Rapides Parish Coliseum

Rapides Parish Coliseum

Rapides Coliseum, The Coliseum
Rapides Coliseum as of November 2012
Location	5600 Coliseum Boulevard Alexandria, Louisiana 71303
Coordinates	31°17′48″N 92°30′13″W
Owner	Coliseum Authority
Capacity	Current: 6,512 Future Expansion: 10,800
Construction
Opened	1965
Renovated	2014–2017 (estimated)
Construction cost	$22.9 million (2017 renovation)
Architect	Buddy Tudor, Tudor Construction Company
Tenants
Alexandria Warthogs (WPHL) (1998–2000) Louisiana Rangers (IPFL/NIFL) (2000–2002)

The Rapides Parish Coliseum (often called the Rapides Coliseum, as noted on the sign out front) is a multi-purpose arena located in Alexandria, Louisiana. The coliseum can seat about 6,500 people in the 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m²) building. Additional space is in the smaller Exhibition Hall, also on the property. Built in 1965 by Buddy Tudor's family-owned construction company in Pineville, Louisiana, the dome-topped Coliseum has hosted thousands of events, including music concerts, "monster" truck shows, professional wrestling, trade shows and sporting events.

Additional facilities on the grounds include a 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m²) Exhibition Hall often used for trade shows and the 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m²) Lewis-Odom Agricultural Complex used during livestock auctions and 4-H shows.

Rapides Coliseum - Nov 2008

Rapides Coliseum Exhibition Hall - Nov 2008

Lewis-Odom Agricultural Complex - Nov 2008

Events

Former Sports

Past sports teams based at the Rapides Coliseum include the Louisiana Rangers, a member of the IPFL, and the Alexandria Warthogs, a member of the WPHL.

Other Events

Located on Louisiana Highway 28 West in Alexandria, La., with parking for nearly 2000 vehicles, the Coliseum was home to the annual Rapides Parish Fair every October from 1960 to 2013 in 2014 the fair moved to The Lsua Ag center on hwy 71 south just south of Alexandria

Some of the site's more famous visitors include Lipizzan stallions (1973), Elvis Presley (1977), Holiday on Ice, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1966), Ronald Reagan (1975), George C. Wallace, Jr. (1976).

In 2005 the facility was used as a shelter by the American Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina and during Hurricane Rita. It was during Rita that it lost power and water for a short period of time.[1]

Recent events staged at the site include the Barnum and Bailey Circus on Dec. 2, 2008, World Wrestling Entertainment in January 2009, and the Gaither Homecoming Tour on March 7, 2009.

It has also hosted the LHSAA Girls Basketball Championships.

In October 2008, a report [2] was produced for the Rapides Parish Police Jury that estimates the total cost of repairs and needed updates to be $10 million.

Future Renovations

On November 6, 2012, Rapides Parish voters approved a $23 million bond issue back by a 2.5-million property tax for the Coliseum. Also approved was a one-million tax to pay for the coliseum maintenance and operations for a period of 20 years. The $23 million taxes will pay for renovation projects that include an expanded seating capacity to 10,800, new 3-story lobby, sky boxes, and exhibition hall, improved electrical systems and roofing, new rest rooms, stages, dressing rooms, and a basketball floor, and a rebuilt 2,500 lot parking space. The new coliseum is designed to give it a modern appeal and attract larger events for the Rapides Parish area.

Start of construction for the project was delayed due to the Rapides Parish Police Jury's difficulty of obtaining a permit to begin the renovations because of dispute between the them and the city of Alexandria over the Rapides Parish Coliseum parking lot issue which was eventually settled. The project officially began in April 2015 and is currently ongoing. According to officials as of August 2016, the project is about 80% complete. The coliseum is scheduled to be opened by the end of the 2016 year but finishing work will continue for the facility for the grand opening that is planned for sometime in early 2017.

See also

• List of music venues