Owner City of Macon Phone +1 478-803-1593 | Opened 1968 Team Macon Mayhem | |
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Location 200 Coliseum Drive
Macon, Georgia 31217 Operator Spectra by Comcast Spectacor Capacity Basketball: 9,252
Hockey and Arena football: 7,182
Concerts:
*End stage 180°: 7,418
*End stage 270°: 8,024
*End stage 360°: 8,438
*Theatre: 1,750 Address 200 Coliseum Dr, Macon, GA 31217, USA Similar Grand Opera House, Museum of Arts and Sciences, Tubman Museum, Cannonball House, Johnston‑Felton‑Hay House Profiles | ||
The Macon Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena and in Macon, Georgia, United States. It was home to the Macon Whoopee (ECHL), Macon Whoopee (CHL) and Macon Trax ice hockey teams and also the Macon Knights arena football team until 2006. It is home to the Macon Mayhem, a minor-league hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League. Seating 7,182 for hockey and arena football and up to 9,252 for concerts.
History
Macon Coliseum was built in 1968 as the first facility of its size and kind in the state. Mayor Ronnie Thompson was among its most influential backers. Thompson, who served from 1967-1975, blocked an appearance at the facility by the boxer Muhammad Ali because the mayor objected to Ali's Conscientious Objector status during the Vietnam War.
The Coliseum quickly became Central Georgia's premier sports, entertainment and trade show venue, with concerts by well-known performers such as Elvis Presley. Presley performed at the coliseum on April 15, 1972, afternoon show and evening show, April 24, 1975, August 31, 1976, and June 1, 1977. Many others have performed here, including Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers Band, KISS, Van Halen, Jethro Tull, James Brown, War, Jackson 5, Jeffrey Osborne, Earth, Wind, and Fire, The Emotions, Bar Kays, Parliament/Funkadelic, The Temptations, OJays, Chicago, Leon Russell, Aerosmith, Rick James, Prince, The Time, Vanity 6, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sarah McLachlan, Billy Joel, Katy Perry, Elton John and many others. R.E.M. filmed part of its first concert film Tourfilm here on November 11, 1989.
World Championship Wrestling often came to the Coliseum. It was in this arena that Scott Hall came out from the audience in a May 27, 1996, episode of Monday Nitro to mark the beginning of the NWO. The World Wrestling Federation performed here as well before they became the WWE in 2002. TNA Wrestling also hosted episodes of their weekly flagship broadcast Impact Wrestling in the arena in November 2011.
The arena underwent major renovations in 1996 including the addition of the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Centre, which hosts conventions, trade shows and banquets. Three luxury suites were added in 2003 and the Coliseum's exterior redone, resulting in the addition of a giant "M" at the main entrance on the arena's facade.