Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum,also called theMadhouse ColiseumorPhoenix Memorial Coliseum,is a 14,870-seat multi-purposeindoor arenainPhoenix, Arizona,United States, located at theArizona State Fairgrounds.It hosted thePhoenix Sunsof theNational Basketball Associationfrom 1968 to 1992, as well as indoor soccer, professional roller hockey, multiple professional minor league ice hockey teams, and roller derby.

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

"The Madhouse on McDowell"
Address	1826 West McDowell Road
Location	Phoenix, Arizona
Coordinates	33°28′10″N112°5′48″W
Owner	Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board
Operator	Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board
Capacity	Basketball:14,870 Ice hockey:13,730
Construction
Broke ground	August 11, 1964
Opened	November 3, 1965
Construction cost	US$7 million
Architect	Lescher & Mahoney Place & Place
Structural engineer	T. Y. Lin International
General contractor	Manhattan–Dickman
Tenants
Phoenix Roadrunners(WHL) (1967–1974) Phoenix Suns(NBA) (1968–1992) Phoenix Roadrunners(WHA) (1974–1977) Phoenix Racquets(WTT) (1975–1978) Phoenix Roadrunners(CHL) (1977) Phoenix Roadrunners(PHL) (1977–1979) Phoenix Inferno(MISL) (1980–1984) Phoenix Roadrunners(IHL) (1989–1997) Phoenix Cobras(RHI) (1994–1995) Phoenix Mustangs(WCHL) (1997–2001) Arizona Thunder(WISL) (1998–2000) Phoenix Eclipse(ABA) (2001–2002) Phoenix Flame(IBL) (2007) Arizona Derby Dames(2009–present)

History

The Arizona State Fair Commission began planning an "Arizona State Fairgrounds Exposition Center" as early as February 1960.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, of the firmLescher and Mahoney(designers of theOrpheum Theatrein downtown Phoenix) presented the final plans to the commission, and construction began that summer.Tucson architect Lew Place (son ofUniversity of Arizonachief campus architectRoy Place,who later took over his father's firm) was also involved in the design. The structural engineering firm wasT. Y. Lin International.

The distinctive saddle-shaped, tension-cable roof, supporting over 1,000 precast concrete panels, was considered innovative architectural engineering. It may have been at least partially influenced by the equally innovativeDorton Arenaat theNorth Carolina State FairinRaleigh,completed in 1952. Veterans Memorial Coliseum contains a series of murals by Phoenix artistPaul Coze.The design influenced later arenas' architecture, including the defunctCapital CentreinLandover, Maryland,and theScotiabank SaddledomeinCalgary, Alberta.

The Coliseum in 2007

In April 1965, the name was 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 GovernorSam Goddardproviding for limited liquor sales. The Coliseum opened November 3, 1965, with a production ofIce Follies.The final cost was estimated at $7 million, all privately funded.

The Coliseum suffers from a leaky roof dating back to at least its first anniversary, when management put a 25-foot (7.6 m) candle on the roof to celebrate the building's first birthday. The candle broke the roof's seal, which caused a number of leaks over the years.

Concerts

On January 21, 1967,The Monkeesperformed their first ever live concert at the Coliseum, which was filmed and portions used in episode 4753The Monkees on Tour.The episode first aired onNBC,April 24, 1967. The episode included footage of the band's stay at Mountain Shadows Resort.On November 11, 1969,The Rolling Stonesplayed a show for their Let it Bleed tour at the Coliseum. On September 9, 1970,Elvis Presleykicked off his first tour after returning to live performing, to a sell-out crowd of 13,000 as he did his first tour of 1973 on April 22 in front of 15,000. On October 18, 1993,Nirvanakicked off theirIn Uteroworld tour with a sold-out concert at the Coliseum.

Basketball

The arena hosted thePhoenix Sunsof theNBAfrom 1968 to 1992. During the Suns' tenure, the Coliseum was affectionately referred to as "The Madhouse on McDowell" (for McDowell Road on which the arena is located) by both fans and the local media.Ironically, it was Lakers broadcasterChick Hearnwho conferred the nickname during the 1970 playoffs.

A preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers had to be canceled on October 6, 1974, after a leaky roof rendered the floor unplayable.

The Coliseum hosted the 1975NBA All-Star Game,and theBoston Celticswon theNBA championshipthere in 1976.

Due to renovations at Talking Stick Resort Arena (nowFootprint Center), theWNBA'sPhoenix Mercurywas to play at the Coliseum for the 2020 season, though theCOVID-19 pandemicmoved the Mercury to a league-wide bubble environment atIMG AcademyinBradenton, Florida.

Seating capacity

Seating capacityfor basketball went as follows:

Years	Capacity
1965–1971	12,371
1971–1975	12,534
1975–1976	13,036
1976–1977	13,274
1977–1981	12,660
1981–1985	14,660
1985–1987	14,519
1987–1989	14,471
1989–1991	14,487
1991–1992	14,496

Tenants

This arena seats 13,730 for ice hockey and 14,870 for basketball. In addition to the Suns, the Coliseum hosted thePhoenix Roadrunnersof the Western Hockey League from 1967 to 1974 and theWHAfrom 1974 to 1977 and of the now-defunctInternational Hockey Leaguefrom 1989 to 1997, thePhoenix RacquetsofWorld Team Tennisfrom 1975 to 1978, theArizona Thunderof theWorld Indoor Soccer Leaguefrom 1998 to 2000, and the Phoenix Mustangs of the now-defunct WCHL from 1997 to 2001. The Coliseum was again home to pro sports starting in 2006, when theIBL'sPhoenix Flameplayed home games there until their move to Grand Canyon University.

The Coliseum hosted theArizona Derby Damesbanked trackroller derbyleague from 2008 to 2015.

The arena hosted truck pulling sanctioned byUSHRAin the late 1980s. It was frequently featured on USHRA's truck pulling series onESPN.

The Coliseum also housed thePhoenix Inferno(also known as the Phoenix Pride) of theMISLfrom 1980 to 1984.

The Coliseum also hosted a Saturday Night's Main Event taping on Feb. 15, 1986 (shown on NBC on March 1, 1986), when King Kong Bundy attacked Hulk Hogan at the end of his title defense versus Magnificent Muraco. Hogan suffered (kayfabe) rib injuries, setting up their steel cage main event match atWrestleMania 2.

It hosted theWCWWrestleWar 1991.The Coliseum was also host to thePhoenix Mustangshockey team as part of theWest Coast Hockey Leagueand thePhoenix EclipseABAbasketball team.

The arena remains open for some events, even though the Suns left in 1992 for America West Arena (now Footprint Center). TheArizona State Fairschedules concerts, comedy shows and other events in the Coliseum during the Fair's annual season (which begins each October). For several years, it hosted portions of Arizona's high school basketball championships; those were moved to the newer Gila River Arena (nowDesert Diamond Arena) in 2005 and returned to the Coliseum for 2020.

In the fall of 2005, the Coliseum sheltered up to 2,500 evacuees fromNew Orleansin the wake ofHurricane Katrina.The evacuees were relocated to other housing in time for the opening of the Fair that October.

The Coliseum most recently hostedSam Smithon hisIn The Lonely Hour Tourin the summer of 2015. ThePhoenix Sunswould also return to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a pre-season scrimmage on October 3, 2015, as a part of their "We Are PHX" movement, as well as unveiled signs commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Coliseum's existence.

In the late spring and early summer of 2021, the Coliseum was the site of thecontroversial multi-month auditof Maricopa County's2020 presidential election ballotsby the Republican caucus of thestate Senate.

ThePhoenix Union High School Districtholds its high school graduation ceremonies for all its schools starting on Tuesday after the third Monday in May for three days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

See also

• Dorton Arena
• Capital Centre
• London Velopark
• Scotiabank Saddledome
• Hyperboloid structure
• Tensile architecture
• Thin-shell structure

Sources

• 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

External links

• Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
• Arizona State Fair

Events and tenants
Preceded by first arena	Home of the Phoenix Suns 1968–1992	Succeeded by Phoenix Suns Arena
Preceded by Seattle Center Coliseum	Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1975	Succeeded by The Spectrum