Corteva Coliseum facts for kids
Corteva Coliseum in 2014
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 Corteva Coliseum
Location in Indiana
Corteva Coliseum
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Livestock Pavilion (1907–1938) Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum (1939–1991) Pepsi Coliseum (1991–2012) Fairgrounds Coliseum (2012–2014) Indiana Farmers Coliseum (2014-2024) |
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| Address | 1202 E. 38th St. Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Location | Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center |
| Coordinates | 39°49′39″N 86°8′6″W / 39.82750°N 86.13500°W ACoordinates: Extra unexpected parameters |
| Owner | State of Indiana |
| Operator | Indiana State Fair Commission |
| Capacity | Basketball: 6,800 Hockey: 6,200 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1936 |
| Opened | August 1939 |
| Renovated | 2014 |
| Closed | October 29, 2012 – April 23, 2014 |
| Reopened | April 24, 2014 |
| Construction cost | $53 million (renovation) |
| Architect | Merritt Harrison (original) Browning Day & Populous (renovation) |
| Project manager | Hunt Construction Group |
| Tenants | |
Indiana Pacers (ABA) (1967–1974)
Indianapolis Capitals (AHL) (1939–1952)
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The Corteva Coliseum is a large indoor building in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and can hold about 6,500 people. This arena is used for many different events, like sports games and concerts. Over the years, it has been known by several names, including the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Pepsi Coliseum, Fairgrounds Coliseum, and Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
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History of the Corteva Coliseum
The Corteva Coliseum first opened its doors in 1939. It was built as part of a government program called the Works Progress Administration, which helped create jobs during a tough time in history. Since then, it has hosted many important events. For example, the famous band The Beatles performed there in 1964, which was their only time playing in Indiana.
A Tragic Accident in 1963
On October 31, 1963, during an ice show called "Holiday on Ice," a gas leak caused a terrible accident. Many people were hurt, and some sadly lost their lives. A special plaque inside the building now honors those affected by this event.
Updates and New Names
After other larger arenas opened in Indianapolis, the Coliseum continued to be a popular spot for events that needed a smaller space. This is still true today.
The Coliseum closed for a major renovation on October 26, 2012. After 17 months and a $53 million update, it reopened on April 24, 2014. The renovation made the building modern and ready for new events.
In December 2014, the arena was renamed the Indiana Farmers Coliseum after a company called Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance made an agreement with the State Fair Commission. More recently, in November 2024, it was renamed the Corteva Coliseum, after Corteva Agriscience, a company based in Indianapolis.
The Indiana Pacers Basketball Team
The Corteva Coliseum was once the home of the Indiana Pacers basketball team from 1967 to 1974. Back then, the Pacers were part of the American Basketball Association (ABA). They were very successful, winning three ABA Championships in 1970, 1972, and 1973! The team later moved to a different arena and eventually joined the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The Pacers even returned to the Coliseum for a special pre-season game in 2008. Many former Pacers players attended, and the team wore uniforms that looked like their old ones from the 1960s.
Ice Hockey at the Coliseum
The Coliseum has a long and exciting history with ice hockey. Many different hockey teams have played there over the years:
- The Indianapolis Capitals played from 1939 to 1952 and won the Calder Cup twice.
- The Indianapolis Chiefs played from 1955 to 1962 and won the Turner Cup.
- The Indianapolis Checkers played from 1979 to 1985 and won the Adams Cup twice in a row.
- The Indianapolis Ice played in the Coliseum for many years and won the Turner Cup in 1990.
- The Indiana Ice played from 2004 to 2012 and won the Clark Cup in 2009.
Since 2014, the Indy Fuel hockey team has called the Coliseum home. They are part of the ECHL and are connected to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 2023–2024 season was the last for the Fuel at the Coliseum, as they are moving to a new arena.
The Coliseum has hosted many championship games for different hockey leagues, showing its importance in the sport's history in Indianapolis.
Other Sports and Events
Besides basketball and hockey, the Corteva Coliseum has hosted many other exciting events:
- It held the finals for the Indiana High School Boys Basketball Tournament for several years in the 1940s.
- The Horizon League Men's and Women's Basketball Championships have been held there since 2020.
- The Coliseum is also a venue for boxing matches, large travel shows, horse fairs, and graduation ceremonies for high schools and colleges.
- During the winter, you can even go public ice skating there!
- In 2021, the Coliseum was one of the locations for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games, which were all held in Indiana that year.
- The Indiana Fever WNBA team played some of their home games at the Coliseum in 2021.
- Professional wrestling shows, like All Elite Wrestling's AEW Dynamite, have also taken place at the arena.
Famous Performances
Many famous musicians and bands have performed at the Corteva Coliseum, making it a popular spot for concerts. Some of the well-known acts include:
- The Beatles – September 3, 1964
- The Rolling Stones – July 9, 1966
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience – May 11, 1969
- Led Zeppelin – April 4, 1970
- Janis Joplin – June 6, 1970
- The Jackson 5 – May 29, 1971
- Elvis Presley – April 12, 1972
- Whitney Houston – August 16, 1986
- Green Day – November 17, 1995
- Linkin Park – December 8, 2003
- Sugarland – August 12, 2008, and August 20, 2010
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – July 31, 2014
- The Chainsmokers – December 4, 2016
- Niall Horan – June 23, 2017
- Liam Payne – June 23, 2017, and June 22, 2018
- AJR – November 29, 2018, and October 19, 2019
- The 1975 – December 13, 2019
- Nelly – March 4, 2022
Images for kids
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Corteva Coliseum in 2014
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The inside of Corteva Coliseum after its big update
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A plaque honoring the victims of the 1963 accident
