Prather Coliseum
Coordinates: 31°44′38″N 93°05′43″W / 31.743912°N 93.095162°W Prather Coliseum is a 3,900-seat multi-purpose arena in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It opened in 1964 and is home to the Northwestern State University Demons basketball team.[1] The arena was named in honor of the school's most successful basketball and football coach, H. Lee Prather, who served from the 1910s through the 1940s before becoming NSU President in 1951. It hosted the Southland Conference men's basketball tournament in 2005-06.[2] Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball player Keiva Council set the single game scoring record in the building with 48 points in an 84-80 Wolfpack victory over Northwestern State on November 25, 2011.
It is best known as the venue for the final concert performed by rock star Jim Croce on September 20, 1973. Shortly after the concert, Croce's plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Natchitoches airport, killing Croce and all others aboard the plane.[3]
The colisuem is among projects credited to the late State Senator Sylvan Friedman of Natchitoches Parish. It opened two years before Friedman's retirement.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Prather Coliseum at nsudemons.com, URL accessed November 17, 2009. Archived 11/17/09
- ^ Northwestern State Wins Men's O'Reilly Auto Parts/SLC Tournament Title at southland.org, URL accessed November 17, 2009. Archived 11/17/09
- ^ Jim Croce at vegasvalleycomputers.biz, URL accessed November 17, 2009. Archived 11/17/09
- ^ Friedman Student Union at facilityuse.nsula.edu, URL accessed November 17, 2009. Archived 11/17/09
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