Mid-South Coliseum facts for kids
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"The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South"
"The House that Lawler Built" |
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| Location | 996 Early Maxwell Blvd, Memphis, Tennessee, 38104 |
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| Coordinates | 35°07′06″N 89°58′49″W / 35.118395°N 89.980366°W |
| Capacity | 10,085 permanent seats, 11,200 for basketball |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 15, 1963 |
| Opened | October 1964 |
| Closed | 2006 |
| Architect | Merrill G. Ehrman (Furbringer and Ehrman) Robert Lee Hall (Robert Lee Hall & Associates) |
| Tenants | |
| Memphis Wings (CPHL) (1964–1967) Memphis Tigers (NCAA) (1966–1991) Memphis South Stars (CPHL) (1967–1969) Memphis Pros/Tams/Sounds (ABA) (1970–1975) Memphis Rogues (NASL) (1979–1980) Memphis Rockers (WBL) (1990–1991) Memphis HotShots (GBA) (1991–1992) Memphis RiverKings (CHL) (1992–2000) |
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| Website | |
| midsouthcoliseum.com | |
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Mid-South Coliseum
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| NRHP reference No. | 00001429 |
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| Added to NRHP | December 6, 2000 |
The Mid-South Coliseum was a famous indoor arena in Memphis, Tennessee. It opened in 1964 and quickly became known as "The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South." This was because it hosted many exciting events. People came to see concerts, sports games, and professional wrestling shows. The Coliseum closed its doors in 2006. In recent years, there have been efforts to save and update the arena. These plans are part of a bigger project to improve the area around it.
Contents
A Look Back at the Coliseum's History
Construction for the Mid-South Coliseum began on April 15, 1963. When it opened in October 1964, it was special for another reason. It was the first public building in Memphis that allowed people of all races to attend events together. This was a big step forward for the city.
Music Legends on Stage
Many famous musicians performed at the Coliseum. On November 17, 1965, The Rolling Stones played there. Patti LaBelle and The Bluebells opened the show.
The Beatles' Famous Visit
The arena was one of the few places The Beatles played on their last American tour in 1966. They performed two concerts on August 19, 1966. There were protests against the band because of some controversial comments John Lennon had made. The city council even wanted to cancel the shows for safety reasons. Despite this, the concerts went on. Protesters were outside, and a scary moment happened inside. Someone set off a firecracker on stage, which many first thought was a gunshot.
Elvis Presley's Homecoming
Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll," also performed at the Coliseum. His first show there was on March 16, 1974. This was his first concert in Memphis since 1961. His performance on March 20 was even recorded for a live album. He returned in 1975 and played his last show there on July 5, 1976.
Michael Jackson and The Jacksons started their Triumph Tour at the arena on July 8, 1981. English heavy metal band Judas Priest filmed a concert there on December 12, 1982. This was later released as a video called Live Vengeance '82. Canadian singer Celine Dion also filmed a concert video, Live in Memphis, at the arena in 1997.
Exciting Wrestling Matches
The Mid-South Coliseum was a very important place for professional wrestling. It was the main home for the United States Wrestling Association. Jerry Lawler was a huge star there, headlining hundreds of shows. From 1970 to 1991, weekly wrestling shows often drew over 10,000 fans.
One famous event was in 1981 when Lawler faced Terry Funk in an "empty arena fight." Another memorable moment happened on April 5, 1982. Lawler wrestled comedian Andy Kaufman. Lawler used a move called a piledriver twice, which led to him being disqualified. Kaufman was taken away in an ambulance. This event was later revealed to be a staged act. It helped make professional wrestling more popular.
Sports Action: Hockey and Soccer
The Coliseum was also home to hockey teams. The Memphis Wings played there from 1964 to 1967. The arena had special pipes under the floor to make ice. This meant people in Memphis could even go public skating!
In 1992, the Memphis RiverKings brought professional hockey back. They had good crowds until 2000. The team moved because the Coliseum needed important updates.
The Memphis Rogues played indoor soccer at the Coliseum during the 1979–80 season. The Rogues were very successful, winning their division. They made it all the way to the finals!
Basketball: Home of the Tigers
The Coliseum was home to the American Basketball Association's Memphis Pros. This team later became the Tams and then the Sounds. The franchise eventually left Memphis in 1975.
The arena also hosted the Memphis Tigers basketball team. They played there until the Pyramid opened in 1991. The Coliseum also held five Metro Conference men's basketball tournaments.
What Happened to the Coliseum?
The Mid-South Coliseum closed at the end of 2006. The local governments decided not to pay for its operating costs. The building also needed major updates to meet modern accessibility rules for people with disabilities.
In 2016, a study showed that fixing up the Coliseum would cost about $23.8 million. A group called the Coliseum Coalition formed in 2018. They wanted to save the building as part of a plan to turn the Memphis Fairgrounds into a youth sports complex. While the Coliseum wasn't included in the state's approved plan, supporters hoped private money could help. Coalition members said the building was still in "great shape."
In 2022, the professional soccer team Memphis 901 FC announced plans to build a new stadium. This stadium would have been built where the Mid-South Coliseum stands, meaning the Coliseum would have been torn down. The new stadium was planned to open in 2025. However, Memphis 901 FC stopped its plans in November 2024 because they could not get enough funding. This means the Mid-South Coliseum is still standing.
