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.jpg) The arena in 2014 | |
 Interactive map of Hampton Coliseum | |
| Former names | Hampton Roads Coliseum (1969 - 1975) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1000 Coliseum Drive Hampton, Virginia United States |
| Owner | City of Hampton |
| Operator | City of Hampton |
| Capacity | 13,800 (concerts) 10,147 (basketball) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 24, 1968 |
| Built | 1968–1969 |
| Opened | December 1, 1969 |
| Construction cost | $8.5 to $9.0 million USD |
| Architect | Odell Associates |
| General contractor | McDevitt and Street Co. |
| Tenants | |
| Virginia Squires (ABA) (1970–76) Tidewater/Virginia Wings (AHL) (1971–75) Hampton Gulls (SHL/AHL) (1974–78) Hampton Aces (NEHL/EHL) (1978–81) Old Dominion Monarchs (NCAA) (part-time, 1970–95) | |
Hampton Coliseum is a multi-purposearena inHampton, Virginia. Construction began on May 24, 1968. The venue held its first event on December 1, 1969, with the nearbyCollege of William & Mary playingNorth Carolina State University in a college men's basketball game.[1] On January 31, 1970, the Coliseum formally opened as the first large multi-purpose arena in theHampton Roads region and the state ofVirginia (opening a year before theNorfolk Scope inNorfolk.)
With a final estimated cost between $8.5 million to $9 million, the arena was designed byOdell Associates and constructed by McDevitt and Street, of Charlotte, North Carolina.[2] The venue capacity is configurable from 9,800 to 13,800 seats. Fans of theGrateful Dead andPhish have nicknamed the buildingThe Mothership, a term coined byThe Virginian-Pilot reporter John Colt in a 1981 Grateful Dead concert review.[3][4]
Hampton Coliseum was one of several former homes of theAmerican Basketball AssociationVirginia Squires professional basketball franchise. The coliseum was also home to theVirginia Wings in theAmerican Hockey League andHampton Gulls in theSouthern Hockey League and theHampton Aces of theNorth Eastern Hockey League andEastern Hockey League.
The coliseum hosted theDivision I men'scollege basketballECAC South Region tournament, organized by theEastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), in1980 and1981.[5][6][7][8] The 1985Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and the 1987, 1988, and 1989Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournaments were held in the coliseum. TheOld Dominion Monarchs basketball team played occasional games in the coliseum from 1970 to 1995, usually one game a year, although twice the team played several games in the coliseum, in the 1979–80 and 1984–85 seasons.[9] The Hampton Coliseum is the home of the Virginia Duals annualwrestling tournament, hosting invitational college and high school matches.
TheNational Wrestling Alliance,WCW,WWE and other wrestling promotions have run shows at the Coliseum since the 1980s.
The coliseum is most notable for the return of (in storylinekayfabe)WWE superstarCM Punk in July, 2011.
TheGrateful Dead performed 21 concerts at Hampton Coliseum between 1979 and 1992, including their now-famous 1989 shows at the venue. The shows were later commercially released asFormerly the Warlocks because the band was billed under the name The Warlocks.
Elvis Presley performed 2 shows at the Coliseum in April 1972, another show in March 1974, and another 2 shows in August 1976. All shows were sold out. Performances from Presley's show on April 9, 1972, featured heavily in the 1972 Golden Globe winning documentary,Elvis on Tour, with Presley donning a powder blue jumpsuit.
Madonna broughtThe Virgin Tour to the Coliseum on May 30, 1985.
Metallica performed at the Hampton Coliseum in 1986.
Beyoncé performed there on 2005 during theVerizon Ladies First Tour and 2007 duringThe Beyoncé Experience.
The venue remains popular with the rock bandPhish, whose multi-night stand in 1998 was released asHampton Comes Alive as well as choosing Hampton Coliseum as the site of their2009 reunion shows. The band has performed at the venue 24 times between 1995 and 2025.[10][11]
The world's first pay-per-view live broadcast of a rock show was held at the venue on December 18, 1981, whenThe Rolling Stones American Tour 1981 ended with a two-night stint. GuitaristKeith Richards memorably hit a man who ran onstage with his guitar.[12]
Other performers include:The Who,Bon Jovi,Led Zeppelin,Van Halen,Iron Maiden,Pretty Lights,Pink Floyd,[13]U2,Marvin Gaye,The Jacksons,Parliament-Funkadelic,Tina Turner,Bruce Springsteen,R.E.M.,[14]Dave Matthews Band,String Cheese Incident,Widespread Panic,[15]Jerry Garcia Band,[16]Pearl Jam,Griz,KISS, and Grateful Dead offshootsFurthur and TheOther Ones.
The popularity of Hampton Coliseum among performers has led to the release of many notable live albums and tracks that were recorded at the venue.
37°2′5.01″N76°22′52.82″W / 37.0347250°N 76.3813389°W /37.0347250; -76.3813389
