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| Riverfront Coliseum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Riverfront Coliseum |
| Former names | Cincinnati Coliseum |
| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Built | 1975 |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
Riverfront Coliseum
Riverfront Coliseum was a multipurpose indoor arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, inaugurated in 1975 near the Ohio River and adjacent to Riverfront Stadium and the Cincinnati Union Terminal complex. The arena hosted major National Hockey League and National Basketball Association exhibitions, premier touring productions by Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles-era artists, and civic events tied to entities like the Cincinnati Bengals and the University of Cincinnati. Its history intersected with national issues such as public safety debates after the 1979 tragedy involving The Who and subsequent legal and regulatory responses by institutions including the National Transportation Safety Board and state courts.
The Coliseum opened during a period of urban revitalization projects connected to the Erie Canal-era port renewal and later Downtown Cincinnati initiatives influenced by planners from the Urban Land Institute, developers associated with the Taft family, and civic bodies like the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. Early years featured engagements with touring promoters such as Ticketmaster, AEG Presents, and Live Nation Entertainment, and sporting tenants including teams from leagues like the World Hockey Association and exhibitions involving franchises comparable to the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The venue's timeline includes labor disputes tied to unions such as the American Federation of Musicians and municipal negotiations with mayors including members of the Republican Party (United States) and the Democratic Party (United States).
Designed amid trends exemplified by arenas like Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden, the Coliseum employed structural engineering firms with experience on projects similar to The Forum (Inglewood, California) and relied on contractors associated with the Construction Industry's large-scale arena builds of the 1970s. Architectural elements reflected influences from firms that had worked on Convention Center projects for cities such as Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, integrating seating configurations comparable to Mannesmann Arena models and sightlines used in venues like Maple Leaf Gardens. Systems for acoustics and lighting drew on technologies developed for productions by designers who collaborated with acts like Pink Floyd and David Bowie.
Ownership and management rotated among municipal authorities, private operators, and corporate lessees linked to entities like Hilton Worldwide, Coca-Cola Company sponsorship models, and regional operators analogous to SMG (company) and ASM Global. Day-to-day operations coordinated with agencies such as the Cincinnati Police Department, the Cincinnati Fire Department, and legal counsel experienced with cases in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Management negotiated contracts with booking agents representing artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Stevie Wonder as well as with sports promoters from leagues similar to the American Basketball Association.
The Coliseum staged concerts by headline acts including Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Queen (band), and Barbra Streisand, and hosted sporting exhibitions featuring teams akin to the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls. It served as a venue for conventions and ceremonies connected to institutions like the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and trade shows organized by groups resembling the National Association of Broadcasters. Notable televised events involved networks such as CBS, NBC, and ABC (American Broadcasting Company), and specials produced by entities like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures.
On a 1979 tour stop featuring The Who (band), a crowd-management failure at the Coliseum led to fatalities and injuries that prompted investigations by legal bodies including the Hamilton County, Ohio coroner's office and civil suits in courts comparable to the Ohio Supreme Court. The incident catalyzed reviews of crowd control protocols used at arenas like Madison Square Garden and spurred policy responses from municipal administrations and stadium safety committees influenced by cases such as investigations following the Caldicot bus crash and recommendations from standards bodies like the National Fire Protection Association. The disaster affected touring policies for bands including The Who (band), influenced promoters such as Bill Graham, and altered ticketing practices used by companies like Ticketmaster.
Over decades the facility underwent renovations echoed in upgrades at venues such as Staples Center and Scotiabank Arena, including improvements to seating, HVAC systems sourced from firms like Carrier Global Corporation, and accessibility enhancements aligned with statutes akin to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Redevelopment discussions involved municipal redevelopment agencies, private developers associated with the Taft family and national groups like Forest City Realty Trust, and planners from entities such as the American Institute of Architects. Proposals explored mixed-use conversions comparable to projects in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, linking waterfront redevelopment initiatives to federal programs like those administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Coliseum's cultural imprint connected to regional identity in Cincinnati, influencing arts organizations like the Cincinnati Opera and youth programs associated with the Cincinnati Ballet and schools in the Cincinnati Public Schools district. The 1979 tragedy became a reference point in scholarship from universities such as the University of Cincinnati and policy work by institutions similar to the Rand Corporation, shaping practices in venue safety referenced in manuals by the International Association of Venue Managers and legacy discussions in media outlets including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. The site’s history remains part of municipal memory alongside neighboring landmarks such as Riverfront Stadium and the Great American Ball Park.
Category:Sports venues in Cincinnati Category:Music venues in Cincinnati