Indiana Farmers Coliseum facts for kids
The Indiana Farmers Coliseum during the 2015 Indiana State Fair
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| Former names | Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum (1939–91) Pepsi Coliseum (1991–2012) Fairgrounds Coliseum (Apr–Dec 2014) |
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| Address | 1202 E. 38th St. Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Location | Indiana State Fairgrounds |
| Coordinates | 39°49′39″N 86°8′6″W / 39.82750°N 86.13500°W |
| 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 | $63 million (renovation) |
| Architect | Populous |
| Project manager | Hunt Construction Group |
| Tenants | |
| Indiana Pacers (ABA) (1967–1974) IUPUI Jaguars (NCAA) (2014–present) Indianapolis Capitals (AHL) (1939–1952) Indianapolis Enforcers (AAL) (2020–) |
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| Website | |
| http://www.indianastatefair.com/ | |
The Indiana Farmers Coliseum is a large indoor stadium with 6,500 seats. It is located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. This stadium is home to the Indy Fuel hockey team and the IUPUI Jaguars college basketball team.
The Coliseum first opened in 1939. It was built as part of a government program called the Works Progress Administration. This program helped create jobs during the Great Depression. Over the years, the Coliseum has hosted many important events. One of the most famous was when The Beatles performed there in 1964. This was their only concert ever in Indiana!
In October 2012, the Coliseum closed for a big update. It reopened in April 2014 after 17 months of work. The renovation cost $53 million. In December 2014, it got its current name, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, after a company made a deal with the Indiana State Fair Commission.
Contents
History of the Coliseum
The Gas Explosion of 1963
On October 31, 1963, a sad event happened during an ice show. A gas leak caused an explosion. This accident led to the deaths of 74 people and injured about 400 others. Years later, a special plaque was placed inside the building to remember those who were affected.
The Big Renovation
The Indiana Farmers Coliseum has been updated several times. Its biggest renovation happened between 2012 and 2014. This major project cost $63 million. The goal was to make the building more modern and comfortable for visitors and teams. It reopened in April 2014, ready for new events.
Home to Sports Teams
Basketball Action: The Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers basketball team played at the Coliseum from 1967 to 1974. During their time there, they were very successful. They won three championships in the American Basketball Association (ABA). They won in 1969–70, 1971–72, and 1972–73.
The Pacers moved to a new arena in 1974. Later, in 1976, they joined the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacers even returned to the Coliseum for one special game in 2008. Many former Pacers players came back to watch.
Ice Hockey Teams
The Coliseum has been a popular home for many ice hockey teams over the years.
- The Indianapolis Capitals played there from 1939 to 1952. They won two championships.
- The Indianapolis Chiefs played from 1955 to 1962, winning a championship in 1958.
- The Indianapolis Checkers played from 1979 to 1985, winning two championships.
- The Indianapolis Ice played from 1988 to 1994, and again from 1997 to 1999. They won a championship in 1990.
- The Indiana Ice played from 2004 to 2012 and won a championship in 2009.
Since 2014, the Indy Fuel hockey team has played in the arena. They are part of the ECHL league and are linked with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Coliseum has hosted eight out of nine hockey championship teams from Indianapolis.
Other Cool Events
Other Sports and Fun Events
The Coliseum is not just for professional sports. It has also hosted many other exciting events:
- The finals of the Indiana High School Boys Basketball Tournament were held here in the 1940s.
- Starting in 2020, the Horizon League's college basketball championships for men and women are held at the Coliseum.
- You can also watch boxing matches, attend big shows like the Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show, and the Hoosier Horse Fair.
- Many high schools and colleges hold their graduation ceremonies here.
- Famous music artists have performed concerts at the Coliseum.
- During the winter, you can even go public ice skating!
- The Coliseum is also one of the places chosen to host games for the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
Famous Performances
- Cliff Richard & The Shadows – February 1, 1960
- Tennessee Ernie Ford – August 6, 1964
- The Beatles – September 3, 1964
- The Dave Clark Five – November 6, 1964
- The Beach Boys – December 29, 1964, with The Fantastic Four Wheels and Sir Richard & The Mark IV's, November 18, 1966, with Chad & Jeremy, The Dawn Five and The Boys Next Door, and August 26, 1982
- The Rolling Stones – July 9, 1966, with The Standells and The McCoys
- Perry Como – August 10, 1966
- The Yardbirds – November 11, 1966
- Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – August 5, 1967
- Herman's Hermits – September 1, 1967, with The Who
- Lawrence Welk – August 12, 1968
- The Cowsills – August 24, 1968
- Ed Ames – August 25, 1968
- Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood – September 1, 1968
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience – May 11, 1969, with Chicago
- Glen Campbell – August 5, 1969, with Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Reed and John Hartford
- Anita Bryant – August 28, 1969
- The Association – August 29, 1969, with The Ventures
- The Byrds – February 14, 1970
- Led Zeppelin – April 4, 1970
- Janis Joplin - June 6, 1970
- Paul Revere & the Raiders – August 25, 1970, with Art Linkletter
- The Guess Who – August 26, 1970
- Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash – August 29, 1970
- Buck Owens & The Buckaroos – September 5, 1970
- Three Dog Night – February 27, 1971, with Uriah Heep
- Neil Diamond – May 9, 1971
- The Jackson 5 – May 29, 1971
- Santana – June 12, 1971, with The Tower of Power
- Red Skelton – August 21, 1971
- Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention – October 19, 1971, and May 2, 1973, with the Mahavishnu Orchestra
- REO Speedwagon – December 10, 1971, and April 6, 1973, with Blue Öyster Cult and Beck, Bogert & Appice
- King Crimson – March 11, 1972, and April 21, 1973
- Badfinger – March 28, 1972
- Elvis Presley & The TCB Band – April 12, 1972
- Jethro Tull – May 2, 1972
- Yes – September 20, 1972, with The Eagles and Gentle Giant
- Deep Purple – December 2, 1972, with Fleetwood Mac
- Uriah Heep – February 27, 1973, with Spooky Tooth
- The Doobie Brothers – May 13, 1973, with The Faces
- The Grateful Dead – October 27, 1973
- Humble Pie – December 8, 1973
- Poco – May 16, 1974, with Golden Earring and Bachman–Turner Overdrive
- Loggins & Messina – August 23, 1974
- Styx – March 8, 1975, with Blue Öyster Cult and Babe Ruth
- Foghat – May 6, 1975, and December 3, 1976
- Chicago – August 22, 1975
- Helen Reddy – August 24, 1975
- The Electric Light Orchestra – March 11, 1976
- Ted Nugent – April 9, 1976, with Rush and The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, and August 16, 2012
- Neil Sedaka – August 21, 1976
- Black Oak Arkansas – October 9, 1976, with Heart
- Dolly Parton – August 23, 1977, August 22, 1982, and August 18, 1989
- The Robin Trower Band – October 4, 1977
- Roy Rogers & Dale Evans – August 27, 1976, with The Sons of the Pioneers
- The Marshall Tucker Band – August 19, 1980
- Neil Young & The International Harvesters – August 19, 1985
- Def Leppard – July 18, 1988
- The Smashing Pumpkins – December 6, 1993
- The Flaming Lips – November 5, 1994, with Candlebox and Sweet Water
- Danzig – December 6, 1994
- Nine Inch Nails – January 21, 1995, with Pop Will Eat Itself and The Jim Rose Circus
- Billy Ray Cyrus – April 15, 1995
- Queensrÿche – April 21, 1995, with Type O Negative
- Primus – November 11, 1995
- Green Day – November 17, 1995
- Our Lady Peace – November 2, 1996
- The Stone Temple Pilots – December 7, 1996
- Pantera – January 12, 1997, and March 18, 2001, with Soulfly and Morbid Angel
- Marilyn Manson – February 13, 1997
- 311 – November 18, 1997, with Sugar Ray and Incubus
- The Jars of Clay – March 21, 1998
- Vanilla Ice – January 19, 2001
- A Perfect Circle – March 17, 2001, with Snake River Conspiracy, and April 17, 2004, with The Mars Volta
- John Mayer – November 12, 2002, with Robert Randolph and the Family Band
- The Honda Civic Tour – April 15, 2003
- Linkin Park – December 8, 2003, with Puddle of Mudd and Ill Niño
- O.A.R. – December 12, 2003
- tobyMac & The Diverse City Band – November 18, 2004
- Good Charlotte – May 8, 2005
- The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular – January 27, 2006
- David Lee Roth – September 15, 2006
- Music as a Weapon – December 15, 2006
- Kenny Rogers – August 14, 2007
- American Idol Live – August 16, 2007
- Three Days Grace – March 22, 2008, with Breaking Benjamin, Seether and Neverest
- The Casting Crowns – May 2, 2008, with Leeland and John Waller, and October 11, 2014, with Mandisa and The Sidewalk Prophets
- Sugarland – August 12, 2008, with Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepherd, and August 20, 2010, with Little Big Town
- Seether – November 23, 2008, with Staind and Papa Roach
- The Jägermeister Music Tour – December 22, 2008
- Slipknot – February 3, 2009, with Trivium and Coheed and Cambria
- In Flames – May 3, 2009
- MercyMe – August 12, 2009
- Heart – August 16, 2009
- The Zac Brown Band – December 9 and 29, 2009, with Nic Cowan, Levi Lowrey and Sonia Leigh
- The Blessid Union of Souls – January 23, 2010
- Arcade Fire – April 27, 2011, with The National
- Jack Ingram – August 5, 2011
- VH1 Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam – February 2, 2012
- CMT Crossroads Super Bowl Fan Jam – February 4, 2012
- 99.5 WZPL's Birthday Bash – June 13, 2014
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – July 31, 2014, with Jamey Johnson and Drake White & The Big Fire
- The Pepsi HankFest – November 2, 2014
- WZPL 99.5's Jingle Jam – December 7, 2014
- The 1975 – November 16, 2016
