|
Washington Coliseum
|
|
|
Uline Arena (1941–1959)
|
|
|
|
|
| Location: | 1132, 1140, and 1146 3rd St. NE, Washington, District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Area: | 3.9 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built: | 1941 |
| Architectural style: | Modern Movement |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 07000448[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | May 17, 2007 |
| Washington Coliseum | |
|---|---|
| Tenants | |
| Washington Lions (AHL and EHL) (1941–1942 and 1944–1949) Washington Capitols (BAA and NBA) (1946–1951) Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA) (1949–1951) Washington Presidents (EHL) (1957–1960) Washington Tapers (ABL) (1961–1962) Washington Caps (ABA) (1969–1970) |
The Washington Coliseum is an indoor arena in Washington, D.C. located at 1132, 1140, and 1146 3rd Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C. It is directly adjacent to the railroad tracks, just north of Union Station, and bounded by L and M Streets. It held 7,000 to 9,000 people for events. It hosted the Basketball Association of America's Washington Capitols, coached by Red Auerbach, and the American Basketball Association's Washington Caps.
It also was host to many performances and athletic events of varying types, including ice skating, martial arts, ballet, music, circuses, and speeches. It was the site of the first concert by The Beatles in the United States.
Contents |
The Uline Ice Arena, which opened in February 1941, was built by Miguel L. "Uncle Mike" Uline for his hockey team, the Washington Lions of the now defunct Eastern Amateur Hockey League. He made his fortune in the ice business.
The first act was Sonja Henie's Hollywood Ice Revue.[2] One of its first events was a pro-America rally designed to promote U.S. entry in World War II, just weeks before Pearl Harbor.
Jewelry wholesaler Harry G. Lynn bought the arena in 1959 for $1 million, and renamed it the Washington Coliseum the next year.[3] In 1959, Elijah Muhammad, gave a speech there.
Earl Lloyd was the first African American athlete to play for the Washington Capitols', in the National Basketball Association, here on October 31, 1950.[4]
On February 11, 1964, The Beatles played their first concert in the United States, less than 48 hours after the band's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Tickets to the show at the Coliseum ranged from $2 to $4. There were 8,092 fans at the concert which was opened by The Chiffons and Tommy Roe. The Beatles opened with "Roll Over Beethoven."[5]
The photograph of Bob Dylan on the cover of Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits was taken at a concert at Washington Coliseum on November 28, 1965.[6]
In 1967, after a riot during a performance by The Temptations, concerts were banned.[7][8]
The building still stands today in the Old City/Near Northeast near Union Station, what was formerly known as Swampoodle. It was used as a trash transfer station by Waste Management, the company that handles trash disposal for the District of Columbia, from 1994 to 2003. Waste Management Inc. applied for a demolition permit on May 9, 2003.[9] The D.C. Preservation League listed the building in its "Most Endangered Places for 2003".[10] In order to protect it from efforts to raze the building, it was added to the official protection list of the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board in November 2006. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, on May 17, 2007.
It is a popular spot for graffiti. [11] It is now used as an indoor parking lot. The coliseum is currently owned by Doug Jemal.[12] Redevelopment plans are pending.[13]
| Preceded by D.C. Armory |
Home of the Georgetown Hoyas 1949 – 1951 |
Succeeded by McDonough Gymnasium |
|
||||||||||||||||||||