Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center

Last updated
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Logo.jpg
USA West Virginia relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
Location in West Virginia
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
Location in the United States
Former namesCharleston Civic Center (1958–2018)
Address200 Civic Center Dr
Location Charleston, West Virginia
Coordinates 38°21′19″N81°38′29″W / 38.35519°N 81.64152°W / 38.35519; -81.64152
Parking2,000+
Owner Flag of Charleston, West Virginia.svg City of Charleston
Operator Oak View Group [1]
Capacity 13,000 (Coliseum)
3,483 (Municipal Auditorium)
770 (Charleston Theater)
Construction
Built1957-1958
OpenedNovember 11, 1958
Renovated
  • 1983
  • 2000
  • 2006
  • 2015-18
  • 2025
Expanded
  • 1965
  • 1980
  • 2000
  • 2015-18
Construction cost$3 million
($33.6 million in 2024 dollars [2] )
Website
Venue Website
Building details
General information
RenovatedJuly 1978 – October 1983
Renovation cost$33 million [3]
($159 million in 2024 dollars [2] )
Building details
General information
RenovatedJune 2015 – October 2018
Renovation cost$110.3 million [4]
($146 million in 2024 dollars [2] )

Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center (originally known as the Charleston Civic Center) is a municipal complex in downtown Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Opened in 1958, the complex includes a multi-purpose coliseum, a theater, the Charleston Municipal Auditorium, and a convention center. The venue hosts concerts, sporting events, trade shows, conventions, and community events, and has a seating capacity of up to 13,000 in the Coliseum.

Contents

History

In 1953, Charleston voters approved a series of general obligation bonds to fund the construction of a civic center on the banks of the Elk River, between Lee Street and Quarrier Street. The original Civic Center opened in November 1958 at a cost of $3 million and included a 6,000-seat arena and a 770-seat "Little Theater." [5]

The first renovation occurred in 1964, adding 2,400 seats to the arena, a paved parking lot, and an ice rink. The $1.5 million project was financed through revenue bonds.

In 1976, city voters approved a $10 million bond to construct a 13,000-seat coliseum, a two-story lobby connecting the new coliseum with the existing facilities, and to remodel the original arena into a convention center. The project also received $10 million in federal matching grants and was completed in 1980. Two parking garages were added in 1983, providing spaces for up to 1,300 vehicles.

21st century

In 1994, the 36,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) Grand Hall of the convention center received new ceiling, paint, and lighting. The ice rink was converted into an exhibit hall in 2001. Between 2004 and 2006, approximately $250,000 was spent renovating the Little Theater. [6]

In May 2015, the Charleston Municipal Planning Commission approved permits for a $72 million comprehensive expansion and renovation project. Construction began in September 2015 and was expected to be completed in early 2018, with the Civic Center remaining open during construction. [7]

On September 26, 2018, it was announced that the Charleston Civic Center would be renamed the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. [8]

In January 2025, Charleston City Council approved a resolution to replace the original seats at the Coliseum, which had remained in place since the arena's opening in 1983. The installation of the new seating was announced in August 2025. [9]

Facilities

The Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center complex includes several venues:

Accessibility and modern amenities are provided throughout the complex.

Sports and Entertainment

The Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center has hosted numerous sporting events, including the WVSSAC Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournaments, the WVSSAC High School Volleyball State Tournament, the WVSSAC Cheerleading State Championships, and numerous West Virginia University games, such as the annual Capital Classic rivalry against Marshall University (held in Charleston from 1989 to 2015). Historically, Charleston regularly hosted at least one WVU men’s basketball home game per season dating back to the late 1950s, with the last game played in the city in 2016 against Western Carolina.

The arena hosted the Mountain East Conference men's basketball tournament, part of NCAA Division II, from 2014 to 2018, [10] and previously hosted the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament, also part of NCAA Division II, from 1960 until the conference dissolved in 2013. [11]

The arena will host West Virginia University versus Wake Forest University on December 6, 2025, as part of the inaugural “Holiday Hoopfest.” The teams last met in Charleston during the 2005 NCAA Tournament, and previously met in the city on January 31, 1962. [12] Additionally, the arena has served as a regional host site for The Basketball Tournament in 2021, 2022, and 2025. [13]

The complex hosts a wide range of annual and one-time events. Notable recurring events include:

EventTypeTypical MonthNotes
WVSSAC Boys' State Basketball ChampionshipsSportsMarchState championship tournament
WVSSAC Girls' State Basketball ChampionshipsSportsMarchState championship tournament
WVSSAC Volleyball State ChampionshipsSportsNovemberState championship tournament
WVSSAC Cheerleading ChampionshipsSportsDecemberState championship tournament
West Virginia Hunting and Fishing ShowTrade showJanuaryStatewide attendees [14]
West Virginia Association of Fairs & Festivals ConferenceConferenceJanuaryIndustry event [15]
West Virginia International Auto ShowTrade showFebruaryAutomotive exhibits [16]
Capital City Arts & Craft ShowFestivalNovemberArts and crafts [17]

Concerts

List of notable concerts held at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia

[18] [19]

Milestones and notable events

References

  1. ↑ Lynch, Bill (September 9, 2020). "California-based group to manage Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center". Charleston Gazette-Mail . HD Media. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ https://www.chaswvccc.com/p/venues/history
  4. ↑ "Charleston convention center renovations complete after years of construction". 17 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM: Charleston Municipal Auditorium" (PDF). United States Department of the Interior . October 8, 1999. p. 8.13. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Matthew (May 2, 2007). "Charleston Civic Center: Time for Expansion?". Charleston Daily Mail . p. 1A.
  7. ↑ Molenda, Rachel (May 6, 2015). "Charleston Civic Center renovation request approved". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Charleston Civic Center gets new name". 26 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Seats to be replaced at Charleston Coliseum are more than 40 years old". WCHS. August 28, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Mountain East Conference Men's Basketball Championship". Mountain East Conference. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ "WVIAC Men's Basketball Tournament History". WVIAC. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ "2025-26 Men's Basketball Schedule".
  13. ↑ https://thetournament.com/
  14. ↑ "2025 West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show".
  15. ↑ https://wvfairsandfestivals.org/
  16. ↑ https://westvirginiaautoshow.com/
  17. ↑ "56th Capital City Arts & Craft Show".
  18. ↑ "Charleston Civic Center Event Calendar" . Retrieved May 16, 2007.
  19. ↑ "Concert History of Charleston Civic Center Charleston, West Virginia, United States | Concert Archives".
  20. ↑ "History".
  21. ↑ "76ers vs Pistons, February 14, 1966".
  22. ↑ "History".
  23. ↑ https://www.queenlive.ca/queen/80-08-16.htm
  24. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/sports/ncaabasketball/30preps.html
  25. ↑ "President Trump visits Charleston". 20 August 2018.
  26. ↑ https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/donald-trump-rally-draws-thousands-to-charleston-civic-center/article_5c8300d5-31ad-5d3f-8435-dff14e221c65.html
  27. ↑ "Seats to be replaced at Charleston Coliseum are more than 40 years old". WCHS. August 28, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ Tony, Mike (August 10, 2025). "'People Are Struggling': Charleston Turns Out For Sanders' 'Fighting Oligarchy Tour'". Charleston Gazette-Mail . Retrieved August 11, 2025.

References

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.