Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
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The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair. It is commonly referred to as simply the Coliseum.
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[edit] History
Newspaper reports state that The Arizona State Fair Commission began planning for an "Arizona State Fairgrounds Exposition Center" as early as the fall of 1962. The Commission envisioned an indoor facility which could be used during the State Fair as well as year-round. In 1964, Phoenix architect Leslie Mahoney presented the commission with the final plans, and construction began that summer.
The unique saddle-shaped, cable-suspension roof, supporting over 1000 precast concrete panels, was considered innovative architectural engineering at the time.
In April 1965, the name was officially changed to honor Arizona's war veterans.
There was an early controversy over whether alcohol would be served at the new facility, but legislation was signed in April 1965 by Governor Sam Goddard providing for limited liquor sales.
The Coliseum opened November 3, 1965, with a production of Ice Follies. The final cost was estimated at $7 million.
[edit] Tenants
This distinctive arena with its saddle-shaped roof, which sat 13,730 for ice hockey, was the home of the Phoenix Roadrunners of the WHA from 1974-1977, the Phoenix Suns of the NBA from 1968-1992, the Arizona Thunder of the World Indoor Soccer League from 1998-2000,and the Phoenix Mustangs of the now-defunct WCHL from 1999-2000. In 2006, it was announced that the Coliseum would once again be home to pro sports, as the IBL's Phoenix Flame would play home games there. The Coliseum was affectionately referred to as "The Mad House on McDowell (named for McDowell Road, the street in Phoenix where it is situated) during the Suns tenure there; by both fans and the local media.
It hosted the 1975 NBA All-Star Game and WCW Wrestle War 1991. The Coliseum was also host to the Phoenix Mustangs hockey team as part of the West Coast Hockey League and the Phoenix Eclipse ABA basketball team. The ABA will return to the Coliseum, as the Phoenix Phantoms have selected that arena as one of their three venues.
The arena remains open for some events, even though the Suns left in 1992 for the America West Arena (now US Airways Center). The Arizona State Fair schedules concerts, comedy shows and other events in the Coliseum during the Fair's annual season (which begins each October). Until recently it hosted portions of Arizona's high school basketball championships, but those have been moved to the newer Glendale Arena.
In the fall of 2005, the Coliseum sheltered up to 2,500 evacuees from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The evacuees were relocated to other housing in time for the opening of the Fair that October.
[edit] Sources
Newspaper clippings used to research portions of this article:
The Arizona Republic: May 28, 1964; April 20, 1965
The Phoenix Gazette: April 24, 1963; March 27, 1965; October 28, 1966
Arizona Journal: November 14, 1962
[edit] External links
| Preceded by first arena |
Home of the Phoenix Suns 1968–1992 |
Succeeded by America West Arena 1992–present |
| Tracks of the USAC Championship Series |
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| Former Tracks (1956-1981) Arizona Fairgrounds • Atlanta • Darlington • Dayton • Daytona • Detroit • Dover • DuQuion • Hanford • Indianapolis • Lakewood • Langhorne • Michigan • Milwaukee • Nazareth • Ontario • Phoenix • Pocono • Sacramento • Sedalia • Springfield • Syracuse • Texas World • Trenton • Williams Grove Road Courses International |
Categories: Basketball venues in the United States | 1965 establishments | Buildings and structures in Phoenix | Indoor arenas in the United States | Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States | Phoenix Suns | Sports in Phoenix | Sports venues in Arizona | Sports venues in Phoenix | World Hockey Association venues
