Greensboro Coliseum
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| Greensboro Coliseum Complex | |
|---|---|
| Location | 1921 West Lee Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27430 |
| Broke ground | 1959 |
| Opened | 1959 |
| Owner | City of Greensboro |
| Operator | City of Greensboro |
| Tenants | Greensboro Revolution (NIFL) (2006-present) Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) (1997–1999) Greensboro Generals (ECHL) (1999–2004) Greensboro Monarchs (ECHL) (1989–1995) Greensboro Prowlers (af2) (2000–2003) Carolina Monarchs (AHL) (1995–1997) 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Greensboro Generals (EHL/SHL) (1959–1973) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (ACC) (1959–1989, part-time) |
| Capacity | Basketball: 23,500 Hockey: 21,273 |
The Greensboro Coliseum complex is an indoor arena in Greensboro, North Carolina. The arena was the home of the Carolina Hurricanes from 1997-1999 and the long-time home of the ACC Men's Basketball tournament (which has begun to rotate arenas in recent years) and hosted the 1974 NCAA Men's Final Four. Originally built in 1959 as War Memorial Coliseum, it was renamed simply the Greensboro Coliseum in the late 1960s.
As originally built, it seated 9,200--one of the largest arenas in the South. Expansions over the years brought capacity to 15,000. The arena was heavily renovated in 1993. Today, the arena seats 21,273 for ice hockey, and close to 23,500 for basketball. In addition to the main arena, it also has a 180,000 square foot special events center, a pavilion, and the 2,300-seat War Memorial Auditorium.
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[edit] Hockey
The hockey history of Greensboro actually begins in 1959, when the Greensboro Generals of the Eastern Hockey League set up shop and played until the league folded in 1973; the team jumped to the Southern Hockey League for four seasons until that league too ceased operations in January 1977. Greensboro hockey's modern era began with the Greensboro Monarchs of the East Coast Hockey League, who played there from 1989–90 to 1994–1995. When American Hockey League expanded southward in 1995, it invited Greensboro to join; the new team took the Monarchs nickname, but attempted to draw a more regional fan base by labeling themselves the Carolina Monarchs. When the Carolina Hurricanes announced their move from Hartford, Connecticut in 1997, they leased the Coliseum for two years while waiting for the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina to be completed. Subjected to their second major ticket price hike in three years and not willing to support a team that was destined for Raleigh, Greensboro hockey fans rarely sold the Coliseum out for the Hurricanes; In the 1998–99 season, the team actually curtained off most of the upper deck for home games in an effort to artificially create scarcity in the ticket market, force would-be attendees to purchase higher-priced tickets, and hide what national media mocked as "Green Acres" of empty seats.
Once the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena (now the RBC Center) was completed and the Hurricanes moved out, the plan was that the Monarchs, who spent those two years in New Haven, Connecticut as the Beast of New Haven, would move back into the Coliseum as a Hurricanes affiliate. However, Monarchs owner Bill Black had a different idea; he briefly explored the possibility of selling shares of the Monarchs to the public. After that fell through, he exercised the option to sell the team to the Hurricanes, who promptly folded the deal, as well as the team.
Rather than leave the coliseum without a hockey team for the first time in over 10 years, a new hockey team would be born, returning the city to the East Coast Hockey League. The new team would be called the Greensboro Generals. They played in the arena until 2004, when they were terminated by the ECHL due to poor performance and lackluster support from the community.
[edit] Basketball
The Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association played some, but not all of their games in the Greensboro Coliseum during their tenure in North Carolina from 1969 to 1974, before moving to St. Louis and becoming the Spirits of St. Louis.
The Greensboro Coliseum has played host to many college basketball tournaments, including twenty men's ACC tournaments, the 1974 NCAA Final Four and several Eastern Regionals, as well as other basketball events, such as college basketball, NBA basketball, high school basketball, and even the Harlem Globetrotters. The coliseum remains the home for the ACC women's tournament, which continues to grow in fan numbers and revenue every year. It played host to the ACC men's tournament in 2006, and will do so again in 2010, 2011, and 2013–15. The Coliseum also served as a first and second round site for the NCAA Tournament in 2006, and hosted the Greensboro Regional in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in 2007 and 2008. It is the first arena to host three basketball tournaments in consecutive weeks.
From 1959 to 1989, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball team played a portion of its home schedule there--usually games against popular opponents that couldn't be accommodated in the smaller Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum.
[edit] Arena Football
The coliseum first saw an Arena Football team when the Greensboro Prowlers of the Af2 league played in the coliseum from 1999 until 2004. The team folded due to problems that were similar to that of the Greensboro Generals; a losing streak, poor management, and lack of fan support. However, despite the problems with the Prowlers, it was recently announced that a new football team will play in the coliseum; this one belonging to the National Indoor Football League. The Greensboro Revolution has begun its first season. The greensboro revolution have already ceased operations.
[edit] Entertainment
The coliseum has hosted many events over time, including Monster Jam monster Truck racing, Arenacross, the Professional Bull Riders invitational, circus shows, large-scale religious gatherings, and other large scale events such as four WCW Starrcades, part of the NWA's The Great American Bash 1986, Wrestle War 1990, Unforgiven 1998, King of the Ring 1999, and Survivor Series 2001. In addition, its neighboring Auditorium and special events center have hosted concerts, trade shows, Broadway shows, and similar events. The auditorium, which wasn't included in the 1993 renovation of the complex, will soon be renovated to include a banquet hall. In 2004, the 1st Annual King of the Concrete indoor go-kart race was held at this facility.
[edit] Concerts
The Coliseum's large size makes it an ideal location for concerts. Some performers who have come to the coliseum include:
- Bruce Springsteen
- The Rolling Stones
- Led Zeppelin
- Aerosmith
- AC/DC
- Queen
- Elvis Presley
- The Backstreet Boys
- Barry White
- Earth, Wind, and Fire
- Britney Spears
- N'Sync
- Grateful Dead
- Miley Cyrus
- Hannah Montana
- Jonas Brothers
- Cher
- The Dixie Chicks
- Billy Joel and Elton John
- Lenny Kravitz
- Shania Twain
- The Jackson Five
- Phish
- Korn
- Daughtry
- Dave Matthews Band
- Clay Aiken
- Kenny Chesney
- Mötley Crüe
- Jimmy Buffett
- KISS
- Tim McGraw
- Guns N' Roses
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Janet Jackson
- Tina Turner
- Van Halen
- The Who
- Jill Scott
- Celtic Woman
- Bon Jovi
- Def Leppard with Styx and REO Speedwagon
- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
- B.B. King
- Hannah Montana
- Beyonce
- The Game
- Lil wayne
- Young Jeezy
- T.I.
- Crime Mob
- Usher
- Yung Joc
- Omarion
- Bow Wow
- J.Holiday
- Eve
- Young Dro
- T-Pain
- Fat Joe
- Ludacris
- Diddy
- Jay-Z
- Outkast
- Chingy
- Trina
- Nas
- N.O.R.E
[edit] Other uses
In 2005, the Coliseum was expected to house as many as 500 New Orleans evacuees following the overflow of evacuees from Raleigh. However, the evacuees didn't come as expected, which cost the city and surrounding areas an unknown amount of money.
The coliseum is no stranger to the show American Idol; in fact, it hosted a party for Fantasia Barrino during the finale of Season 3 of the show, which was seen nationwide. It was also the site for the premiere auditions of season 5.
The coliseum has been a frequent stop on figure skating tours such as Stars on Ice.
It is also a prominent convention center in the Piedmont Triad area, used for conventions, trade shows, and other special events.
Since 1999, it has been a tour stop on the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series.
The Coliseum was a regular stop for professional wrestling matches promoted by Jim Crockett Promotions and afterward by World Championship Wrestling. It hosted the first three Starrcade cards in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Hartford Civic Center |
Home of the Carolina Hurricanes 1997 – 1999 |
Succeeded by Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena |
| Preceded by St. Louis Arena |
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 1974 |
Succeeded by San Diego Sports Arena |
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