Coliseum Auditorium, Victory Arena | |
Address | 401 N. Roman St. |
---|---|
Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Coordinates | 29°57′46″N90°04′39″W / 29.96284°N 90.07738°W Coordinates: 29°57′46″N90°04′39″W / 29.96284°N 90.07738°W |
Owner | Coliseum Incorporated |
Operator | Coliseum Incorporated |
Capacity | 8,000 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1921 |
Built | 1921 |
Opened | July 21, 1922 |
Closed | 1960 |
Construction cost | >US$100,000 |
General contractor | August Frank |
The Coliseum Arena or Coliseum Auditorium was an arena at 401 North Roman Street in the Tulane/Gravier neighborhood of New Orleans. [1] [2] It was located at the corner of N. Roman St. and Conti St. [1]
In early 1921, John Dillon, Frankie Edwards and Al Buja formed a boxing syndicate, Coliseum Incorporated, to develop an arena. [1] On July 21, 1922, the 8,000-seat arena with capacity for 8,500 opened. [3] The arena was modeled after the Milwaukee Auditorium and Madison Square Garden with unobstructed views. [1] The total costs of the four-story steel-trussed white brick-sheathed building exceeded $100,000. [1]
The first event at the arena was a boxing match between local fighter Martin Burke and Charlie Weinert. [1] The arena held many boxing matches including fights featuring Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Brown, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pastrano and Ralph Dupas. [3] [4] The final boxing match at the arena was held on December 14, 1959. [5]
Professional wrestling matches were held at the arena. [2] Professional wrestler Gorgeous George appeared at the arena almost a dozen times in the early 1950s. [2] [3]
The Coliseum also hosted college and high school sports events, music performances and public lectures. [3] Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the arena in 1957. [6]
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