[2] After sixty years of service, and with the facility becoming obsolete for military purposes, Florida National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve officials announced plans to replace the armory on December 1, 2001.

[5] Other performers at the armory included Tom Jones, The Animals, James Brown, Buddy Holly, Andy Griffith, Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, the Doors and The Ramones.

The armory was used by President John F. Kennedy for an address to the Florida Chamber of Commerce in 1963, four days before his assassination in Dallas.

[6] The armory held Championship Wrestling from Florida matches during the era of Dusty Rhodes, Jack Brisco and announcer Gordon Solie.

[9][2] An art deco style building, it took ten years to find an occupant for the Hesterly Armory, once a premiere entertainment venue in addition to its military role.

Plans for the former armory included a film studio and creative industries incubator, an ice rink and sports complex, and mixed-use commercial/residential development.