The funds were used for site preparation and construction of the CIC, an enhancement of 51,635 square feet (4,797.0 m2) of lobby space with gathering areas, restrooms and concession facilities.

Other features of the new entrance lobby and CIC is a marquee mural on the west wall above the ballrooms doors, seen from inside and outside the facility.

Christian pop singer Amy Grant performed the first concert at the Ocean Center on October 3, 1985, singing to 2,938 people.

The Ocean Center has presented The Harlem Globetrotters, the Royal Lipizzaner Stallions and Larry the Cable Guy, among other noted performance artists.

Other entertainment events have included the former Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, monster truck shows, Miss Teen USA Pageant and WWE Live.

Skaters included the Tara Lipinski, Michelle Kwan, Dorothy Hamill, Nicole Bobek, Rosalynn Summers, Kyoko Ina, Jason Dungjen, Todd Eldredge, Rudy Galindo, Michael Weiss, Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow.

World Championship Wrestling (WCW) held their third annual Bash At The Beach pay-per-view at the Ocean Center in 1996 in which Hulk Hogan, notable as one of the largest fan favorites of all time, turned heel during the final moments of the show.

Hulk Hogan turned heel once again in this arena, in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)'s sixth annual Bound for Glory.

On October 10, 2010, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling held their Bound for Glory pay-per-view at the arena which featured Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson in a three way finals match in a tournament to determine the TNA World Heavyweight Champion.

One June 29, 2018, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) held their CEO×NJPW: When Worlds Collide event as part of Community Effort Orlando.