Demolition of Flint Center — photo credit: Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group
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This was the place where Steve Jobs first released his Mac, and it lasted until the M4 Mac mini came along, but eventually the famous venue Apple events at Flint Center are being torn down.
Famously known as the place where Steve Jobs unveiled the first Macintosh in 1984, it hosted key Apple events until 2014 and the launch of the Apple Watch.
Later, Apple needed bigger spaces, and then got its own huge space at Apple Park. But there were reasons to choose Flint Center when Apple did — and it was years before the Mac even existed.
Three years, in fact. After all, the Flint Center was also the site of Apple’s first-ever shareholder meeting as a public company. The Flint Center’s auditorium at De Anza College was needed to accommodate all the new shareholders.
It was 1981, and while the size of the auditorium dictated, or at least limited, the choice of location, the Flint Center had an advantage. At the time, Apple was based at 20863 Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino, which was just a half-mile from the Center.
It was one of those events you wish you had as much coverage as Apple has today. Because according to various sources, including The Pop History Dig, the shareholder meeting wasn’t too great.
It is even said that after being interrupted by the crowd, Steve Jobs broke from his prepared speech and gave a speech about betraying respect. It is unclear who was supposed to betray whom, but Jobs was effectively removed from running the Macintosh shortly thereafter.
Sure, it's great to be out of that bag.
Jobs may have had some emotional distance by 1984, but he didn't have much more physical distance. At the time, Apple was operating at 10260 Bandley Drive, Cupertino, which was just a mile from Flint Center.
Steve Jobs with the original iMac G3 at Flint Center
The January 24, 1984 event there is what you've seen on YouTube, what's been referenced countless times — and what was shown in Aaron Sorkin's 2015 film “Steve Jobs.” It was filmed over several days, starting on January 29, 2015 — 31 years after the events actually happened.
The Fate of the Flint Center
These 31 years have proven problematic for the Flint Center, however. According to SiliconValley.com, a 2015 study found that over the previous few years, the center was booked 17 to 24 percent of the time.
Even then, no more than seven events per year had audiences larger than 2,000 people. With a capacity of 2,400, nearly a quarter would be empty even at most large events.
Considering that the building was also in disrepair and would cost an estimated $50 million to repair, it was clear what would happen next. While it didn't go down without a fight — musicians protested its acoustics — the end came in 2019.
Or at least that's when the decision was made to close the Flint Center and build something else. The site has remained abandoned ever since, but the center is now being torn down.
It's slated to be replaced by a new building, to be described as the Creative Arts Building. The iconic stage is gone forever, but at least the place isn't being turned into a parking lot.
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