Lubbock Municipal Coliseum


Lubbock Municipal Coliseum was an 8,344-seat multi-purpose arena in Lubbock, Texas. Although the arena was located on the campus of Texas Tech University, it was owned and operated by the City of Lubbock until 2018.
In May 2018, Lubbock citizens approved to abandon the Auditorium-Coliseum complex in a public referendum as per the City Charter Chapter 1, Article 2, Section 25. On October 1, 2018 the city of Lubbock officially handed the land and the Auditorium-Coliseum back to Texas Tech University in compliance with H.B. 647 & H.B. 478. Texas Tech University will demolish the Lubbock Auditorium - Coliseum complex in April/May 2019. The university is considering a new athletics dormitory for the location.
On November 6, 2018 Lubbock County voters approved Proposition A for the construction of the Lubbock County Expo Center at North Loop 289 & University. This facility will replace the Coliseum. The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences, which is under construction at Marsha Sharp Freeway and Ave L, will replace the Auditorium. It is scheduled to open in 2020.

History

Arena usage

Sports

Arena football

The Coliseum was briefly the home to the Lubbock Gunslingers and Lubbock Renegades.

College basketball

The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team began playing at the Coliseum during the 1956–57 season. The Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team began playing select games during the 1976–77 and 1977–78 seasons. The Lady Raiders began playing only at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum beginning with the 1978–79 season. After the venue now known as United Supermarkets Arena opened in 1999, both teams relocated to the university-owned and operated arena. The Coliseum also hosted the Midwest Regional semi-final and final games of the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament won by the Texas Western Miners who went on to upset the Kentucky Wildcats in the national championship game in College Park, Maryland.

Ice hockey

The arena was the home to the Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. However, after being unable to come to an agreement with the city of Lubbock for the use of the arena, the team suspended operations prior to the 2007–08 season.

Professional basketball

During the 1971–72 American Basketball Association season, the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum served as a sometimes home court for the then-named Texas Chaparrals, a one-year experiment by the Dallas Chaparrals to expand their appeal to a statewide audience. The Chaparrals eventually became the San Antonio Spurs of the American Basketball Association and later of the NBA.

Wrestling

Lubbock Municipal Coliseum was the Lubbock home of WWE since the 1980s. World Championship Wrestling also visited the Coliseum for most of the 1990s until United Supermarkets Arena opened.

Concerts

The Lubbock Municipal Coliseum was a popular stop for touring artists. In the 1980s, tickets at the time were between $12 and $13. Major concert tours have since moved to United Supermarkets Arena.

Other

The Coliseum was used for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice and Stars on Ice.

Final event

The final event to take place at the Coliseum was the 77th annual from April 4-6, 2019. The 2019 rodeo was the 63rd year which it was held at the Coliseum. Fittingly, the first event held at the Coliseum in 1956 was the 14th ABC Pro Rodeo.

Lubbock Municipal Auditorium

Adjacent to the coliseum was the 2,803-seat Lubbock Municipal Auditorium. The auditorium hosted its final event on September 27, 2018 when Robert Plant performed with his band, The Sensational Space Shifters.
The auditorium was demolished in April and May of 2019 along with the attached Lubbock Municipal Coliseum following the land's transfer of ownership back to Texas Tech University.