Blackham Coliseum

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Blackham Coliseum
Blackham Coliseum.jpg
Blackham Coliseum
Location444 Cajundome Boulevard
Lafayette, Louisiana 70506
Owner University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Operator University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Capacity Official: 5,500
Concerts: 9,800
SurfaceConcrete
Opened1950
Tenants
Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (NCAA) (1950–1985)
Acadiana Mudbugs (SIFL) (2009)
Louisiana IceGators (SPHL) (2009–2010)
Louisiana VooDoo (AFL) (2024)

Blackham Coliseum is a multipurpose arena in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was built on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus in 1949 as the home to the then-named SLI Bulldogs, now called the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball teams. The arena was named for Stafford Morgan Blackham, former dean of the Department of Animal Husbandry at SLI, and as such it was built to host livestock exhibitions as well as athletics (in a similar manner to the usage of LSU's Parker Coliseum). [1] It replaced the 1,500-seat Earl K. Long Gymnasium as home to the athletics teams. It remained the home for the men's team until the Cajundome was completed in 1984. The women continue to play the majority of their games at Earl K. Long. Blackham hosted the Southland Conference men's basketball tournament in 1982.

Contents

In the 1960s, it became popular as a venue for pop concerts where acts like The Supremes, James Brown and Jackie Wilson. The Supremes played to soldout audiences on their "Symphony Tour 1965".

Today it is still in use, seating 5,500 for basketball and up to 9,800 for concerts. It also features 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of space at the main arena, with two barns adding 46,500 square feet (4,300 m2) of space. Altogether, the three buildings can also be used for trade shows, rodeos and conventions. It was home to the Acadiana Mudbugs of the Southern Indoor Football League for their 2009 season, and in fall 2009, the revived Louisiana IceGators began play there as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League. [2]

In April 2009, the venue held its first heavy metal concert, the 2009 No Fear Music Tour featuring Lamb Of God, As I Lay Dying, Children of Bodom, God Forbid and Municipal Waste.

The venue serves as home to the Grammy-styled, annual Le Cajun Music Awards Festival held every August by the Cajun French Music Association, an association of Cajun music enthusiasts for the preservation of the Cajun music, language, heritage and culture.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009–10 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

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The 1982–83 Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team represented the University of Southwestern Louisiana as an NCAA Independent during the 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Ragin' Cajuns, led by 6th-year head coach Bobby Paschal, played their home games at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, Louisiana. The team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 8 seed in the East region, SW Louisiana was defeated by Rutgers in the opening round, 60–53.

The 1982 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 5–7, 1982 at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The 1981–82 Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team represented the University of Southwestern Louisiana as an NCAA Independent during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Ragin' Cajuns, led by 6th-year head coach Bobby Paschal, played their home games at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, Louisiana. After winning the conference regular season and tournament titles, SW Louisiana received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 8 seed in the East region, SW Louisiana was defeated by Tennessee in the opening round, 61–57.

References

  1. L UL Lafayette: About Us: University History: Buildings Archived March 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Foote, Kevin (May 15, 2009). "IceGators to skate again; join the discussion". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.

30°12′38″N92°01′59″W / 30.210554°N 92.033122°W / 30.210554; -92.033122