![]() El Paso County Coliseum entrance. | |
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Location | 4100 East Paisano Street El Paso, Texas 79905 |
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Owner | El Paso Sports Commission |
Operator | El Paso Sports Commission |
Capacity | 6,500 seated. Total in dispute - either 6,500 or 11,000 [1] [2] |
Surface | Multi-surface |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1939 |
Opened | May 21, 1942 [3] |
Renovated | 2004 |
Construction cost | $321,000; $9.5 million (renovation) |
Tenants | |
El Paso Raiders (SWHL) (1975–1976) El Paso Buzzards (WPHL/CHL) (1996–2003) El Paso Rumble (Intense) (2004) El Paso Generals (IFL) (2009) El Paso Coyotes (MASL) (2016–2019) Cuervos de Juarez (M2) (2018–2019) West Texas Buccaneers (AAL) (2021) County Events Center El Paso Rhinos (NA3HL) (2006–present) UTEP Miners (ACHA) (2015–present) |
El Paso County Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in El Paso, Texas, United States. It opened on May 21, 1942 [4] and was built originally to support a rodeo and livestock show, but later expanded to cater other types of events. A variety of events that have been held at the Coliseum have included hockey, high school graduations, basketball, [5] boxing, [6] circus, [7] concerts, [8] [9] dog shows, [10] flower shows, [11] Ice capades, [12] roller derby, [13] wrestling [14] and more. In addition to events, the Coliseum was also used to temporarily house prisoners of war, braceros and the Texas State Guard.
The El Paso County Coliseum was originally built to host rodeo events in the city of El Paso. [15] [16] The original plan for the building, which was backed by El Paso County, and could be supported by a Public Works Administration (PWA) grant, estimated that it would cost $100,000. [17] The final cost for the building was $321,000. [18] The building's architect was Percy McGhee. [19] At first it was called the "El Paso County Live Stock & Agricultural Exhibition Building," or referred to as the "Livestock Exposition Building." [15] [20] [21] It is located in South El Paso, near Washington Park. [22] When it was dedicated, it was the largest coliseum between Los Angeles, Fort Worth and Denver. [23] Behind the main coliseum, which was equipped with an air-cooling system, are several livestock buildings. [23]
The building was dedicated on May 21, 1942 in a party that drew local farmers and El Paso business people together for a barbecue dinner that also celebrated "Cotton Week." [20] [24] The dedication barbecue dinner cost $1 per person. [18] The event featured actors playing characters such as "King Cotton," Uncle Sam and "Miss America" who would be escorted by military color guard from Fort Bliss. [23] The band from Bowie High School was on hand to play while attendees ate. [25] The dedication event saw around 5000 attendees and the El Paso Times called it "an epoch in local history." [25] Karl O. Wyler served as master of ceremonies. [25]
The first event the Coliseum hosted was the El Paso Sheriff's Posse Rodeo in June 1942. [15] In 1943, approval was received from Major C.L. Whitmarsh to house Italian prisoners of war inside the Coliseum building. [26] The prisoners were expected to pick cotton. [26] Prisoners were moved to the Coliseum in September 1943, some of them coming from a concentration camp in Lordsburg, New Mexico. [27] Concerned El Pasoans donated games and instruments to the prisoners for recreational purposes. [28] [29] The Italian prisoners remained in the Coliseum until around March 1944. [30] The Texas State Guard used the Coliseum as temporary headquarters in 1946. [31] The Coliseum was again used to house people in 1951, this time temporarily sheltering braceros. [32]
In 1944, El Paso City Council proposed additional civic programs for the Coliseum as the building had not been making a profit. [33] Plans to open up the Coliseum to sporting events such as boxing and wrestling was proposed in 1945. [34] New speakers were installed for free by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1946. [35]
Ike & Tina Turner performed at the Coliseum on July 2, 1966. [36]
On November 10, 1972, Elvis Presley performed at the coliseum to a sold-out crowd of 9,000.
The Grateful Dead made their only ever El Paso appearance on November, 23, 1973.
On May 15, 1975, Fleetwood Mac began their first American tour with newly hired members Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham at the Coliseum, a 128-date tour that stretched well into the following year, in support of their soon-to-be-released self-titled album.
On, October 19, 1973, The Jacksons performed at the coliseum as part of The Jackson 5 World Tour which stretched from March 2, 1973 to December 1975, and performed on July 22, 1977.
On June 4, 1980, a concert by Alice Cooper was recorded by ABC Radio as part of their SuperGroups In Concert series
Iron Maiden performed here in 1982, 1986, 1987 and their final show at the coliseum was in 1999 during the Ed Hunter Tour. [37]
Around 1996, the Coliseum began to experience roofing issues due to wind damage. [38] In 2000, discussions about creating a new coliseum were ongoing. [39] In 2001, renovations on the Coliseum began which included adding more restrooms, access for people with disabilities and a meeting room. [40] Urban Associates began additional renovations in January 2003 that was projected to cost $6.7 million and include new heating and cooling, improved seating, new concession stands, new roofing and more. [38] Discussions about privatization of the Coliseum were taking place in 2003. [41] In September 2003, supervision of the Coliseum was given to El Paso Sports Commission Inc., for a five year contract. [42]
In 2020, El Paso was the winner of Kraft Hockeyville USA, winning $150,000 in rink upgrades and $10,000 worth of new equipment. [43]
February 11, 2019, President Donald J. Trump came to visit El Paso as a follow-up to his State of the Union address the week before. The attendance at this rally is in dispute and authoritative information is contradictory. El Paso Times reports that
Enrique D Aguilar, fire public information officer, said no special permission was given by the Fire Department, and the Coliseum had about 6,500 people in it during the president's rally — at capacity, but well within its standard allowance. [44]
A United States Department of Transportation case study of case study of PSEs in the El Paso metropolitan area dated August 2008 classifies the Coliseum as a "specially designed facility with event days generating crowds of more than 10,000 people." It states that the Coliseum "is a 5,250-seat multi-purpose arena in El Paso. The Coliseum opened in 1942 and can be adapted to seat up to 11,000 for concerts." [45]
El Paso is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the U.S., the most populous city in West Texas, and the sixth-most populous city in Texas. Its metropolitan statistical area covers all of El Paso and Hudspeth counties in Texas, and had a population of 868,859 in 2020.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston or abbreviated HLSR, is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003, with the exception of 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was previously held in the Astrodome. It is considered to be the city's "signature event", much like New Orleans's Mardi Gras, Dallas's Texas State Fair, San Diego's Comic-Con and New York City's New Year's Eve at Times Square.
The Cow Palace is an indoor arena located in Daly City, California, situated on the city's northern border with neighboring San Francisco. Because the border passes through the property, a portion of the upper parking lot is in San Francisco.
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is a livestock show and rodeo held in San Antonio, Texas annually during the month of February. It is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) schedule. For 14 consecutive years it was awarded the PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. Along with the rodeo, the event also includes live entertainment from major recording artists, family-friendly exhibits, a carnival, and shopping. It is estimated that 1.3 million people attended the 2022 event. Along with Fiesta San Antonio, the rodeo is considered a top event for the city.
Kern Place is a historic neighborhood on the West side of El Paso, Texas. The neighborhood lies just east of the University of Texas at El Paso, and north of downtown. Kern is part of District 1 in the City of El Paso and currently represented by Peter Svarzbein. The neighborhood was created by Peter E. Kern, and once had an unusual gate marking the entrance. Madeline Park in the center of the neighborhood is named after Kern's daughter. Businesses and a small entertainment district border the eclectic housing featured in the neighborhood.
The Portland Expo Center, officially the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, is a convention center located in the Kenton neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States. Opened in the early 1920s as a livestock exhibition and auction facility, the center now hosts over 100 events a year, including green consumer shows, trade shows, conventions, meetings and other special events. Located on the north side of Portland near Vancouver, Washington, it includes the northern terminus for the Yellow Line of Portland's light-rail transit system and has connections to TriMet Bus Line 11-Rivergate/Marine Dr.
The Arizona State Fairgrounds is a permanent fairgrounds on McDowell Road, Encanto Village, within the city of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is currently used yearly to host the Arizona State Fair and the Maricopa County Fair, as well as for other events.
The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is the oldest continuously running livestock show and rodeo. It has been held annually in Fort Worth, Texas since 1896, traditionally in mid-January through early February. A non-profit organization, the Stock Show has provided millions of dollars in grants and scholarships in its tenure and continues to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to assist the future leaders of agriculture and livestock management.
The El Paso Women's Hall of Fame honors and recognizes the accomplishments of El Paso women. It is sponsored by the El Paso Commission for Women and was established in 1985. The first inductees were honored in 1990.
Betty J. Ligon was an American journalist. She is best known for being the longtime entertainment editor on the El Paso Herald-Post.
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) is the governing body of professional rodeo in Canada. Its championship event is the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) held every November.
William Paul Brady was an American lawyer. From 1909 to around 1914, he served as the first district attorney for Texas' 70th judicial district, and from 1917 to 1919 he was the judge for the newly created El Paso County Court at Law. Brady prosecuted several high-profile murder cases as a district attorney, including of Agnes Orner, and in a death-penalty case that has since been termed a "legal lynching" of a Mexican boy charged with killing a white woman.
Ruth Ellen Kern was an American lawyer, community leader and feminist. Kern was an early pioneer in law for women in El Paso, Texas. She was also outspoken against myths regarding violence against women, sharing her own experiences with rape with the public. Kern was an active member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and a law suit she filed for an inmate led to El Paso County to construct a new jail with better conditions for inmates.
Malena Cano is a ranchero music and mariachi singer from the El Paso, Texas area. She is known for her work in both music and stage.
The 1911 New Mexico A&M Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts during the 1911 college football season. In their second year under head coach Art Badenoch, the Aggies compiled a 7–0 record, shut out six opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 193 to 6. The team played its home games on Miller Field, sometimes also referred to as College Field.
The Blue Flame Building or the El Paso Natural Gas CompanyBuilding is a skyscraper in El Paso, Texas. It was briefly the tallest building in El Paso upon its completion in 1954. The building housed the El Paso Natural Gas Company until 1996 when the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) housed employees there for a few years. The Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) recently completed a $52 million major renovation in 2021 that includes retail spaces, offices, and low-income apartments.
The Star on the Mountain is a man-made star-shaped landmark on the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas, that is illuminated nightly by the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. It was first lit as a Christmas decoration in 1940 and was meant as a reminder to people on both sides of the nearby Mexico–United States border that America was at peace during the holiday season. It has also been compared to the similar Roanoke Star in Virginia.
Robert Eugene McKee Sr. (1889–1964) was an American construction contractor and founder of the Robert E. McKee General Contractor, Inc. company.
La Tapatia, Inc. is a Mexican restaurant and tortilla factory located in the Ysleta neighborhood of El Paso, Texas. The restaurant has been at the same location for over 65 years and is especially known for their tamales. Over time, the restaurant has had several owners, including Alicia R. Chacón. In the 1970s, La Tapatia sponsored a softball team that was also known as "The Tamale Kings."