Spokane Coliseum

{{Short description|Indoor arena in Spokane, Washington}} {{Infobox venue | name = Spokane Coliseum | nickname = ''The Boone Street Barn'' | image = SpokaneColiseum1a.jpg | image_size = 260 | caption = View west from Howard Street | address = W. Boone Ave. & N. Howard St. | location = Spokane, Washington, U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|47.6675|-117.422|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 12 | pushpin_map = USA#Washington | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Washington | pushpin_label = Spokane | broke_ground = September 28, 1953 <ref name=coldelt>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yuVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ofYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6999%2C903752|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|last=Emahiser |first=Bob |title=Coliseum dedication gives reality to long-time city dream|date=December 3, 1954|page=13 }}</ref> | opened = {{start date and age|1954|12|3|br=yes}} | seating_capacity = 5,400 | construction_cost = $2.5 million in 1954<ref name=etona/><ref name=tahmcot>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yuVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ofYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6843%2C816726 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |title=$2,500,000 Coliseum opens tonight|date=December 3, 1954|page=1}}</ref> (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2500000|1954}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}{{inflation-fn|US}}) | renovated = | expanded = | closed = Spring 1995  (30 years) | demolished = Spring–Summer 1995 | tenants = Gonzaga Bulldogs (NCAA) (1958–65, 1979–80) Spokane Flyers (WHL) (1980–81) Spokane Chiefs (WHL) (1985–95) }} '''Spokane Coliseum''' (nicknamed '''The Boone Street Barn''')<ref name=cotlih>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rzwjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g_EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2409%2C5254011 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Coliseum to live in hearts, homes |last=Foster |first=J. Todd|date=April 19, 1995 |page=A1 }}</ref><ref name=csmgg>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n2JWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vvEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6350%2C8555004|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Coliseum should make good gravel |last=Bartel |first=Frank |date=March 20, 1995 |page=A11 }}</ref> was an indoor arena in the northwestern United States, located in Spokane, Washington. Opened in late 1954,<ref name=etona>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2aEnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aOYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1336%2C1514881|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title= 8000 jam Coliseum for colorful dedication program |date=December 4, 1954 |page=1}}</ref> it had a seating capacity of 5,400.

After more than a year of construction, the arena was dedicated on December 3, 1954, in a program headlined by Metropolitan Opera soprano Patrice Munsel, a Spokane native.<ref name=etona/><ref name=bsthb>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UVhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BO8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5373%2C2128028 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |last=Bonino |first=Rick |title=Bittersweet 30th birthday for Coliseum |date=December 3, 1984 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=colpmjrh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=51tYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2254%2C3047902 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |last=Hill |first=Bob |title=Coliseum playing major role here |date=November 12, 1964 |page=1 }}</ref> The largest crowds in its early years were for a Catholic Mass and stage shows by Lawrence Welk and Liberace, respectively.<ref name=colpmjrh/>

It was host to a number of teams, including the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The arena served as the home of the Gonzaga University basketball team, from its entry into NCAA University Division (now Division I) competition in 1958, until the opening of the on-campus John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion in 1965,<ref name=kphmgse>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FzlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7058%2C2093278 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |last=Missildine|first=Harry |title=Kennedy Pavilion heralds modern Gonzaga sports era |date=May 21, 1965 |page=28 }}</ref> later the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre. The Bulldogs returned to the Coliseum in 1979, their first year in the West Coast Athletic Conference, for conference home games only,<ref name=YearbyYear>{{cite web|url=http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/gonz/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0607mediaguidep123-133 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524202425/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/gonz/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0607mediaguidep123-133 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |title=Year-by-Year Results |work=2007 Gonzaga University Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=Gonzaga University Athletics |format=PDF |pages=123–133 |accessdate=2007-06-03}}</ref> then returned to Kennedy Pavilion for the 1980–81 season.<ref name=ZagsHomes>{{cite web |url=http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/gonz/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0607mediaguidep99-112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524202250/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/gonz/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0607mediaguidep99-112 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |title=Through The Ages – Homes of the Bulldogs |work=2007 Gonzaga University Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=Gonzaga University Athletics |format=PDF |page=108 |accessdate=2007-05-29}}</ref> They continued to use the Coliseum for occasional home games until its demise. The venue was used for some events of the 1990 Goodwill Games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19900621&id=orszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fPADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4498,629279 |date=June 21, 1990 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=(advertisement)|title=The 1990 Goodwill Games are Coming to Spokane |page=A13}}</ref>

==Replacement== During 1990, discussions for a new arena to replace the Spokane Coliseum began.<ref name=closure>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iA0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6553%2C5101732 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Spokane Coliseum not worth repairing, tax breakers say |last=Prager |first=Mike |date=October 27, 1990 |page=B1 }}</ref> One factor that led to the idea included several damages to the arena which had a leaking roof and rusted boilers.<ref name=closure/> 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; Spokane was losing concert dates to larger venues in Pullman and Boise.<ref name=closure/>

The Spokane Coliseum was replaced by the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in 1995, and was demolished that spring and summer.<ref name=brzzg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zF5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e_EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3093%2C1212529 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Barn-razing |last=Johnson |first=Kristina |date=June 23, 1995 |page=B1 }}</ref> The space it occupied is directly north of the new arena, towards Boone Avenue, now a parking lot.<ref name=csmgg/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yuVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ofYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6945%2C898862 ''Spokane Daily Chronicle''] - photos from December 3, 1954 edition, opening night

{{s-start}} {{succession box | title = Home of the Spokane Chiefs | years = 1985–1995 | before = Kelowna Memorial Arena (as Kelowna Wings) | after = Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena }} {{s-end}}

Category:College basketball venues in Washington (state) Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States Category:Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball Category:Spokane Chiefs Category:Western Hockey League arenas Category:Defunct ice hockey venues in the United States Category:Demolished sports venues in Washington (state) Category:Ice hockey venues in Washington (state) Category:Sports venues in Spokane, Washington Category:Sports venues completed in 1954 Category:Sports venues demolished in 1995 Category:1954 establishments in Washington (state) Category:1995 disestablishments in Washington (state)