Jesus, Elvis, and All-Star Wrestling:

One Amazing Week at the Charlotte Coliseum

 

2009 Photos of the coliseum with it's new look and name : The Bojangle's Coliseum

 

Photos inside and out of the Charlotte Coliseum from 1981

 


Name History:

1955: Charlotte Coliseum

1988: Independence Arena

2001: Cricket Arena

2009: Bojangle's Arena


 

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THE CHARLOTTE COLISEUM

The Charlotte Coliseum, now called Bojangle's Coliseum, was opened and dedicated in 1955. At the time it was the largest unsupported steel dome in the world. After the new Charlotte Coliseum opened in 1988, the name was changed to Independence Arena (named for its location on Independence Boulevard in Charlotte) and underwent an extensive renovation. Loca's lovingly referred to it as the "Big I". In 2001 the arena was named Cricket Arena in a naming rights arrangement, and in 2009 became Bojangle's Arena after the fried chicken chain reached a multi-year licensing agreement with the city.

 

  

Name History:

1955: Charlotte Coliseum

1988: Independence Arena

2001: Cricket Arena

2009: Bojangle's Arena

 

The Charlotte Coliseum as it looked in 1983

 

Bojangle's Coliseum March 2009


This photograph is hanging on the wall in the lobby at the Billy Graham Museum in Charlotte North Carolina. The marquee promotes Graham's crusade at the Coliseum in 1972. Another favorite Charlotte attraction at the Coliseum is also featured on that marquee, and I'm not talking about Ice Hockey.

Jesus, Elvis, and All-Star Wrestling: One Amazing Week at the Charlotte Coliseum

(Thanks to Kyra Quinn for this snapshot of the original photograph hanging at the Billy Graham Library.)


 

Fans started claiming their seats long before the show began. Remember how much fun it was just waiting in anticipation of what was to come?

Concession stands, like most everything else, were a lot simpler in those days. Pizza was just 60 cents a slice, and the popcorn was actually popped on site. I can smell that popcorn right now...

 

I swear, I remember this same guy that tore your ticket on the way into the coliseum.

 

The Hill, that huge stretch of asphalt that stretched above the coliseum. Hours before the show, cars already had their spot in the lot.

 

 The photos in the section above from a special feature in a 1981 issue of a Japanese wrestling magazine called Deluxe Pro Wrestling 1981 #7. The magazine found its way to the Gateway courtesy of Greg Price. Thanks Greg.


While the building that replaced it in 1988 has already been demolished, the original Charlotte Coliseum still proudly stands today. I stopped to take this photo on the way to the Anderson Brothers Classic (ABC3) tournament in Charlotte. (May 2008 - Photo by D. Bourne)

 

1960s Postcard of Independence Blvd. in Charlotte, featuring the Charlotte Coliseum.

1965 Arial photo of Independence Blvd.

 

Modern Day Satellite Image from Google Earth

 


2009 & Beyond: The Bojangle's Coliseum

 

 

 

 


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"Classic Venues" is a collection of features edited by Dick Bourne

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