The Coliseum Arena or Coliseum Auditorium was an arena at 401 North Roman Street in the Tulane/Gravier neighborhood of New Orleans.[1][2] It was located at the corner of N. Roman St. and Conti St.[1]
Coliseum Auditorium, Victory Arena | |
 The Coliseum in 1922 | |
 | |
| Address | 401 N. Roman St. |
|---|---|
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 29°57′46″N 90°04′39″W / 29.96284°N 90.07738°W |
| Owner | Coliseum Incorporated |
| Operator | Coliseum Incorporated |
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1921 |
| Built | 1921 |
| Opened | July 21, 1922 |
| Closed | 1960 |
| Construction cost | >US$100,000 |
| General contractor | August Frank |
Venue
editIn early 1921, John Dillon, Frankie Edwards and Al Buja formed a boxing syndicate, Coliseum Incorporated, to develop an arena.[1] On July 21, 1922, the 8,000-seat arena with capacity for 8,500 opened.[3] The arena was modeled after the Milwaukee Auditorium and Madison Square Garden with unobstructed views.[1] The total costs of the four-story steel-trussed white brick-sheathed building exceeded $100,000.[1]
Events
editBoxing
editThe first event at the arena was a boxing match between local fighter Martin Burke and Charlie Weinert.[1] The arena held many boxing matches including fights featuring Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Brown, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pastrano and Ralph Dupas.[3][4] The final boxing match at the arena was held on December 14, 1959.[5]
Professional wrestling
editProfessional wrestling matches were held at the arena.[2] Professional wrestler Gorgeous George appeared at the arena almost a dozen times in the early 1950s.[2][3]
Other events
editThe Coliseum also hosted college and high school sports events, music performances and public lectures.[3] Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the arena in 1957.[6]
Arena closing
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "The Coliseum". southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com (Tulane University's Southeastern Architectural Archive). 20 January 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c Works, Progress Administration (15 August 2011). New Orleans City Guide. New Orleans: Garrett County Press. p. XXXIX. ISBN 978-1891053405. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "What can you tell me about The Coliseum in the Garden District/Irish Channel?". The Advocate/Gambit. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Joe Brown". 64parishes.org. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ "Fights at Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA". fightstat.com. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Shock Period". southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com (Tulane University's Southeastern Architectural Archive). 16 January 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ Widmer, Mary Lou. New Orleans in the Forties. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing. p. 171. ISBN 145560951X. Retrieved August 27, 2019.