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| Richfield Coliseum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Richfield Coliseum |
| Location | Richfield Township, Ohio |
| Opened | 1974 |
| Closed | 1994 |
| Demolished | 1999 |
| Owner | General Tire |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Architect | Shaffer, Thomas & Associates |
Richfield Coliseum was a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Richfield Township, Ohio, between Cleveland and Akron. Built in 1974 for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Barons, and touring concerts, the venue hosted professional sports franchises, major touring musicians, and national political events before closing in 1994 and being demolished in 1999.
The arena was commissioned amid suburban expansion by companies including General Tire and developed with input from local authorities in Summit County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and state planners under the administration of Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan. Groundbreaking occurred in the early 1970s during a period when franchises such as the Cleveland Cavaliers sought arenas comparable to those in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The Coliseum opened in 1974 and quickly became the home for the Cleveland Crusaders, the NBA club Cleveland Cavaliers, and the World Hockey Association's itinerant teams, while also hosting tours by artists like Elton John, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen. Over ensuing decades the venue was impacted by changing franchise fortunes involving the San Jose Sharks relocation discussions, municipal efforts led by the Cuyahoga County officials, and competition from urban arenas such as Gund Arena and Richfield's regional rivals. Financial pressures, declining attendance, and franchise moves culminated in the Cavaliers’ relocation to downtown Cleveland in 1994 and the Coliseum’s closure.
The building employed a distinctive long-span roof engineered by firms like Shaffer, Thomas & Associates and featured seating capacity designed for approximately 18,500 to 20,000 patrons, comparable to arenas in Madison Square Garden, The Spectrum, and San Francisco Civic Auditorium. Amenities included luxury suites inspired by trends set at Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden, a retractable seating configuration used similarly by venues hosting NHL and NBA fixtures, and backstage facilities adequate for tours by Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and The Who. The site’s location between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and downtown Akron influenced transportation planning with access via Interstate 271 and Interstate 77, parking fields modeled on suburban arenas near Giants Stadium and Three Rivers Stadium, and emergency planning coordinated with Summit County and Cuyahoga County services. Acoustics were criticized in reviews comparing the Coliseum to Radio City Music Hall and Sydney Opera House for concert sound quality, while sporting sightlines were praised by commentators familiar with arenas like The Forum (Inglewood) and Maple Leaf Gardens.
Primary tenants included the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), the short-lived Cleveland Barons (NHL), and WHA tenant Cleveland Crusaders; the venue also hosted college programs such as Cleveland State Vikings basketball and postseason tournaments associated with the NCAA. Concerts featured international tours by Queen, Michael Jackson, Prince, and organ recitals akin to those at Wembley Arena; comedy tours included Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Eddie Murphy. The Coliseum staged political rallies for figures like Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter during presidential campaigns, hosted boxing events featuring fighters promoted by organizations linked to managers who worked with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and accommodated conventions and trade shows similar to those held at McCormick Place. Postseason sports moments included playoff games against franchises such as the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls, while marquee concerts brought audiences comparable to shows at Madison Square Garden and Staples Center.
The arena shaped suburban entertainment patterns in the Greater Cleveland and Akron metropolitan area region, influencing downtown redevelopment debates involving figures such as George Voinovich and institutions like the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Its reputation entered popular culture in local histories, memoirs by sportswriters covering the NBA Finals era, and documentaries about the Cleveland Cavaliers and northeastern Ohio music scenes including performances by Aerosmith and R.E.M.. Preservation activists compared the Coliseum’s fate to other demolished venues including The Spectrum and Old Madison Square Garden, while urban planners referenced the site in studies by Cleveland State University and regional planning agencies. The Coliseum’s memory persists through archives held by the Western Reserve Historical Society and oral histories collected by Case Western Reserve University.
After closure in 1994 and years of vacancy, demolition commenced in 1999 amid negotiations involving Summit County, private developers, and utilities such as FirstEnergy. The cleared 88-acre site was incorporated into plans for employment parks, retail projects, and mixed-use proposals evaluated by Port Authority of Cleveland and county economic development offices; proposals were weighed against developments like Crocker Park and redevelopment projects in Downtown Cleveland. Subsequent land use included industrial and commercial development tied to regional transportation corridors near I-271 and I-77, with commemorative exhibits about the arena appearing in local museums such as the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and community collections at Richfield Township historical repositories.
Category:Sports venues in Ohio Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Ohio