The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is a large multi-venue performing arts center located in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America. Opened in 1991 on a 5.5-acre (22,000 m²) site along the north bank of the New River at Sailboat Bend, the center became a catalyst for major downtown revitalization efforts and an anchor of the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District. Designed by Benjamin C. Thompson, the Broward Center hosts operas, ballets, concerts, plays, lectures, and numerous community events in its four theaters, Broward Center is partners in the arts with several organizations including the Symphony of the Americas, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, Concert Association of Florida, Gold Coast Jazz. 

Historical development

The Florida legislature in 1984 established the Performing Arts Center Authority (PACA) to oversee construction, then policy-making, at the Broward Center. The Downtown Development Authority, along with citizens, private sources, and the Broward Performing Arts Foundation worked together to raise the funding required to build the theater complex.

By the end of 1987, initial fundraising goals had been met and with supplementary grant monies from city, county, state, and national sources secured, the project went out to bid. The acclaimed Cambridge, Massachusetts architecture firm of Benjamin Thompson and Associates, Inc was selected to design the facility. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 1988 to initiate the building phase.

By early 1991 the 224,500-square-foot (20,860 m²) facility was completed at a cost of $54 million. The doors officially opened on February 26, 1991, with the first national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The tenth anniversary of the Broward Center was marked by retiring the entire building mortgage, 11 years ahead of schedule.

In 2007, from June 28-July 1, they premiered the Go, Diego, Go live. The Live was based on the episode titled "The Great Jaguar Rescue." The Broward Center for the Performing Arts was the last stop for the Go, Diego, Go live. It was one of the most popular art performances that ever happened.

Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District

In 1998, the Broward Center began a collaboration with neighboring merchants and cultural attractions along the New River that would evolve into the formation of the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District. This destination marketing organization features the Broward Center, The Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale, Florida Grand Opera, Concert Association of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, and Historic Stranahan House Museum. Formed to promote cultural tourism to Fort Lauderdale and to the Riverwalk District, in particular, more than 1 million ticketed visitors annually attend programming at the combined Arts & Entertainment District partner venues.