Alliant Energy Center facts for kids
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| Former names | Dane County Coliseum (1967–2000) |
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| Location | 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way Madison, Wisconsin 53713, U.S. |
| Public transit |  Metro Transit |
| Owner | Dane County |
| Operator | Dane County |
| Capacity | 10,231 |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Tenants | |
| Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA) (1967–1998) Madison Monsters (CoHL/UHL) (1995–1999) Madison Mad Dogs (PIFL/IFL) (1998–2000) Madison Kodiaks (UHL) (1999–2000) Wisconsin Wolfpack (CIFL) (2009) Madison Capitols (USHL) (2014–2017) |
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The Alliant Energy Center is a large group of buildings in Madison, Wisconsin. It covers about 164 acres of green space. This complex includes a huge Exhibition Hall, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Willow Island, and other buildings.
More than a million people visit the Center each year. They come for over 500 different events. These events range from small meetings to big sports games and concerts.
Contents
Where is the Alliant Energy Center?
The Alliant Energy Center is located on the south side of Madison, Wisconsin. You can find it off John Nolen Drive and Rimrock Road.
A Look Back: History of the Center
How the Center Started
In 1895, a group bought 250 acres of land for the Dane County Fair. This land was called "Lakeside Park Farm." Some people thought it was just a swamp. The fair stopped being held there in 1938 because of money problems.
The fair returned in 1951. Before that, in 1949-1951, new roads, parking lots, and other important facilities were built. Dane County paid off the land in 1941, keeping the site for future use.
Early Buildings and Growth
The first buildings went up in the years that followed. The Arena was built in 1954 and is still standing today. The Youth Building, built in 1962, now serves as the main office.
In 1967, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum was finished. Many famous performers played there, like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and Elvis Presley. It also hosted events like the World Dairy Expo.
Expanding for More Events
By 1977, the Coliseum was very busy, hosting 160 events a year. People needed more space for trade shows and conventions. In 1978, the Forum was added, offering large spaces for events. This building was later replaced by the Exhibition Hall.
In 1992, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum celebrated 25 years. Over 16 million people had visited it by then.
New Exhibition Hall and Naming Rights
The large Exhibition Hall was built in 1995. It has 255,000 square feet of space for big shows.
In 2000, the campus changed its name from Dane County Exposition Center. It became the Alliant Energy Center. This happened because Alliant Energy Corporation bought the rights to use their name for 20 years. The individual buildings, however, kept their original names.
Even with the new name, Dane County still owns and runs the Center. The Center uses its own earnings to pay for everything. It does not use money from the county's general funds.
Modern Updates
In 2013, plans were made to build new multi-use pavilions. These new buildings, totaling 290,000 square feet, replaced nine old farm barns. Construction started in April 2014 and was ready for the 2014 World Dairy Expo. Different groups helped pay for this big expansion.
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Veterans Memorial Coliseum is the main building at the Alliant Energy Center. It was built in 1967 and can hold over 10,000 people. It hosts concerts, family shows, and sports events. The building was updated in 2004–2005.
Hockey History at the Coliseum
The Coliseum has a rich history with hockey. The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team played here from 1967 to 1998. It was known as one of the biggest and loudest college hockey arenas. Fans even started the "sieve chant" here, which is now common in many arenas.
Badger fans still call the arena "the Great Dane." The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) also holds its state hockey tournaments for boys and girls here every year. Several minor league hockey and indoor football teams have also played in the Coliseum.
Exhibition Hall
The Exhibition Hall is a huge building on the campus. It has 255,000 square feet of space for exhibits. This hall is perfect for conventions, trade shows, and big meetings. It was finished in September 1995.
The building also has 14 meeting rooms and a large lobby. A covered walkway connects it to the Clarion Suites hotel. The lobby has a giant glass chandelier and statues. These statues, "The Farmer's Market Cow" and "Gallop to Glory Horse," show local connections.
Geologic Time Art
Inside the Exhibition Hall lobby, you can see a special art piece called Geologic Time. Artist Michele Oka Doner created over 900 bronze medallions. These are set into the floor. The images tell a story about Wisconsin's past and present.
They show things like corn, Native American effigy mounds, and the state's lakes and rivers. You can also see fish, turtles, and salamanders. The art connects nature to the history of people in the area. It even includes images of the state bird (robin), flower (violet), and tree (maple).
A bronze statue of Chief Black Hawk also stands in the lobby. It is part of the Geologic Time artwork.
Willow Island
Willow Island is a beautiful 29-acre outdoor area. It has two ponds surrounding a 7-acre piece of land. It was created in 2002 and first used for events in 2003. Willow Island is a great spot for outdoor festivals, music events, and corporate gatherings.
In 2004, Willow Island hosted the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. Athletes competed in activities like fishing and target shooting. Since 2005, it has been the home of the annual Brat Fest fundraiser. This popular event takes place every Memorial Day weekend. A music festival called WJJO Band Camp was also held here from 2004 to 2015.
Being Green: Environmental Impact
The Alliant Energy Center cares about the environment. On April 19, 2007, it received a Travel Green Certification from Travel Green Wisconsin. This award recognizes businesses that work to reduce their impact on the environment.
The Center uses its green spaces on Willow Island wisely. It also buys environmentally friendly products. These actions help promote sustainable tourism in Wisconsin. The Exhibition Hall has energy-saving lights and other upgrades to reduce pollution.
