Beasley Coliseum

The building's inaugural event in 1973 was the university's commencement exercises on {{nowrap|June 3.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mKFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7252%2C678563 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington) |title=Ceremony opens center |agency=(photo) |date=June 4, 1973 |page=1}}}} Its first sporting event was an NBA exhibition game between Seattle and Portland on September 25, 1973.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PxxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ouwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5542,2602595|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|title= WSU books Russell, Sonics|date=August 22, 1973|page=16}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W3VUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ao8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3837,4918915|newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record|location=(Washington)|title=Sonics finally win|agency=UPI|date=September 26, 1973|page=13}} The first major concert was Three Dog Night on Friday, October 5; tickets were five dollars.{{cite news |url=https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/evergreens/id/51286/rec/85 |work=Daily Evergreen |location=(Pullman, Washington) |agency=(Washington State University) |title=Three Dog Night |date=September 21, 1973 |page=16}}{{cite news |url=https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/evergreens/id/51324/rec/94 |work=Daily Evergreen |location=(Pullman, Washington) |agency=(Washington State University) |last=Malphrus |first=Bob |title=Three Dog Night: suffering from superstar syndrome |date=October 9, 1973 |page=6}}

The first collegiate sporting event was a men's varsity basketball game against LSU on December 1, immediately preceded by a freshman game.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dHZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hS8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5893%2C343256 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho) |last=Barrows |first=Bob |title=Cougars beat LSU 80-78 |date=December 2, 1973 |page=17}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c3ZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hS8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5453%2C137221 |newspaper= Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |last=Barrows|first=Bob |title=Cougars open up against LSU |date=December 1, 1973 |page=16}}[http://www.wsucougars.com/genrel/cougar-history.html This Week in Cougar History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103095446/http://www.wsucougars.com/genrel/cougar-history.html |date=January 3, 2012 }} The visiting Tigers were led by second-year head coach Dale Brown, previously an assistant at WSU (1971–72). Intercollegiate basketball was formerly played in Bohler Gymnasium, which opened in 1928 and is now home to Cougar volleyball.

Located on the east side of campus, the building includes the home arena for Cougars men's and women's basketball. It is named Friel Court in honor of {{nowrap|Jack Friel}} {{nowrap|(1898–1995),}} the longtime head coach of the WSU men's basketball team, who led the Cougars to 495 victories in 30 seasons.

Friel stepped down as head coach in 1958 and five years later became the first commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, originally based in Pullman (from 1963 to 1971), because that's where he lived. The court was named for Friel in late April 1977, announced by President Glenn Terrell at a meeting of the board {{nowrap|of regents;{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TjFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5663,6166971|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=It's now 'Friel Court'|date=April 30, 1977|page=19}}}} the dedication ceremony was at halftime on {{nowrap|December 3.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aZ0SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=APkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5901%2C798618 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |last=Brown |first=Bruce |title=Friel dedication due |date=December 3, 1977 |page=9}}}}

The court surface was tartan (polyurethane) for its first decade;{{cite news |url=https://stanforddailyarchive.com/cgi-bin/stanford?a=d&d=stanford19840223-01.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------# |work=Stanford Daily |location=(California) |agency=(Stanford University) |last=Zeigler |first=Mark |title=Hoop crew hopes to tame WSU, but beating Cougars not easy |date=February 23, 1984 |page=6}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw47v3zod7w |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731013308/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw47v3zod7w |archive-date=2020-07-31 |url-status=dead|work=YouTube |agency=(CBS Sports) |title=NCAA Tournament: Iowa vs. Idaho (round of 32) |date=March 14, 1982 |access-date=May 30, 2018}} a traditional hardwood floor debuted in the fall {{nowrap|of 1983.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=58YRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4799%2C113395 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Seattle Pacific at WSU: At a glance |date=December 1, 1983 |page=20}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6MYRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6535%2C594408 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=WSU sports new look, old results |date=December 2, 1983 |page=20}}}}

The Coliseum has hosted the sub-regionals of the NCAA men's basketball tournament three times: 1975, 1982, and 1984.

The 1975 tournament expanded to 32 teams and the sub-regional had just two games:{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pZZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3258%2C4849472 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=WSU chosen NCAA cage site |date=August 21, 1974 |page=15}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=35JYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7194%2C3975634 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Bruins begin title search |last=Brown |first=Bruce |date=March 15, 1975 |page=10}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=brJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6164%2C3639594|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Bruins, Grizzlies start title trek tonight at WSU |agency=Associated Press |date=March 15, 1975 |page=3B}} Big Sky champion Montana {{nowrap|(20–6)}} and second-ranked UCLA {{nowrap|(23–3)}} advanced on Saturday night before 10,500. Pac-8 champion UCLA trailed Big Ten runner-up Michigan by four at halftime and needed overtime to win by twelve.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pq5hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mNkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6806%2C3843720 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|agency=wire services |title=Bruins survive, win in overtime |date=March 16, 1975 |page=4B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b7JfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2442%2C3844001 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |last=Emerson |first=Paul |title=Hurt Meyers leads UCLA past Michigan |date=March 16, 1975 |page=1B}} In the opener, WSU alumnus Jud Heathcote's Montana beat independent Utah State {{nowrap|by six.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_xxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vewDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7210%2C1074747 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=UCLA next for spirited Montana team |date=March 17, 1975 |page=13 }}}} Five days later in the Sweet Sixteen in Portland, UCLA defeated the Grizzlies by a mere {{nowrap|three points;{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u8ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mNkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6913%2C5392122 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Cawood |first=Neil |title=It's UCLA - despite Eric Hays' heroics |date=March 21, 1975 |page=3C}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ax1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vewDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6887%2C2555403 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Gritty Montana's rally falls short as UCLA struggles to 67-64 win|date=March 21, 1975 |page=30}}}} the Bruins continued on and won a tenth national title in 12 seasons, and hall of fame head coach John Wooden retired.

By 1982, the tournament had 48 teams and its Pullman sub-regional had four games with six teams, headlined by the Northwest's top two teams, fourth-ranked Oregon State {{nowrap|(27–4)}} and #8 Idaho {{nowrap|(26–2).}} Both were seeded with first-round byes and advanced: Oregon State dispatched Pepperdine and Palouse neighbor Idaho outlasted Iowa in overtime to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, with 12,340 in attendance on Sunday {{nowrap|afternoon.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6111%2C6045848 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Idaho: next stop, Provo |date=March 15, 1982 |page=15 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-upWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6623%2C3844087 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington|last=Van Sickel |first=Charlie |title=UI Vandals: Sweet 16 and... |date=March 15, 1982 |page=15 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WZlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4186%2C6089584 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho|last=Killen |first=John |title=Kellerman's last shot paves way to Provo |date=March 15, 1982 |page=1C }}}} The next week in Provo, Utah, OSU eliminated Idaho, then was defeated by Georgetown, the eventual runner-up.

The 1984 tournament had 53 teams and six played in Pullman on the new hardwood. WSU's archrival Washington beat Nevada then upset third-seeded {{nowrap|Duke,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8PdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6131%2C4593901|work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |title=Schrempf a hazard to Duke |agency=wire services |date=March 19, 1984 |page=1B}}}} while eventual champion Georgetown outlasted SMU {{nowrap|37–36}} before over 10,500 spectators on Sunday {{nowrap|afternoon.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Kf9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8u4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6627%2C1825782 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=Huskies show the Devils no respect |date=March 19, 1984 |page=15}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8PdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6778%2C4611139|work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |title=Hoyas slow down, but SMU can't stop them |agency=wire services |date=March 19, 1984 |page=5B}}}}

With the opening of Spokane Arena in 1995, Spokane has hosted NCAA tournament games in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2024.

In addition to basketball, the building's full name reflects its use for concerts, big-name speakers, dinners, and commencement. Beasley may be reconfigured for seating capacities of 12,000 in the round to 9,000 in an end-stage configuration for concerts, to 2,500 in a theater configuration using an extensive system of fly-in curtains, an adjustable cloth scrim ceiling, and a portable proscenium stored under the floor.

The original opera house/theater configuration featured one of the first synthesized acoustical environments using surround speaker systems. An onsite reverberation chamber tuned with fiberglass panels for the specific acoustical configuration was combined with the first commercial use of a digital delay line, the Lexicon DD1, then fed to the side and overhead speakers. When properly set up, it was capable producing a very convincing acoustical rendition of a theater, an opera house, or by changing the delay settings and retuning the reverb chamber, even a cathedral. Unfortunately, a sewer drain line had been installed from the southeast corner restroom facilities through the reverb chamber, and if a toilet flushed when the system was in operation, the resulting sound effect was extraordinary. After discovering that, locking the restroom was a management priority whenever the theater was prepared for surround sound use. More recently full digital reverberation replaced the chamber.

The Coliseum's Hall of Fame—famous entertainers who have performed there—include comedians such as Bob Hope,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jo9fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wjAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2956%2C4617663|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Bob Hope to be at WSU |date=February 21, 1974 |page=14}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qpdfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2746%2C2020210 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=On Watergate – 'staff infection' |date=March 9, 1974 |page=11}} Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, and Whoopi Goldberg, and musical stars or shows such as The Beach Boys, The 5th Dimension, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Def Leppard, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Dana Carvey, Drew Carey, Montgomery Gentry, Bill Engvall, Howie Mandel, Grease & Cats. The Harlem Globetrotters have performed there five times.

For many years, the Coliseum has been the venue for the Great Performances series, organized by the Festival Dance and Performing Arts Association of neighboring Moscow, Idaho.

Overflow crowds attended lectures by Noam Chomsky on April 22, 2005, and by Jane Goodall on March 8, 2007.

On March 6, 2010, the arena hosted a WWE SmackDown house show.

Due to a shortage of student housing in September 1975, the two-year-old Coliseum temporarily housed 80 men for several weeks and was dubbed the "Cougar Hilton."{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q6VfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5278%2C8156615 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Blessing given to 'Cougar Hilton' |date=September 27, 1975 |page=6A}}

• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas

{{Reflist|2}}

{{commons cat}}

• [http://beasley.wsu.edu Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum]
• [http://www.wsucougars.com/facilities/ WSU Athletics] - official site - facilities
• [http://wsm.wsu.edu/s/index.php?id=252 Wallis Beasley, 92 - Sociologist, administrator, interim WSU president]

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Category:College basketball venues in Washington (state)

Category:Buildings and structures in Pullman, Washington

Category:Tourist attractions in Whitman County, Washington

Category:Washington State Cougars basketball

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Category:Sports venues completed in 1973