Cow Palace
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| Cow Palace | |
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.jpg/240px-Cow_Palace_(front).jpg) |
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| Location | 2600 Geneva Avenue Daly City, California 94117 |
| Opened | April, 1941 |
| Owner | State of California | California Department of Food and Agriculture: Division of Fairs and Expositions |
| Former names | California State Livestock Pavilion |
| Tenants | San Francisco Warriors (NBA) (1962-1964), (1966-1971) San Francisco Seals (WHL) (1961-1967) San Jose Sharks (NHL) (1991-1993) San Francisco Spiders (IHL) (1995-1996) Grand National Rodeo (1941-present) 1960 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament San Francisco Fog (MISL) (1980–1981) |
| Capacity | Basketball: 12,953 Hockey: 11,089 |
The Cow Palace (originally known as the California State Livestock Pavilion) is an indoor arena in Daly City, California, situated on the border of Daly City and neighboring San Francisco. The State of California is currently considering negotiations with Daly City. If successful, the site will be razed to make way for condos and a supermarket.[1][2]
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[edit] History
Completed in 1941 it hosted the San Francisco Warriors of the NBA from 1962 to 1964 and again from 1966 to 1971. It was there in 1960 that John F. Kennedy gave his speech first describing his idea for the Peace Corps. In 1956 and 1964 it was the site of the Republican National Convention. It also hosted the San Jose Sharks of the NHL from 1991 to 1993 until the San Jose Arena was built. During the 1960s and 1970s the SF Examiner Games, a world-class indoor track & field meet, was held annually at the Cow Palace. Additionally it hosted the Bay Bombers of the Roller Derby; the Derby's world championship playoffs were held at the Cow Palace every fall beginning from 1959 through 1973, when the organization was disbanded. The arena seats 11,089 for ice hockey and 12,953 for basketball. It has also been the home of the annual Grand National Rodeo, Horse & Stock Show since 1941 (except for a break from 1942 to 1945 due to World War II). The venue hosted the 1960 men's NCAA basketball Final Four and the 1967 NBA All-Star Game. It hosted four WCW SuperBrawl shows between 1997 and 2000 and recently it was the site of WWE No Way Out, in 2004.[3]
[edit] Rodeos and livestock expositions
The Cow Palace is officially the 1-A District Agricultural Association, a State agency of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Division of Fairs and Expositions. It has extensive stable and barn facilities for animal events, which are used for the annual Grand National Rodeo and occasionally for other events.
[edit] Behind the name
The idea for the arena was originally conceived as the result of the popularity of the livestock pavilion at the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition. It was another decade before steps were taken to finance the building, and legislative delays and the onset of the Great Depression meant that the building was not completed until 1941[citation needed]. One story for how the current name came about tells of a newspaper editorial that wondered aloud "Why, when people are starving, should money be spent on a "palace for cows?" Thus, the Cow Palace was born.
[edit] During World War II
The arena opened in April, 1941. During World War II, though, the arena was used for processing soldiers bound for the Pacific Theater. In the following years, it hosted innumerable hockey and basketball games, wrestling and boxing matches, concerts, and political events, most notably the 1956 and 1964 Republican National Conventions. The arena is still used for the Grand National Rodeo today and other events.
[edit] Band concerts
Rock music bands that have held concerts at the Cow Palace include Iron Maiden, Saxon, Nine Inch Nails, The Beatles, Wings, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Billy Idol, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Scorpions, Donovan, Kiss, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mötley Crüe, Elvis Presley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Rolling Stones, U2, Megadeth, Metallica, Rush, Primus, The 1998 and 1999 Family Values Tour, Journey, Van Halen and The Who. A majority of the songs on the album Live Rust and the concert film Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse was recorded during a concert at the Cow Palace on October 22, 1978. Fleetwood Mac filmed both of their 12th and 13th December 1987 concerts at the Palace for a DVD, later released in 1988. The Allman Brothers Band played there on New Year's Eve, 1973 with Grateful Dead members sitting in. The Grateful Dead also held a solo concert on New Year's Eve 1976 and released a live CD, titled "Live at the Cow Palace: New Year's Eve 1976. Live 105's 10-for-10 (10 bands for 10 bucks) was held there in the 1990s, featuring Beck, Orbital, Cake and The Chemical Brothers as well as 6 other bands.
[edit] Recent developments
State Senator Leland Yee is working to pass legislation that would allow Daly City to purchase the Cow Palace from California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Fairs and Expositions. The city says that it wishes to use the land to build new housing and shopping.[1] However, the legislation is opposed by groups that regularly use the venue and other California citizens outside Daly City.[1][4][5]
[edit] Location
The Cow Palace has a Daly City address, and except for the very northwest corner of the parking lot it lies physically entirely within Daly City. However both the Daly City Police Department and San Francisco Police Department patrol its grounds during events.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Philadelphia Arena War Memorial Gymnasium |
Home of the San Francisco Warriors 1962 – 64 1966 – 71 |
Succeeded by War Memorial Gymnasium Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena |
| Preceded by first arena |
Home of the San Jose Sharks 1991 – 1993 |
Succeeded by HP Pavilion |
| Preceded by Freedom Hall |
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 1960 |
Succeeded by Municipal Auditorium |
| Preceded by Cincinnati Gardens |
Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1967 |
Succeeded by Madison Square Garden |
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