Rapides Parish Coliseum

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Rapides Parish Coliseum

| nickname = Rapides Coliseum, The Coliseum

| image = Rapides Coliseum.jpg

| caption = Front Entrance of Rapides Coliseum

| location = 5600 Coliseum Boulevard
Alexandria, Louisiana 71303

| coordinates = {{Coord|31|17|48|N|92|30|13|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=it}}

| broke_ground =

| opened = {{Start date and age|1965|p=fy}}

| closed =

| reopened = {{Start date and age|2017|2|10|p=fy}}

| renovated = 2015–2017

| owner = Rapides Parish

| operator = ASM Global

| surface = Multi-surface

| construction_cost = $22.9 million (2017 renovation){{cite web|title=Renovated Rapides Coliseum could open in 2015|url=http://www.louisianaradionetwork.com/blogs/Rapides-Parish-Coliseum-renovation#.V9tkWaIk5qQ|date=27 April 2015|accessdate=September 15, 2016}}

| architect = Buddy Tudor, Tudor Construction Company

Bill Tudor, Alliance Design Group (2017 Renovation)

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor =

| tenants = Alexandria Warthogs (WPHL) (1998–2000)
Louisiana Rangers (IPFL/NIFL) (2000–2002)

| seating_capacity = Center-Stage: 10,000
Basketball: 8,900
Concert End-Stage: 8,000
Open Floor: 7,000{{cite web|title=Rapides Parish Coliseum Seating Map|url=http://www.rpclive.org/seating-map|date=2016|accessdate=January 6, 2017}}

| former_names =

}}

The Rapides Parish Coliseum (often called the Rapides Coliseum, as noted on the sign out front) is a multi-purpose arena located on Louisiana Highway 28 West in Alexandria, Louisiana. The coliseum can seat up to 10,000 {{cite web|title=Louisiana Sports Venues|url=http://www.tripinfo.com/sports/la-sports.shtml|date=2017|accessdate=January 6, 2017}} people in the {{convert|65000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} building. Additional space is in the smaller Exhibition Hall, also on the property.

Built in 1965 by Buddy Tudor's family-owned construction company in Pineville , with foreman Pete Honeycutt, along with the senior Tudor directing the construction. The dome-topped coliseum has hosted thousands of events, including music concerts, "monster" truck shows, professional wrestling, trade shows and sporting events.

Additional facilities on the grounds include a {{convert|23000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Exhibition Hall, often used for trade shows. The Exhibition Hall has been rebranded as of 2025 as the Entertainment Center at the Rapides Parish Coliseum.

Arena information

The arena was first constructed in 1964 and completed in 1965. The venue features 4 meeting rooms with over {{convert|700|sqft|m2|-2}} of space, 2 multi-purpose rooms with over {{convert|2100|sqft|m2|-2}} of space, a catering kitchen, 4 locker rooms, 10 luxury suites, office space and ticket booths. {{cite web|title=RPC Seating & Room Availability|url=http://www.rapidesparishcoliseum.com/seating-rooms|date=2016|accessdate=January 6, 2017}}{{cite web|title=About the Rapides Parish Coliseum|url=http://www.rpclive.org/about|date=2016|accessdate=January 6, 2017}} The coliseum property contains a 2,500 parking lot space.

Anthony S. "Tony" D'Angelo (1917-2012), an Alexandria native, was named in the spring of 1969 as the manager of the Coliseum.The Shreveport Times, April 18, 1969, p. 49. After thirty years as an officer in the United States Navy, in which he reached the rank of lieutenant commander, D'Angelo returned home to take over management of the facilityObituary of Anthony D'Angelo, Alexandria Town Talk, April 22, 2012. and served in that capacity through most of the 1970s. He was then named the Alexandria municipal public works director under then Mayor Carroll E. Lanier, upon the retirement for health reasons of the previous director, Malcolm Hebert.Anthony D'Angelo was married for sixty-three years to the former Agnes Maggio (1926-2017), a native of Natchitoches. The couple had six children. {{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?n=agnes-seraphine-d-angelo&pid=185396111|title=Agnes Seraphine D'Angelo obituary|publisher=The Alexandria Town Talk|accessdate=May 18, 2017}}

Beginning September 1, 2017, a private firm called SMG will assume management of the Coliseum; the company was actually in place a month earlier in preparation for the transition. SMG has a five-year contract to run the facility. With the Rapides Parish Jury's decision to allow SMG to take over operations for the Coliseum, the officials held a special meeting on August 11, 2017, and voted to dissolve the Coliseum Authority.{{cite web|title=Police Jury approves SMG contract for Rapides Parish Coliseum, lays off 12 employees|url=http://www.kalb.com/content/news/Police-Jury-approves-SMG-contract-for-Rapides-Parish-Coliseum-lays-off-12-employees-439901963.html|date=11 August 2017|accessdate=August 17, 2017}} Rapides Parish officials contend that SMG can offer better incentives to promoters so that a smaller market like Alexandria can land quality entertainment. The company manages eleven facilities in Louisiana, including the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans and the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2017/08/11/heres-why-police-jury-turning-private-company-manage-coliseum/559113001/|title=Here's why the Police Jury is turning to a private company to manage the Coliseum|author=Jeff Matthews|publisher=The Alexandria Town Talk|date=August 11, 2017|accessdate=August 12, 2017}}

=2017 Renovations=

In October 2008, a report was produced for the Rapides Parish Police Jury that estimated the total cost of repairs and needed updates to be $10 million. On November 6, 2012, Rapides Parish voters approved a $23 million bond issue backed by a $2.5 million property tax for the coliseum.{{cite web|title=Voters approve tax to renovate Rapides Coliseum|url=http://www.katc.com/news/voters-approve-tax-to-renovate-rapides-coliseum/|date=7 November 2012|accessdate=November 16, 2012}} Also approved was a $1 million tax to pay for the coliseum maintenance and operations for 20 years. The $23 million taxes would pay for renovation projects that included an expanded seating capacity, a new 3-story lobby, sky boxes and exhibition hall, improved electrical systems and roofing, new rest rooms, stages, dressing rooms, and a basketball floor, and a rebuilt parking space. The coliseum also features a new center-hung video display.{{cite web|title=RAPIDES PARISH COLISEUM ADDS NEW NEVCO EQUIPMENT AS PART OF RENOVATION PROJECT|url=http://nevco.com/rapides-parish-coliseum-adds-new-nevco-equipment-part-renovation-project/|date=4 January 2017|accessdate=January 6, 2017}} The renovation was designed to give the coliseum a modern appeal and attract larger events for the Rapides Parish area.

Start of construction for the project was delayed due to the Rapides Parish Police Jury's difficulty in obtaining a permit to begin the renovations because of a dispute between them and the city of Alexandria over the Rapides Parish Coliseum parking lot issue, which was eventually settled.{{cite web|title=Debate continues between the parish and the city over coliseum parking lot|url=http://www.kalb.com/news/headlines/Debate-continues-between-the-parish-and-the-city-over-coliseum-parking-lot-295979091.html|date=11 March 2015|accessdate=September 16, 2016}} The project officially began in April 2015. Renovation was completed, and the coliseum held its grand opening on February 10, 2017.{{cite web|title=Rapides Parish Coliseum renovations unveiled|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/alexandria/2017/02/10/rapides-parish-coliseum-renovations-unveiled/97547438//97547438/|date=10 February 2017|accessdate=February 10, 2017}}

=Seating capacity=

The arena as a concert venue can seat 8,000 for end-stage shows and 10,000 for center-stage shows. For open floor shows, the arena can seat 7,000. For basketball games, the venue can seat 8,900.

The maximum seating capacity history for the venue has gone as follows:

6,512 (1965–2017)
10,000 (2017–present)

Events

=Sports=

The LSUA Generals Men's and Women's basketball teams played their first ever home game in the coliseum on February 16, 2017, against the St. Thomas Celts. Peak attendance was reached in the Men's game with 2,722 fans. This was the coliseum's first event held there since its closure for renovations. The Men's team defeated St. Thomas 80-75, and the Women's team won 80-50.{{cite web|title=No. 1 Generals survive St. Thomas|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/sports/college/lsua/2017/02/17/generals-survive-st-thomas/98068638/|date=17 February 2017|accessdate=February 19, 2017}}{{cite web|title=LSUA women dominate St. Thomas for much-needed win|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/sports/college/lsua/2017/02/17/lsua-women-dominate-st-thomas-much-needed-win/98067328/|date=17 February 2017|accessdate=February 19, 2017}}

The coliseum hosted the men's and women's Red River Athletic Conference basketball tournament on March 2–4, 2017. This was the first time the RRAC's tournament, since going to a single site format in 2001, is played outside the state of Texas.{{cite web|title=UPDATES ON THE RAPIDES PARISH COLISEUM RENOVATIONS|url=http://www.kalb.com/video?vid=407742176|date=21 December 2016|accessdate=January 6, 2017}}{{cite web|title=RRAC basketball tournaments moving to Alexandria|url=http://www.kalb.com/content/sports/RRAC-basketball-tournaments-moving-to-Alexandria-384024111.html|date=5 January 2017|accessdate=January 6, 2017}} The Coliseum annually hosts the Red River Athletic Conference basketball tournament, dating back to 2017 and has in previous years hosted the first two rounds of the NAIA Basketball Tournament as well.

==Former sports==

Past sports teams based at the Rapides Coliseum include the Louisiana Rangers, a member of the IPFL, and the Alexandria Warthogs, a member of the WPHL. The Coliseum has also hosted the Louisiana High School Athletic Association basketball state championships in the past.

= Other events =

The coliseum was home to the annual Rapides Parish Fair every October from 1960 to 2013. In 2014, the fair moved to the LSUA Ag center on U.S. Route 71 just south of Alexandria.

Some of the site's more famous visitors include Lipizzan stallions (1973), Elvis Presley (1977), Holiday on Ice, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1966), Ronald Reagan (1975), George Wallace Jr. (1976), ZZ Top (2021) and Zach Bryan (2022)

In 2005, the facility was used as a shelter by the American Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina and during Hurricane Rita. It was during Rita that it lost power and water for a short period.{{cite web |title=Still Sheltered, Evacuees Add Novel Touches |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/national/nationalspecial/22shelter.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 |website=The New York Times |date=2005-09-22 |last1=Lyman |first1=Rick |last2=Saulny |first2=Susan}}

Recent events staged at the site include the Barnum and Bailey Circus on Dec. 2, 2008, World Wrestling Entertainment multiple times, and the Gaither Homecoming Tour on March 7, 2009.