Mid-South Coliseum facts for kids
|
"The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South"
"The House that Lawler Built" |
|
 |
|
| Location | 996 Early Maxwell Blvd, Memphis, Tennessee, 38104 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°07′06″N 89°58′49″W / 35.118395°N 89.980366°W |
| Capacity | 10,085 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1963 |
| Closed | 2006 |
| Architect | Merrill G. Ehrman (Furbringer and Ehrman) Robert Lee Hall (Robert Lee Hall & Associates) |
| Tenants | |
| Memphis Tigers (NCAA) (1963–1991) Memphis Wings (CPHL) (1964–1967) 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) |
|
|
Mid-South Coliseum
|
|
| NRHP reference No. | 00001429 |
|---|---|
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 2000 |
The Mid-South Coliseum is an indoor arena located in Memphis, Tennessee. It first opened its doors in 1963. The Coliseum quickly became famous for hosting many exciting concerts and professional wrestling events. It closed down in 2006. In recent years, people have been working hard to save and fix up the arena. They hope it can be part of a bigger plan to improve the area around it.
Contents
History of the Coliseum
When it was built in 1963, the Mid-South Coliseum was very special. It was the first public place in Memphis where people of all races could gather together. This was a big step forward for the city.
Famous Concerts and Shows
The Coliseum was a popular spot for big music acts. Many famous artists performed there over the years.
The Beatles' Visit
The Beatles played two concerts at the Coliseum on August 19, 1966. This was part of their last American tour. There were some protests and safety concerns before the shows. But the concerts still happened, and fans were very excited. During one show, a loud noise was heard on stage. People first thought it was a gunshot, but it was just a firecracker.
Elvis Presley's Homecoming
Elvis Presley, a music legend from Memphis, also performed at the arena. 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. It was called Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis.
Other Big Names
Many other famous musicians played at the Coliseum. Rod Stewart and his band, The Faces, performed there in 1972. The English heavy metal band Judas Priest filmed a concert at the Coliseum in 1982. This concert was later released as a video. Canadian singer Celine Dion also had two shows there in 1997. Her concerts were filmed for a video called Live in Memphis.
Exciting Wrestling Events
The Mid-South Coliseum was well known for professional wrestling. It was the main home for the United States Wrestling Association and other wrestling groups. Jerry Lawler was a huge star there. He headlined hundreds of shows. Weekly wrestling events often brought in over 1,000 fans from 1970 to 1991.
Memorable Wrestling Moments
Many unforgettable wrestling matches happened at the Coliseum. In 1981, Jerry Lawler faced Terry Funk in a unique "empty arena fight". On April 5, 1982, Lawler wrestled comedian Andy Kaufman. Lawler used his famous "piledriver" move twice. This caused him to be disqualified, and Kaufman was taken away in an ambulance. On April 27, 1987, Austin Idol beat Lawler in a steel cage match. This match was so intense that it caused the audience to riot. World Championship Wrestling also held several events at the Coliseum from 1996 to 2000.
Hockey on Ice
The Mid-South Coliseum was also home to professional hockey teams. The Memphis Wings (later called the Memphis South Stars) played there from 1964 to 1969. To make ice for hockey, special pipes were put under the Coliseum's floor. The ice was often left in place between games. This allowed people in Memphis to go public ice skating.
Return of Hockey
In 1992, the Memphis RiverKings brought professional hockey back to the Coliseum. They were part of the new Central Hockey League. The RiverKings drew good crowds from 1992 to 2000. However, the Coliseum needed important updates. Because of this, the RiverKings moved to a new arena in 2000.
Indoor Soccer Action
The Memphis Rogues played their 1979–80 indoor soccer season at the Coliseum. The Rogues were very good that year. They won their division and made it all the way to the finals. They won the first game at home in front of over 9,000 fans. But they lost the next games to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Basketball Games
The Coliseum was home to several basketball teams. It hosted the American Basketball Association's Memphis Pros. This team later changed its name to the Tams and then the Sounds. The team eventually left Memphis in 1975.
College Basketball Home
The Coliseum was also the home court for the Memphis Tigers basketball team. They played there until the Pyramid arena opened in 1991. The Coliseum also hosted five Metro Conference men's basketball tournaments.
Closure and Future Plans
The Mid-South Coliseum closed at the end of 2006. The local governments decided not to pay for its operating costs. The Coliseum also needed expensive renovations to meet modern safety rules. These rules are part of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In 2016, a study showed that fixing up the Coliseum would cost about $23.8 million. In 2018, a group called the Coliseum Coalition was formed. They want to save the building and make it part of a new youth sports complex. A plan was suggested to use special funding to help bring the Coliseum back to life. Even though the Coliseum wasn't included in the state's approved plan, people hope private investors will help. A member of the Coalition said the building is still "in great shape."
Images for kids
-
The Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.
