Mid-Hudson Civic Center getting new name, makeover
Majed Nesheiwat, the founder and chief executive office of Gas Land Petroleum, has bought the naming rights to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and will make improvements to the facility.
The developments were announced Monday by Danielle Anderson, president of Mid-Hudson Civic Center Inc.
The center will be renamed the Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center and, starting next year, will undergo various improvements. The McCann Ice Arena and Mair Hall, located within the current structure, will keep their names.
The improvements are to include a structural facelift and beautification of the property’s grounds on Market Street in downtown Poughkeepsie.
“I have always thought it was important to give back to the community,” Nesheiwat said in a prepared statement. “I came to Poughkeepsie at the age of 15 from Jordan. With hard work and opportunity, I built my business and raised my family here. As a teenager, my first thrilling experience in life was at the MidHudson Civic Center, when I went to watch a live wrestling match. I have countless happy memories here, and now my children and grandchildren are creating their own memories here.”
Anderson said that with improvements to the civic center, “the downtown Poughkeepsie area will witness an absolute renaissance.”
“The Nesheiwat investment will enable the center to bring back the glory of the civic center’s past with an updated look and, more importantly, a much more memorable experience for our guests,” she said. “This investment offers a great promise to the continued efforts of the board and staff of the center.”
The civic center is a 15,475-square-foot space with the capacity to hold 3,050 spectators. It hosts such events as concerts, trade shows, expos, banquets, theater performances, meetings, conferences, assemblies, family events, parties and dances.
The ice arena is used for both recreational skating and competitive events.