The Hippodrome

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = The Hippodrome

| nickname =

| image =

| location =

| address = 257 Ansborough Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701

| broke_ground =

| opened = 1919

| renovated = 1936

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = National Cattle Congress

| operator = National Cattle Congress

| surface = 210' x 85' (indoor football)

| construction_cost =

| architect =

| former_names = Hippodrome (1919–1965)
McElroy Auditorium (1965–2018)

| tenants = Waterloo Hawks (NBL) (NBA) (NPBL)
(1948–1951)
Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
(1962-1994)
Iowa Stars (CHL)
(1969-1970)
Iowa Woo (TAL)
(2024-present)

| seating_capacity = 5,155
7,000 (maximum)

| website = {{URL|https://nationalcattlecongress.com/the-hippodrome/}}

}}

The Hippodrome, formerly known as the McElroy Auditorium, is a 5,155 permanent seat multipurpose arena located in Waterloo, Iowa. The auditorium was built in 1919 and renovated in 1936, when the roof was raised, floor was excavated and additional seating was added.

The arena was named in honor of R. J. McElroy beginning around 1965, after the Waterloo broadcaster and philanthropist unexpectedly died. In 2018, the name of the venue was officially changed back to The Hippodrome.{{cite news |title=McElroy Auditorium gets new name taking the Waterloo venue back in history - Radio Iowa |url=https://www.radioiowa.com/2018/08/08/a-new-and-original-name-for-historic-waterloo-venue/ |access-date=3 September 2018 |work=Radio Iowa |date=8 August 2018}}

Arena Design

The auditorium has been in continuous operation since 1919, making it one of the oldest arenas in the country. The arena contains 234 classic arena style box seats and a {{convert|4000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} art deco lobby. With chairs placed on the arena floor, the arena holds up to 7,000 seated for concerts depending on stage configuration. There are four large concession areas and a 150-seat restaurant. For concerts, remote beverage stations are added along with an old milk truck that has been restored into a "hot rod" style beer truck with 8 tappers. There are 6 large modern dressing rooms and 5 large box office windows.

Usage

=National Cattle Congress=

File:9b30cf84-c861-51ef-b391-6890797cd277.image.jpg

The arena style auditorium, part of the National Cattle Congress complex, is used for trade shows, concerts, conventions, livestock shows, rodeos, meetings, sporting events and more.

=Sports=

It housed the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks from their inception in 1962 until Young Arena opened in 1994 and the Iowa Stars Central Professional Hockey League during the 1969–70 season. It also hosted the Waterloo Hawks of the NBL, NBA, and NPBL from 1948 to 1951. The Hippodrome currently host the Iowa Woo team of The Arena League, which began play in 2024.

=As a concert venue=

The roof design and construction materials along with the room design make the venue well-suited for concerts acoustically. It has hosted a variety of acts such as Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, Red Skelton, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, KISS, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Rush, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Destiny's Child, Jason Aldean, Roy Clark, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Dierks Bentley, Nelly and Gym Class Heroes among many others in the past years.

=Naming confusion=

When the NBA played in Waterloo the arena is often referred to as McElroy Auditorium. The confusion stems from an NBA publication from the 1960s which erroneously listed the current name of the arena and not its historical name.{{cite web | url=https://nbahoopsonline.com/teams/Xdefunct/WaterlooHawks/index.html | title=Waterloo Hawks }}

Photo gallery

Image:33547 452174109426 608209426 5233417 7030874 n.jpg|A view from the rear of the auditorium looking towards the stage

Image:40125 452174069426 608209426 5233416 178563 n.jpg|A view from the stage looking towards the rear

References

External links

[http://www.NationalCattleCongress.com National Cattle Congress]
[http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/National-Cattle-Congress/146123028780697 NCC Facebook Page]

{{succession box

| title = Home of the
Waterloo Hawks

| years = 1948-1951

| before = none

| after = none

}}

{{succession box

| title = Home of the
Waterloo Black Hawks

| years = 1962-1994

| before = none

| after = Young Arena

}}