Nebraska Coliseum facts for kids
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| Address | 1350 Vine St. Lincoln, NE 65888 |
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| Coordinates | 40°49′17″N 96°42′09″W / 40.821481°N 96.702607°W |
| Owner | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Operator | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Capacity | 4,030 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1924 |
| Opened | February 6, 1926 |
| Construction cost | $435,000 |
| Architect | Ellery Davis & Walter Wilson |
| Tenants | |
| Nebraska Men's basketball (1926–1976) Nebraska Women's basketball (1974–1976) Nebraska Women's volleyball (1975–1990, 1992–2013) Nebraska Wrestling (1942–1990, 1992–2013) |
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The Nebraska Coliseum (also known as the NU Coliseum or The Coliseum) is an indoor building on the campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. For many years, it was the home for Nebraska's basketball teams and volleyball team. Today, it sometimes hosts Nebraska wrestling matches. It is mostly used as a recreation center for students.
Contents
History of the Coliseum
Building a New Home
In 1924, people at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) thought about building a new place for sports. John Selleck from UNL's Athletic Board suggested it. The Coliseum was designed by Ellery Davis and Walter Wilson. They also designed other important buildings at UNL, like Memorial Stadium and Morrill Hall.
First Games and Big Moves
The very first event at the Coliseum was a men's basketball game in 1926. Nebraska played against Kansas and lost 25–14. The women's basketball team started playing there later, in 1974. Both basketball teams moved to the new NU Sports Complex in 1976. For many years, the state's high school basketball tournament was also held at the Coliseum. It later moved to the Devaney Center too.
Volleyball at the Coliseum
A Special Home for Volleyball
After the Devaney Center was built, the Coliseum became the main home for Nebraska volleyball. The building was changed many times to fit the needs of the volleyball team. When the Pinnacle Bank Arena was built for basketball in 2013, the volleyball team moved to the Devaney Center. The Huskers have sold out 231 home matches in a row, which is a record for a women's sport!
A Unique Atmosphere
The Coliseum was one of the few college arenas made just for volleyball. It has been compared to Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium. This is because of its classic look, loud sounds, and cozy feeling. Some people even said it was "the arena that the volleyball gods would build." CBS Sports made a documentary about the Coliseum in 2009.
Amazing Records
The Nebraska Coliseum had 4,030 seats. It gave the Nebraska volleyball team a huge advantage when playing at home. Nebraska had 15 seasons where they didn't lose a single game at the Coliseum. Their overall record there was 454 wins and only 30 losses. That's a winning percentage of 93.8%! Only six times in 37 years did a team from their own conference win in Lincoln. In the early 2000s, Nebraska started a home winning streak that lasted until 2008. They won 90 games in a row, which was an NCAA record! The Huskers have hosted an NCAA Tournament match every year since 1984. They had a great record of 55 wins and 5 losses in postseason games at the Coliseum.
Other Events and Current Use
Famous Visitors
In its early days, the Coliseum was used for many different events. In 1956, the famous singer Elvis Presley held a concert there. In 1960, then-Vice President Richard Nixon gave a speech. And in April 1968, US Senator Robert F. Kennedy gave a campaign speech.
Today's Use
After all the main sports teams moved out, the Coliseum is not used for big events as much. However, it is still used as an extra practice area. It also has office space for Nebraska's gymnastics teams. The Coliseum is connected to Cook Pavilion and is part of UNL's city campus recreation center, where students can go to exercise and have fun.
