Uline Arena
From ice capades to the Beatles: D.C.'s original big-top arena.
The Uline Arena, later renamed the Washington Coliseum, was an indoor arena in Washington, D.C. located at 1132, 1140, and 1146 3rd Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C. It was the site of one of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's inaugural balls in 1953, the first concert by the Beatles in the United States in 1964, and several other memorable moments in sports, show business, politics and in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. It had a capacity of over 8,000 people and was a major event space in Washington until the early 1970s. Once abandoned and used as a parking garage, it was renovated and now houses offices and REI's D.C. flagship store.
- Demolished
- Still standing (renovated)
- Original Name
- Uline Arena
- Renamed
- Washington Coliseum (later)
- Primary Tenant
- Washington Capitols (BAA/NBA), Washington Caps (ABA)
Lore & Background
The arena opened on January 28, 1941, with the Ice-Capades. It was built by Michael J. Uline, a Dutch immigrant who held 68 patents and first made his fortune in ice manufacturing. The arena hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 60th birthday celebration in 1942, where First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt cut a 650-pound cake. It was home to the Washington Capitols (BAA/NBA), coached by Red Auerbach, and later the Washington Caps of the ABA. Earl Lloyd, the first African American to play in an NBA game, debuted here on October 31, 1950.
In Their Own Story
The fluorescent lights hummed overhead as the crowd surged toward the gates on a freezing January night. Inside, the air smelled of popcorn and old varnish. A veteran fan in a faded red jersey leaned over the railing, shouting encouragement to the center who was battling for position under the rim. The floorboards groaned with every pivot, a sound unique to this building that no modern arena could ever replicate.
Reader's Guide
The arena is directly adjacent to the railroad tracks heading into Union Station and bounded by L and M Street NE. It is located across from the Metrorail NoMa–Gallaudet U station southern entrance. The building now houses offices and an REI flagship store.
Did You Know?
- The arena was originally named Uline Arena after Michael J. Uline, not Capitol Coliseum.
- It was the site of the Beatles' first U.S. concert in 1964.
- The arena was renovated and still stands today, not demolished.
- The Washington Capitols, not the Bullets, played here in the BAA and NBA.
- The arena hosted President Eisenhower's inaugural ball in 1953.
More in Stadiums & Fan Culture
Elsewhere in the Washington Wizards universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record