Coliseum Arena
{{short description|Former arena in New Orleans, Louisiana}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Coliseum Arena
| former_names =
| nickname = Coliseum Auditorium, Victory Arena
| logo_image =
| image = File:New Orleans Coliseum Arena April 30 1922.jpg
| caption = The Coliseum in 1922
| address = 401 N. Roman St.
| location = New Orleans, Louisiana
| coordinates = {{Coord|29.96284|-90.07738|type:edu_region:US-LA|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| broke_ground = 1921
| built = 1921
| opened = July 21, 1922
| closed = 1960
| demolished =
| owner = Coliseum Incorporated
| operator = Coliseum Incorporated
| construction_cost = >US$100,000
| architect =
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor = August Frank
| tenants =
| seating_capacity = 8,000
}}
The Coliseum Arena or Coliseum Auditorium was an arena at 401 North Roman Street in the Tulane/Gravier neighborhood of New Orleans.{{cite web|url=http://southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com/2015/01/still-standing.html|title=The Coliseum|date=20 January 2015 |publisher=southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com (Tulane University's Southeastern Architectural Archive)|access-date=August 27, 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Works|first1=Progress Administration|title=New Orleans City Guide|date=15 August 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lZvrBOEq8lEC&q=xavier+university+of+louisiana+football+stadium&pg=PR38|access-date=August 27, 2019|publisher=Garrett County Press|location=New Orleans|isbn=978-1891053405|page=XXXIX}} It was located at the corner of N. Roman St. and Conti St.
Venue
In early 1921, John Dillon, Frankie Edwards and Al Buja formed a boxing syndicate, Coliseum Incorporated, to develop an arena. On July 21, 1922, the 8,000-seat arena with capacity for 8,500 opened.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/gambit/new_orleans/news/blake_pontchartrain/article_df828b17-f5b5-5192-a99f-53cc0a59b080.html|title=What can you tell me about The Coliseum in the Garden District/Irish Channel?|publisher=The Advocate/Gambit|access-date=August 27, 2019}} The arena was modeled after the Milwaukee Auditorium and Madison Square Garden with unobstructed views. The total costs of the four-story steel-trussed white brick-sheathed building exceeded $100,000.
Events
=Boxing=
The first event at the arena was a boxing match between local fighter Martin Burke and Charlie Weinert. 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.{{cite web|url=https://64parishes.org/entry/joe-brown|title=Joe Brown|publisher=64parishes.org|access-date=February 16, 2020}} The final boxing match at the arena was held on December 14, 1959.{{cite web|url=https://fightstat.com/location/coliseum-arena-new-orleans-louisiana-usa.html|title=Fights at Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA|publisher=fightstat.com|access-date=August 27, 2019}}
=Professional wrestling=
Professional wrestling matches were held at the arena. Professional wrestler Gorgeous George appeared at the arena almost a dozen times in the early 1950s.
=Other events=
The Coliseum also hosted college and high school sports events, music performances and public lectures. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the arena in 1957.{{cite web|url=http://southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com/2015/01/shock-period.html|title=Shock Period|date=16 January 2015 |publisher=southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com (Tulane University's Southeastern Architectural Archive)|access-date=August 27, 2019}}
Arena closing
File:Alum & Stainless building, formerly Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, November 2024 - 02.jpg
The Coliseum Arena closed in 1960.{{cite book |last1=Widmer|first1=Mary Lou|title=New Orleans in the Forties|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-eoMEl4gRe8C&q=coliseum+arena+new+orleans&pg=PA171|access-date=August 27, 2019|publisher=Pelican Publishing|location=Gretna, Louisiana|isbn=145560951X|page=171}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commonscat|Coliseum Arena, New Orleans}}
Category:Boxing venues in New Orleans
Category:Defunct boxing venues in the United States
Category:Defunct sports venues in New Orleans
Category:Sports venues completed in 1922