- March 20, 2026
The Ocean Center in Daytona Beach will get $4.8 million worth of improvements in fiscal year 2026, primarily funded through Volusia County ECHO dollars.
In a 6-0 vote, the County Council approved the use of funds, which include an $800,000 match from the Ocean Center, at its meeting on Tuesday, March 17. In total, the council OK'ed $6.065 million of ECHO funds for county projects.
According to a county staff report, the Ocean Center improvements will include new acoustic panels, a curtain system, supplemental steel truss for the rigging grid, structural safety elements, greenroom remodels and a conversion of the mezzanine space to VIP and suite accommodations for concerts and events.
"We'll be best of class in our size in Florida," Ocean Center General Manager Lynn Flanders said.
Under County Council's direction, Flanders and her staff have been tasked with reenergizing the Ocean Center into the kind of community asset it once was, she said.
The Ocean Center, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025, first opened on Oct. 5, 1985, with the late American singer-songwriter John Denver becoming the first performer in the area. Through the early years, the arena welcomed concerts by AC/DC, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder, the Beach Boys, KISS, Bob Dylan, the Jonas Brothers, Tina Turner, Cher and more.
Then in 2009, Volusia County completed a $76 million expansion, which added an exhibit hall and meeting spaces. This resulted in a shift away from concerts to conventions, conferences and sporting events.
That's changing now, through a strategic approach, Flanders said. As part of its 40th anniversary last year, the county announced a plan to invest $40 million in facility upgrades over the following decade.
These upgrades include new lighting, spotlights, LEDs, seats, arena bathrooms and concession programs, some of which have already been implemented.
The rigging project is planned to be completed by the end of 2027.
Bringing back concerts to the Ocean Center was one of Volusia County Council member Troy Kent's priorities when he began his first term in 2023. It still is.
"It irked me that I had to take my wife and children to St. Augustine or Orlando to go see any type of concert when we have such a beautiful venue here in Volusia County at the Ocean Center," he said. "So I advocated for this. I fought for this. I don't think there's a better use of ECHO dollars than on county-owned properties, and I feel strongly about that."
The rigging upgrades are going to help the Ocean Center attract wanted musical acts, which Kent said will be an economic boost to the county and its 16 municipalities.
"People from outside of Volusia County will be traveling to Daytona Beach to go to the Ocean Center to see the shows that are going to be on the near future and the horizon ahead."
Programming at the Ocean Center has ramped up in the last couple of years, including a partnership with Danny Wimmers Presents, a production and promotion company from Los Angeles. Recent concerts include Lynyrd Skynyrd and Diplo, who performed at the Full Throttle Festival at the Ocean Center on Feb. 14, the day before the Daytona 500.
On May 6, the Ocean Center will host Blood 4 Blood, featuring heavy metal and hardcore bands Black Label Society, Crowbar, Malevolence and Slaughter To Prevail.
People often share stories with Flanders about the concerts they attended in the past at the Ocean Center. They also ask when concerts will be coming back.
"We are all excited to see this come back to life," Flanders said.
Arenas are built to act as economic catalysts for communities, she added. Any events — concerts, conventions or meetings — are hosted keeping in mind job creation opportunities, booked hotel nights and impact on local businesses.
Last year, the Ocean Center had a $126 million economic impact.
That is the "why" behind the mission to revitalize the Ocean Center's programming, Flanders said.
"All ships rise whenever you put these community-focused events in that draw the attendance from your local markets to come over and actually enjoy the asset," she said.
The interest, Kent said, is proof that people do want to see shows and entertainment events in their own community.
Flanders, who was hired in 2023, has been a big part of making that happen, Kent said.
"She listened to what the County Council directed our County Manager George Recktenwald to do, and she is delivering on that," he said.
Before she started working at the Ocean Center, Flanders said she knew that the facility had a good reputation in terms of staff and customer service.
"It made me excited walking in that you had this staff that was committed to excellence — and that remains," she said. "That shows it's that type of reputation that will build our name amongst the promoters and make people want to be here."
The remaining allocation of approved ECHO funds will go toward preservation and ADA compliance improvements to the 1913 Wilbur Boathouse in Wilbur-by-the-Sea ($65,000), Phase II of improvements to the Volusia County Fairgrounds ($1.5M), and construction of a new ADA-compliant playground at Sun Splash Park in Daytona Beach ($500,000).
