First Horizon Coliseum
Historic arena in Greensboro, North Carolina, opened 1959.
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First Horizon Coliseum, originally Greensboro Memorial Coliseum, is an arena in Greensboro, North Carolina. Opened in 1959 as the first building of the Greensboro Complex, it has become a major venue for college basketball, ice hockey, and concerts. It is the home arena of the UNC Greensboro Spartans basketball team and the Greensboro Gargoyles of the ECHL.
Quick Facts
- Former Names
- Greensboro Memorial Coliseum / (1959–1980) / Greensboro Coliseum / (1980–2024)
- Capacity
- 22,000
- City
- 1921 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Owner
- City of Greensboro
- Operator
- Oak View Group
- Record Attendance
- 23,642
- Groundbreaking
- January 6, 1959
- Opened
- October 29, 1959
- Expanded
- 1972, 1978, 1993
- Years Active
- 1959-present
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The arena was first proposed in 1944 by Greensboro mayor W.H. Sullivan to honor soldiers of World War I and World War II. Construction began in 1958 and was completed by September 1959, opening one month later. Initially named Greensboro Memorial Coliseum, it had a seating capacity of 7,100, making it one of the largest arenas on the East Coast at the time. In 1993, the arena was expanded to reach its current capacity of 22,000.
Over the decades, the Coliseum hosted numerous sporting events, including college basketball tournaments and ice hockey. The Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association played most of their home games there from 1969 to 1974. The arena also served as the temporary home of the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) from 1997 to 1999 while their arena in Raleigh was being built. In October 2024, a ten-year naming rights agreement with First Horizon Bank renamed it First Horizon Coliseum.
Reader's Guide
First Horizon Coliseum holds a significant place in North Carolina sports and entertainment history. It was the largest arena in the state for a period, hosting neutral-site games involving North Carolina's college basketball teams and serving as Wake Forest's de facto home court from 1959 to 1989. The arena has hosted 26 ACC men's basketball tournaments, more than any other venue, and the 1974 NCAA Final Four, where NC State won the national championship. It also hosted early-round NCAA tournament games, including Lehigh's upset of Duke in 2012. Beyond sports, the Coliseum attracted major musical acts, with Elvis Presley performing there in 1972 and 1977, and Phish setting the concert attendance record of 23,642 in 2003. The venue's expansions in 1972, 1978, and 1993 reflect its growing importance. Its legacy is tied to its role as a central hub for ACC basketball and as a key stop for touring performers.
Did You Know?
- Elvis Presley performed at the Coliseum on April 14, 1972, and footage was used in his film 'Elvis on Tour'.
- Phish set the concert attendance record at the venue on March 1, 2003, with 23,642 fans.
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