Knoxville Civic Coliseum

General James White Memorial Civic Auditorium and Coliseum (usually shortened to Knoxville Civic Coliseum) is a multi-purpose events facility in Knoxville, Tennessee, owned by the Knoxville city government and managed by SMG. Its components are an auditorium with a maximum seating capacity of 2,500,[1] a multi-purpose arena with a maximum seating capacity of 6,500,[2] an exhibition hall and a reception hall. It was built in 1961.[3]

Panorama of Coliseum in 2007

Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Full nameGeneral James White Memorial Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
Location500 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37915
OwnerCity of Knoxville
OperatorSMG
Capacity6,500 (coliseum)
2,500 (auditorium)
Construction
Opened1961 (1961)
ArchitectPainter, Weeks, and McCarty
Tenants
Knoxville Knights (EHL) (1961–1968)
Knoxville Cherokees (ECHL) (1988–1997)
Tennessee Volunteers ice hockey (SECHC) (1992–present; half of home games)
Knoxville Speed (UHL) (1999–2002)
Tennessee ThunderCats/Riverhawks (IPFL/NIFL) (2001–2003)
Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL) (2002–present)
Knoxville NightHawks (PIFL) (2012–2013)
Website
knoxvillecoliseum.com

The arena is home to the Knoxville Ice Bears, of the SPHL and the University of Tennessee Ice Vols, of the ACHA. In the past, the arena hosted the Knoxville Speed, of the UHL, the Knoxville Cherokees, of the ECHL and the Knoxville Knights, of the EHL. It was also the home of the Tennessee ThunderCats/Riverhawks professional indoor football franchise.

It was the main home arena for Smoky Mountain Wrestling, a regional wrestling promotion, run by pro wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Cornette from 1992 to 1995.

Performances hosted in the facility have included circuses, plays and musicals, symphony orchestra concerts, popular music concerts, and comedians.[3] On March 18, 1982, the venue was notable to be the site of Randy Rhoads' final show, before his death in a plane crash the very next day.[4][5]

Chicago broke the record (at that time) for the fastest sellout to a concert at the Coliseum for their August 26, 1971, performance.

References
  1. Auditorium Technical Information, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, archived from the original on April 5, 2012
  2. Coliseum Technical Information, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, archived from the original on April 5, 2012
  3. "Knoxville Attraction: James White Memorial Civic Auditorium & Coliseum". Knoxville News Sentinel. April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.ozzyhead.com/randbio.htm

Official website

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