Ocean Center in Daytona Beach to explore additional event opportunities.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

The Ocean Center in Daytona Beach will expand its live entertainment offerings following the approval of the Volusia County Council on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The council gave the green light for the venue to explore additional opportunities for hosting concerts and other live events, allowing for a more dynamic booking model, a parking fee increase, and greater flexibility when negotiating contracts.

Ocean Center Director Tim Riddle presented the proposal to the council, stating, “We are before you today to talk about other flexible options that will give us more tools in our toolbelt as we seek to broaden our horizons and bring more concerts back into the venue.”

Originally opened as a standalone arena in 1985, the Ocean Center was expanded in 2009, reopening as a convention center with a 93,000-square-foot exhibit hall, renovated ballroom, and two floors of meeting rooms. This conversion created opportunities to book not only convention and tradeshow business; but also live entertainment. The venue currently hosts a variety of private conferences, conventions, tradeshows, and public events.

“I really want this to happen. I want us to bring concerts in. Not just for our locals. We want to bring people to Daytona and put heads in beds. I want them to enjoy the concert; they are going to pay a parking fee. I want them to go across the street, down the street to the restaurants. I want them to stay overnight," said County Chair Jeff Brower, expressing his enthusiasm for the expansion.

Those interested in attending upcoming events at the Ocean Center can view the schedule at www.OceanCenter.com/events.