Coliseum Arena
Coliseum Auditorium, Victory Arena
Address401 N. Roman St.
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
Coordinates29°57′46″N 90°04′39″W / 29.96284°N 90.07738°W / 29.96284; -90.07738
OwnerColiseum Incorporated
OperatorColiseum Incorporated
Capacity8,000
Construction
Broke ground1921
Built1921
OpenedJuly 21, 1922
Closed1960
Construction cost>US$100,000
General contractorAugust Frank

The Coliseum Arena or Coliseum Auditorium was an arena at 401 North Roman Street in the Tulane/Gravier neighborhood of New Orleans.[1][2] It was located at the corner of N. Roman St. and Conti St.[1]

Venue

In early 1921, John Dillon, Frankie Edwards and Al Buja formed a boxing syndicate, Coliseum Incorporated, to develop an arena.[1] On July 21, 1922, the 8,000-seat arena with capacity for 8,500 opened.[3] The arena was modeled after the Milwaukee Auditorium and Madison Square Garden with unobstructed views.[1] The total costs of the four-story steel-trussed white brick-sheathed building exceeded $100,000.[1]

Events

Boxing

The first event at the arena was a boxing match between local fighter Martin Burke and Charlie Weinert.[1] The arena held many boxing matches including fights featuring Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Brown, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pastrano and Ralph Dupas.[3][4] The final boxing match at the arena was held on December 14, 1959.[5]

Professional wrestling

Professional wrestling matches were held at the arena.[2] Professional wrestler Gorgeous George appeared at the arena almost a dozen times in the early 1950s.[2][3]

Other events

The Coliseum also hosted college and high school sports events, music performances and public lectures.[3] Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the arena in 1957.[6]

Arena closing

The Coliseum Arena closed in 1960.[3][7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Coliseum". southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com (Tulane University's Southeastern Architectural Archive). 20 January 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Works, Progress Administration (15 August 2011). New Orleans City Guide. New Orleans: Garrett County Press. p. XXXIX. ISBN 978-1891053405. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "What can you tell me about The Coliseum in the Garden District/Irish Channel?". The Advocate/Gambit. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Joe Brown". 64parishes.org. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Fights at Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA". fightstat.com. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Shock Period". southeasternarchitecture.blogspot.com (Tulane University's Southeastern Architectural Archive). 16 January 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  7. ↑ Widmer, Mary Lou. New Orleans in the Forties. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing. p. 171. ISBN 145560951X. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
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