match. After knocking Jones out of the ring, Studd and Patera then double teamed André, knocking him unconscious. Bobby Heenan then pulled a pair of scissors from his pocket which Studd used to cut The Giants long hair, with Vince McMahon claiming in commentary that they were raping André of his dignity. While it shocked the audience, in reality André had agreed to the haircut prior to the match as part of his ongoing feud with the 6'10" Studd over who was the true giant in professional wrestling.
The only title change at the Civic Center during WWF Championship Wrestling tapings was on June 17, 1985 when The U.S. Express defeated "The Foreign Legion", regaining the WWF Tag Team Championship they had lost to the pair at Wrestlemania on March 31, 1985. The Mid Hudson Civic Center has also host a handful of episodes of WWF Monday Night Raw between 1993 and 1995.
At the final taping of Championship Wrestling on August 5, 1986, Harley Race was crowned the "King of Wrestling" after winning the 1986 King of the Ring tournament.

TNA One Night Only

December 2013 the Mid-Hudson Civic Center was where TNA taped their One Night Only Pay Per View.

Notable performances

, Exodus and Helloween performed at the venue on May 12, 1989. It was the last show of the Headbangers Ball Tour.
System of a Down, Mr. Bungle, Incubus, and Puya performed on February 18, 2000 as part of the SnoCore Tour.