Opened November 1968 Phone +1 803-777-5113 | Capacity 12,401 | |
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Location 701 Assembly Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201 Operator University of South Carolina Address 701 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA Owner University of South Carolina Architect Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle, and Wolff Similar Koger Center for the Arts, Colonial Life Arena, Market Square Arena, Richfield Coliseum, Mid‑South Coliseum | ||
A look back at the history of the carolina coliseum as it opens its doors one more time
Carolina Coliseum is a 12,401 seat multi-purpose arena in Columbia, South Carolina built in 1968 by the University of South Carolina. The Coliseum was the largest arena in South Carolina at the time of its completion. It was the home of the USC men's and women's basketball teams for many years as well as Columbia's main events venue until 2002, when the Colonial Life Arena (originally named Carolina Center), opened a block away on Greene Street. The Coliseum was once home to the Columbia Inferno hockey team, a franchisee of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), until poor ticket sales caused the Inferno to leave. Inferno plans to build and move to another venue did not materialize.
Contents
- A look back at the history of the carolina coliseum as it opens its doors one more time
- Carolina coliseum project
- References
The facility is also home to university classrooms with classes held in the lower levels. The high school commencement ceremonies of many high schools in the South Carolina Midlands are held annually in the arena as many school venues are too small for such ceremonies.
Prior to the building of the Coliseum, the Gamecocks had played in Carolina Fieldhouse from 1927 until it burned in 1968, and the Carolina Gymnasium (now the Longstreet Theater) prior to that.
The Coliseum was the host of the NCAA Basketball Tournament East Regional in 1970. Until 2002, when Greenville's Bi-Lo Center served as host, it was the only time the tournament was played in South Carolina. The Metro Conference men's basketball tournament was held here in 1989.
In 1977, the playing surface was renamed "Frank McGuire Arena" after then head basketball coach Frank McGuire. McGuire had been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame a few weeks earlier.
The Coliseum has hosted concerts by artists such as Kiss, The Grateful Dead, Edgar Winter, Duran Duran, Ted Nugent, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Metallica and many others throughout the years.
As recently as 2009/10 the Coliseum was used as a tour rehearsal space for acts that included Elton John, John Mayer and Billy Joel. Although it is an older facility, its many positive technical attributes have made it a desirable venue for tour rehearsals.
The Coliseum is university owned but it is managed by Comcast, a subsidiary Global Spectrum. A conflict with a Miranda Lambert concert at Colonial Life Arena resulted in the USC Athletics Department moving the January 17, 2013 women's basketball game against Louisiana State University to the Coliseum. This was the first use of the facility as the official backup venue for the USC teams since play began in Colonial Life Center.
Officials subsequently announced that no more games will be played in the Coliseum. In the fall of 2014, 3000 seats were removed and the arena floor was converted into two practice courts for the Gamecock men's and women's teams. The old Coliseum playing surface was auctioned in January for $23,215.