# Spokane Coliseum

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spokane_Coliseum
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spokane_Coliseum.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane_Coliseum
> Source revision: 1339056797
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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. &<br/>N. Howard St.
| location          = [Spokane, Washington](/source/Spokane%2C_Washington), U.S.
| coordinates       = {{coord|47.6675|-117.422|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 12
| pushpin_map = <!--United States Spokane#-->USA#Washington
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the [United States](/source/United_States)##Location in [Washington](/source/Washington_(state))
| 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 = [$](/source/United_States_dollar)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=$2,500,000 Coliseum opens tonight|date=December 3, 1954|page=1}}</ref><br/>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2500000|1954}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}<!-- dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})
| renovated         = 
| expanded          = 
| closed            = Spring 1995 &nbsp;(30 years)
| demolished        = Spring–Summer 1995
| tenants           = [Gonzaga Bulldogs](/source/Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball) ([NCAA](/source/NCAA)) (1958–[65](/source/1964%E2%80%9365_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball_team), [1979–80](/source/1979%E2%80%9380_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball_team))<br/>[Spokane Flyers](/source/Spokane_Flyers_(junior)) ([WHL](/source/Western_Hockey_League)) (1980–81)<br/>[Spokane Chiefs](/source/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](/source/Northwestern_United_States) [United States](/source/United_States), located in [Spokane, Washington](/source/Spokane%2C_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](/source/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](/source/Metropolitan_Opera) soprano [Patrice Munsel](/source/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](/source/Catholic_Church) [Mass](/source/Mass_(Roman_Rite)) and stage shows by [Lawrence Welk](/source/Lawrence_Welk) and [Liberace](/source/Liberace), respectively.<ref name=colpmjrh/>

It was host to a number of teams, including the [Spokane Chiefs](/source/Spokane_Chiefs) of the [Western Hockey League](/source/Western_Hockey_League) (WHL). The&nbsp;arena served as the home of the [Gonzaga University](/source/Gonzaga_University) [basketball team](/source/Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball), from its entry into [NCAA](/source/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association) [University Division](/source/1958%E2%80%9359_NCAA_University_Division_men's_basketball_season) (now [Division I](/source/NCAA_Division_I)) competition in [1958](/source/1958%E2%80%9359_NCAA_University_Division_men's_basketball_season), until the opening of the on-campus John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion in [1965](/source/1965%E2%80%9366_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball_team),<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](/source/Charlotte_Y._Martin_Centre). The Bulldogs returned to the Coliseum in [1979](/source/1979%E2%80%9380_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball_team), their first year in the [West Coast Athletic Conference](/source/West_Coast_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](/source/1980%E2%80%9381_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball_team) 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](/source/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&nbsp;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](/source/ZZ_Top) and [New Kids on the Block](/source/New_Kids_on_the_Block) due to its small size; Spokane was losing concert dates to larger venues in [Pullman](/source/Beasley_Coliseum) and [Boise](/source/ExtraMile_Arena).<ref name=closure/>

The Spokane Coliseum was replaced by the [Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena](/source/Spokane_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<br>[Spokane Chiefs](/source/Spokane_Chiefs)
 | years = 1985–1995
 | before = [Kelowna Memorial Arena](/source/Kelowna_Memorial_Arena)<br>(as [Kelowna Wings](/source/Kelowna_Wings))
 | after = [Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena](/source/Spokane_Veterans_Memorial_Arena)
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball navbox}}

{{Authority control}}

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)

{{icehockey-venue-stub}}
{{Washington-stadium-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spokane Coliseum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane_Coliseum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane_Coliseum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.