Bojangles' Coliseum

Bojangles' Coliseum

The Big I/The Old Coliseum
Former names	Charlotte Coliseum (1955–1988) Independence Arena (1988–2001) Cricket Arena (2001–2008)
Location	2700 East Independence Blvd Charlotte, North Carolina 28205
Owner	City of Charlotte
Operator	Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Capacity	8,600 (2015-present) 9,605 (1992-2015)
Scoreboard	Daktronics 12.5'x22' (main screens), 2'x22' (auxiliary displays)[1]
Construction
Built	1953-1955
Opened	1955
Renovated	1988-1993, 2015
Expanded	1992
Closed	1988
Reopened	1993
Construction cost	$4 million for Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium[2]
Architect	A.G. Odell and Associates of Charlotte, NC[3]
Structural engineer	Severud, Elstad and Krueger of New York, NY[3]
General contractor	Thompson and Street Company of Charlotte, NC[3] Structural Steel Fabrication and Erection Southern Engineering Company of Charlotte, NC[3]
Tenants
Carolina Cougars (ABA) (1969–1974) Charlotte Checkers (EHL/SHL) (1956–1977) Charlotte 49ers (NCAA) (1976–1988, 1993–1996) Charlotte Cobras (MILL) (1996) Charlotte Checkers (ECHL) (1993–2005) Charlotte Krunk (ABA) (2005) Arena Racing USA (2006–2008) Charlotte Roller Girls (WFTDA) (2008-2009) Carolina Speed (AIFA/SIFL) (2009, 2011-2013) Charlotte Copperheads (PLL) (2012) Charlotte Checkers (AHL) (2015-present)

Bojangles' Coliseum (originally Charlotte Coliseum and formerly Independence Arena and Cricket Arena) is a 8,600-seat multi-purpose arena located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which also oversees nearby Ovens Auditorium and the uptown Charlotte Convention Center. The naming-rights sponsor is Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits.^[4] A relatively overlooked fact is the building's domed roof is actually made of tin and not steel or iron.^[5]

History

Early Years (1955-1988)

Construction began on the coliseum in 1953 after some delays. James C. Hemphill, Jr. oversaw the project.^[6] In September, 1955 the building was opened and dedicated as the Charlotte Coliseum. At the time, it was the largest unsupported dome in the world^[7] and the first free-spanning dome in the United States.^[8] It held the distinction of world's largest dome until 1957, and the record for largest dome in the United States until 1963. A Billy Graham Crusade took place at the Coliseum in 1958. Graham also dedicated the building when it first opened. Elvis Presley had his first performance at the coliseum in 1956 and his final one in 1977,^[9] being one of numerous musical acts to perform at the coliseum during this time. In 1958, a massive storm went through the region, damaging the coliseum's roof. However, the roof continued to hold up despite the damage.^[10]

Refurbishment (1988-2001)

After the new Charlotte Coliseum opened in 1988, the original Coliseum's name was changed to Independence Arena (named for its location on Independence Boulevard in Charlotte) and was shuttered, remaining so until 1993. Over the next thirteen years, an extensive refurbishment was made to the structure, including technology, infrastructure, and accessibility upgrades. Color TV's were installed inside the concourse in 1995. It was be considered, once reopened in 1993,^[11] as a smaller alternate to the larger Coliseum for events that required less seating/space.^[12] In 2001, the arena was renamed Cricket Arena in a naming rights arrangement with Cricket Communications.

Tough Times (2005-2015)

In 2005, the Charlotte Checkers, Charlotte's minor-league hockey team, departed for the then-new Time Warner Cable Arena. Due to this, Bojangles Coliseum was left without a permanent tenant for a decade. The building remained open as a venue for medium-sized concerts and stage shows which wouldn't be suitable for TWC Arena, as well as high school and some college sporting events, along with local attractions. In 2008, Bojangles Restaurants, Inc., based in Charlotte, bought the naming rights.^[13] Questions about the building's future rose up over that time and in 2012, the city of Charlotte began considering renovating the building itself as a sports complex.^[14] Two years later, another plan was announced that would add both a hotel and sports complex next to the Coliseum.^[15] Both deals ultimately fell through.

Renovated for a New Age (2015-present)

In November 2014, the Checkers announced a tentative agreement with the Charlotte Regional Visitors' Authority to return to Bojangles' Coliseum for the 2015-16 season. The agreement was pending a Charlotte City Council vote to approve $16 million in funding for renovations in conjunction with the Checkers return^[16] and that December, the City approved the $16 million needed. The renovations would include new seats and other modern amenities.^[17] This would be the coliseum's first major renovation since the 1988 refurbishment. Almost a year to the day when the Checkers announced their return to the Coliseum the renovations were completed and unveiled to the public. Aside from the all-new seats and score/video boards, new additions also included a sound system (replacing the one used since the building first opened^[18]), locker room, restaurant, and updated concessions.^[19] The Coliseum also celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2015.

Sports

Basketball

As the Charlotte Coliseum it was a site for home games for the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association from 1969 through 1974. The Cougars became tenants after the Houston Mavericks moved to North Carolina in 1969. The Cougars were a "regional franchise", playing "home" games in Charlotte (Bojangles' Coliseum), Greensboro (Greensboro Coliseum), Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum and Raleigh (Dorton Arena). Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown began his coaching career with the Cougars in 1972. Billy Cunningham was the ABA MVP for the Cougars in the 1972-73 season. Despite a strong fan base the Cougars were sold and moved to St. Louis in 1974.^[20]

The arena hosted the ACC men's basketball tournament from 1968–1970, the Southern Conference men's basketball tournament from 1964-1971 (and again in 2010 for the tournament's first three days), and was the site of the Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament from 1977 through 1980. Overall, the coliseum held no less than fifteen tournaments between the three conferences and also hosted thirteen NCAA Tournaments.^[21] Additionally, it hosted the Charlotte 49ers from 1976 until 1988, and again from 1993 until 1996. In 2017, the CIAA men's and women's basketball tournaments will be played at the coliseum.^[9]

Hockey and Other Sports

Bojangles' Coliseum in 2007

Before the Checkers returned in 2015, Bojangles' was the home of minor league hockey for many years prior. The first instance was from 1956, when the first Baltimore Clippers moved to Charlotte to become the early Checkers. The building hosted its first hockey match in January, 1956 before a sold-out crowd of over 10,000.^[22] They lasted until 1977, when that version of the Checkers folded. When the Checkers were revived in 1993, they played at the Coliseum until 2005.^[23] The Coliseum would have been available to host Kelly Cup Playoff games during the following decade (due to scheduling conflicts with TWC Arena), but this never occurred.

The Carolina Speed of the American Indoor Football Association, formerly playing at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, moved here in 2009. After the season, they announced they would be sitting out the 2010 season and resuming play in 2011 back in Cabarrus. They returned in 2011 to the Coliseum, this time as a member of the Southern Indoor Football League and remained until 2013.

The arena also hosted the worst team in MILL history, the 1996 Charlotte Cobras (0-10). The 1996 season was their one and only in the MILL. The team was folded without ever winning a game. In 2012, the arena was home to the Charlotte Copperheads of the now defunct Professional Lacrosse League.

A soccer team, the Carolina Vipers, played their one and only season in the CIS League in summer 1994. The team went 3-25 and then went "inactive" for 1995, never to return. The Vipers averaged 3,034 fans per game in their one season.

The coliseum hosted both NWA Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from the 1970s to the 1990s. WCW also held numerous wrestling events there. Additionally, it hosted UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi on March 31, 2010.

The Charlotte Roller Girls roller derby league played their home bouts at the arena from 2008 to 2009 before moving to the Grady Cole Center.

Other Events

It has been the site for the Spring Commencement ceremonies of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) for several years. JCSU uses the coliseum because it offers more seating and parking capacity than their own on-campus facilities. The Coliseum also hosted the graduation ceremony for the Charlotte campus of the University of Phoenix. In addition, the UNC-Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and many local high schools have held graduation ceremonies at the building.

References

External links

• Bojangles' Coliseum Website

Coordinates: 35°12′18.59″N 80°47′42.37″W / 35.2051639°N 80.7951028°W / 35.2051639; -80.7951028