Blackham Coliseum
| Blackham Coliseum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Former names | N/A |
| Location | 444 Cajundome Boulevard (at Johnston Street) Lafayette, Louisiana 70506 |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Closed | Open |
| Demolished | N/A |
| Owner | University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
| Operator | University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Capacity | Official: 5,500 Concerts: 9,800 |
| Tenants | |
| Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball (NCAA) (1950–1984) Acadiana Mudbugs (SIFL) (2008) Louisiana IceGators (SPHL) (2009–2010) |
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Blackham Coliseum is a multipurpose arena in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was built on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus in 1949 as the home to the then-named SLI Bulldogs, now called the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball teams. It remained the home for the men's team until the Cajundome was completed in 1984. The women still play the majority of their games at Blackham Coliseum. It hosted the Southland Conference men's basketball tournament in 1982.
Today it is still in use, seating 5,500 for basketball and up to 9,800 for concerts. It also features 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) of space at the main arena with two barns adding an additional 46,500 square feet (4,300 m²) of space. Altogether, the three buildings can also be used for trade shows, rodeos and conventions. It was home to the Lafayette Wildcatters of the Southern Indoor Football League for their 2009 season, and in fall 2009, the revived Louisiana IceGators began play there as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League.[1]
In April 2009, the venue held its first heavy metal concert, the 2009 No Fear Music Tour featuring Lamb Of God, As I Lay Dying, Children of Bodom, God Forbid and Municipal Waste.
The venue serves as home to the Grammy-styled, annual Le Cajun Music Awards Festival held every August by the Cajun French Music Association, an association of Cajun music enthusiasts for the preservation of the Cajun music, language, heritage and culture.[1]
[edit] Future
UL Lafayette President Dr. E Joseph Savoie has confirmed that negotiations are underway for a long-term lease to turn the stadium into a film studio. This would help attract even more film companies to Lafayette, and would help create educational opportunities for students who major in UL Lafayette's moving image arts program, the only such program in the state of Louisiana.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Foote, Kevin (May 15, 2009). "IceGators to skate again; join the discussion". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090515/NEWS01/905150326. Retrieved May 15, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Johnson, William (FEBRUARY 2, 2011). "Blackham Coliseum may become film studio". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20110202/NEWS01/102020315. Retrieved FEBRUARY 3, 2011.
Coordinates: 30°12′38″N 92°01′59″W / 30.210554°N 92.033122°W
[edit] External Links
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- Sports venues in Louisiana
- College basketball venues in the United States
- Basketball venues in Louisiana
- Arena football venues
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Indoor arenas in the United States
- Convention centers in Louisiana
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns basketball
- Lafayette, Louisiana
- Buildings and structures in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
- Southern United States sports venue stubs
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