Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

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Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Location	2825 University Pkwy Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Broke ground	April 23, 1987
Opened	August 19, 1989
Owner	Joel Coliseum Complex
Operator	Arena Network
Construction cost	$14.1 million
Architect	Ellerbe Becket
Tenants
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Men's & Women's Basketball)
Capacity
14,665 (basketball)

The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (also known as the LJVM Coliseum, the Joel Coliseum, or just simply "the Joel") is a 14,407-seat multi-purpose arena in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Construction on the arena began on April 23, 1987 and it opened on August 28, 1989. It was named after Lawrence Joel, an Army medic from Winston-Salem who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1967 for action in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. The memorial was designed by James Ford in New York, and includes the poem "The Fallen" engraved on an interior wall. It is home to the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons basketball team, and is adjacent to the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. The arena replaced the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum, which was torn down for the LJVM Coliseum's construction.

1 Events
2 Winston-Salem Sports and Entertainment Complex
3 External links

[edit] Events

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Basketball

The LJVM is home to the Wake Forest University Men's and Women's basketball teams, but other basketball games are held there, such as the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic basketball tournament, an annual event for high school basketball teams in the area.

The LJVM was the site of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournament from 1994-1999. Also, the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship have been held at the coliseum three times (1997, 2000 and 2007).

In a memorable NCAA second-round game at the coliseum on March 15, 1997, North Carolina gave head coach Dean Smith victory number 877, surpassing Kentucky legend Adolph Rupp as the winningest college basketball coach in history.

The Harlem Globetrotters have even played there.

[edit] Concerts

The LJVM's amply large size makes it an ideal location for performers who wish to perform at smaller venues. The LJVM has hosted many big names over the years; a few of them include

Gretchen Wilson
Cher
The Dixie Chicks
Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson
Elton John
Fantasia Barrino
Dave Matthews Band
Garth Brooks played four sold-out shows at the arena March 25-28, 1998. The first three Brooks shows sold out in three hours, a LJVM record at the time garthoholic.com

The main arena can also be curtained off to create a theater-like setting. [1]

[edit] Other events

The LJVM has played host to racing, bull riding, wrestling, circus, and other events.

[edit] Winston-Salem Sports and Entertainment Complex

In addition to its main arena, the LJVM also has an Annex; it seats about 4,000, and is used primarily for hockey, but also for basketball, concerts, trade shows, and other events. The Winston-Salem State University Rams play basketball in the annex. There is also an Education Building available for additional floor space; both buildings are technically located on the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. Ernie Shore Field, a baseball stadium, is also considered part of the complex. Bowman Gray Stadium, though not in the vicinity, is technically part of the complex as well. All these buildings combined make up the Winston-Salem Sports and Entertainment Complex, which, with the exception of Bowman Gray Stadium is bordered by University Parkway, 27th Street, Deacon Boulevard, and Shorefair Drive. A new ballpark is being constructed to replace Ernie Shore Field in downtown at the intersection of Business 40 and North Carolina Highway 150.

[edit] External links

Official site

Academics	Schools: Wake Forest University • School of Law • Babcock School of Management • School of Medicine • Divinity School • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences • Wayne Calloway School of Business and Accountancy • Programs: Study Abroad Programs • Demon Deacon Battalion • Debate Team • LEAD •
Athletics	ACC • Demon Deacons • Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum • Groves Stadium • Kentner Stadium • Miller Center • Spry Stadium •
Student life	Greek Life • Housing •
Student Organizations	Student Union • Student Government • Lilting Banshees •
Campus	Wait Chapel •

Winston-Salem Sports and Entertainment Complex
Bowman Gray Stadium • Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum • LJVM Coliseum Annex • Dixie Classic Fairgrounds • Ernie Shore Field • Groves Stadium • New Winston-Salem Ballpark (under construction) • Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum (demolished)