Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena facts for kids
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The Arena, Brown County Arena
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| Location | Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 44°30′01″N 88°03′24″W / 44.50028°N 88.05667°W |
| Owner | Brown County |
| Operator | PMI Entertainment Group |
| Capacity | 5,248 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1957 |
| Opened | November 11, 1958 |
| Closed | April 6, 2019 |
| Demolished | April 30, 2019 |
| Construction cost | $2 million |
| Tenants | |
| Green Bay Bobcats (USCHL/USHL) (1958–1981) UW–Green Bay Phoenix (NCAA) (1969–2002) Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) (1994–2002) Wisconsin Blast (IBA) (1997–1999) Green Bay Bombers (PIFL/IFL) (1998–2000) |
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The Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, often called the Brown County Arena, was a large building in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. It was a "multi-purpose arena," meaning it hosted many different kinds of events. The arena could hold 5,248 people. It was located right across from the famous Lambeau Field.
The Brown County Arena first opened its doors on November 11, 1958. For many years, it was a central place for entertainment and sports in the area. The very last event held there was a concert by Bret Michaels on April 6, 2019. Soon after, the arena was taken down, with demolition starting on April 30, 2019. A new building, the Resch Expo, was built in its place in 2021.
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A Look Back: The Arena's History
The arena was built to honor the brave veterans from Brown County who served in World War II. Before this arena, there wasn't a big indoor place in Green Bay for large shows. The Brown County Arena changed that. It allowed famous performers and big events to come to the city.
For a long time, it was the main indoor venue for Green Bay and Brown County. This changed when the newer Resch Center opened in 2002. The first home of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame was also inside the Brown County Arena. It started as a small display on a wall.
Exciting Events at the Arena
Many memorable events took place at the Brown County Arena over the years.
- In 1960, a breakfast was held for John F. Kennedy, who later became president.
- The legendary singer Elvis Presley performed at the arena on April 28, 1977.
- The arena was the home court for the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay basketball teams for many years.
- It hosted important college basketball tournaments, like the Mid-Continent Conference men's tournament in 1991 and the Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's tournament in 1998.
Even as it got older, the arena continued to host concerts, ice shows, local sports events, and high school graduations. However, most major sports teams moved to the newer Resch Center next door. Some bigger concerts also moved to the Weidner Center on the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay campus. In its final years, the Brown County Arena was sometimes used for extra matches or smaller events.
Pro Wrestling Shows
The Brown County Arena was a popular spot for professional wrestling fans. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) held many live events and even filmed some TV shows there. Other wrestling companies like the AWA and WCW also put on shows at the arena.
The WWF took a break from the arena for three years, but they returned in January 2001 and February 2002 for a couple of shows. After that, they moved their events to the new Resch Center.
In December 2001, a company called XWF held some of its first live shows outside of Florida at the Brown County Arena. Even though XWF was new, many people came to see wrestling legends like Curt Hennig, The Road Warriors, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Younger wrestlers like Vampiro and Buff Bagwell also performed.
The Final Concert and Closing
The very last concert at the Brown County Arena happened on April 6, 2019. The performer was Bret Michaels, who is famous as the lead singer of the band Poison. It was a special night because Poison had filmed their first music video for the song "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" at this very arena. The band also started many of their world tours there. Bret Michaels was chosen for the final show because he had opened more tours at the arena than anyone else. The concert had a "Nostalgia" theme, bringing back old memories for fans. A new video for "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" was even filmed during this final concert.
A closing ceremony was held on Monday, April 29, 2019. After the ceremony, people from the county could take two free seats from the arena as souvenirs. They could also buy a four-seat bench for $50. It was a way for the community to say goodbye to a building that held so many memories.
See also
- Shopko Hall
