Spokane Coliseum
Encyclopedia
Spokane Coliseum was an indoor arena, located in Spokane, Washington
. It opened in 1954 and had a capacity of 5,400.
It was host to a number of teams, including the Spokane Chiefs
, of the WHL
. The arena served as the home of the men's basketball
program of Gonzaga University
, from its entry into NCAA
Division I competition in 1958, until the opening of the on-campus John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion, later the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
, in 1965. The Bulldogs returned to the Coliseum in 1979, their first year in the West Coast Athletic Conference
, for conference home games only before returning to Kennedy Pavilion for the 1980-81 season. They continued to use the Coliseum for occasional home games until its demise.
During 1990, discussions for a new arena to replace the Spokane Coliseum began. One factor that led to the idea included several damages to the arena which had a leaking roof and rusted boilers. Another major issue was the size of Spokane Coliseum, which had then recently lost potential bookings from ZZ Top
and New Kids on the Block
due to its small size. Ultimately the Spokane Coliseum was replaced by the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
in 1995 and demolished that same year. The space it occupied became a parking lot for the new arena.
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. It opened in 1954 and had a capacity of 5,400.
It was host to a number of teams, including the Spokane Chiefs
Spokane Chiefs
The Spokane Chiefs are a major junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League based out of Spokane, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Arena. Their uniforms are similar to those of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Spokane consistently ranks in the top 10 in the...
, of the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. The arena served as the home of the men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
program of Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
, from its entry into NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I competition in 1958, until the opening of the on-campus John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion, later the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
Charlotte Y. Martin Centre is an athletics center on the campus of Gonzaga University housing a 4,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Spokane, Washington. It opened on December 3, 1965 as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 patrons...
, in 1965. The Bulldogs returned to the Coliseum in 1979, their first year in the West Coast Athletic Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
, for conference home games only before returning to Kennedy Pavilion for the 1980-81 season. They continued to use the Coliseum for occasional home games until its demise.
During 1990, discussions for a new arena to replace the Spokane Coliseum began. One factor that led to the idea included several damages to the arena which had a leaking roof and rusted boilers. Another major issue was the size of Spokane Coliseum, which had then recently lost potential bookings from ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
and New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
due to its small size. Ultimately the Spokane Coliseum was replaced by the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena a multi-purpose arena, located in Spokane, Washington, USA.It is home to the Spokane Chiefs, of the WHL and the Spokane Shock, of the AFL.-Construction:...
in 1995 and demolished that same year. The space it occupied became a parking lot for the new arena.