Knoxville Civic Coliseum
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| Full name | General James White Memorial Civic Auditorium and Coliseum |
|---|---|
| Location | 500 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37915 |
| Owner | City of Knoxville |
| Operator | SMG |
| Capacity | 6,500 (coliseum) 2,500 (auditorium) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1961 |
| Architect | Painter, Weeks, and McCarty |
| Tenants | |
| Knoxville Knights (EHL) (1961–1968) Knoxville Cherokees (ECHL) (1988–1997) Tennessee Volunteers ice hockey (SECHC) (1992–present; half of home games) Knoxville Speed (UHL) (1999–2002) Tennessee Riverhawks (NIFL) (2001–2003) Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL) (2002–present) Knoxville NightHawks (PIFL) (2012–2013) | |
| Website | |
| knoxvillecoliseum.com | |
General James White Memorial Civic Auditorium and Coliseum (usually shortened to Knoxville Civic Coliseum) is a multi-purpose events facility in Knoxville, Tennessee, owned by the Knoxville city government and managed by SMG. Its components are an auditorium with a maximum seating capacity of 2,500,[1] a multi-purpose arena with a maximum seating capacity of 6,500,[2] an exhibition hall and a reception hall. It was built in 1961.[3]
The arena is home to the Knoxville Ice Bears, of the SPHL and the University of Tennessee Ice Vols, of the ACHA. In the past, the arena hosted the Knoxville Speed, of the UHL, the Knoxville Cherokees, of the ECHL and the Knoxville Knights, of the EHL. It was also the home of the Tennessee Thundercats professional indoor football franchise, for two years.
It was the main home arena for Smoky Mountain Wrestling, a regional wrestling promotion, run by pro wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Cornette, from 1992 to 1995.
Performances hosted in the facility have included circuses, plays and musicals, symphony orchestra concerts, popular music concerts, and comedians.[3] On March 18, 1982, the venue was notable to be the site of Randy Rhoads' final show, before his death in a plane crash the very next day.[4][5]
Chicago broke the record (at that time) for the fastest sellout to a concert at the Coliseum for their August 26, 1971, performance.
References
- ^ Auditorium Technical Information, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, archived from the original on 2012-04-05
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Coliseum Technical Information, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, archived from the original on 2012-04-05
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Knoxville Attraction: James White Memorial Civic Auditorium & Coliseum". Knoxville News Sentinel. 21 April 2009. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/spotlight-0319-2011.aspx
- ^ http://www.ozzyhead.com/randbio.htm
External links
35°57′55″N 83°54′42″W / 35.965316°N 83.911653°W
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