Moments in Coliseum History

Originally opened in 1939 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress program, the Coliseum and Live Stock Pavilion became an iconic landmark for Indianapolis.

From basketball to hockey to presidential visits, no other venue in Indiana has added the same degree of sports, entertainment and pop culture history to our state like the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

1921-1924

1921-1924 The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) held its version of “Final Four” in the original Coliseum from 1921 to 1924 and then, again, in the new Coliseum during World War II. In 1921, Franklin High School defeated Anderson High School 35-22.

1939-1952

1939-1952 The AHL Indianapolis Capitals called the Coliseum home from 1939-1952. The Capitals were a farm team for the Detroit Red Wings.

1942

1942 In 1942, the Indiana All-Stars defeated the Kentucky All-Stars 41-40 in the annual high school all-star game series. The Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game had been played at Butler University the two previous years.

1951

1951 The Harlem Globetrotters made several Coliseum appearances in the 1950s and ’60s. In 1951, the Globetrotters PACKED the Coliseum with more than 13,000 fans!

1955

1955 The Coliseum hosted four NBA playoff games in April 1955, including Games 3, 4 and 5 in the championship round. Due to Fort Wayne’s Coliseum being taken over by a national championship bowling tournament, the Pistons moved their home games to Indianapolis

1960

1960 Just a month before the Presidential election, candidate John F. Kennedy spoke in front of a full house in the Coliseum.

1964

1964 On September 3, the Beatles played their only shows in Indiana at the Coliseum, and later that event, in the Grandstand. The official attendance for the Coliseum show was 12,413. Tickets sold for $3, $4 and $5.

1967-1974

1967-1974 The ABA Indiana Pacers called the Coliseum home from 1967-74 and garnered three ABA titles during that era! The top ticket price for a Pacers game in their inaugural season was only $4 with the cheapest seat going for $1.50.

1970s

1970s Top entertainment to play the Coliseum in the 1970s included The Jackson 5, Sonny and Cher, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and more!

1976-1978

1976-1978 In 1976, coached by Kirby Overman, the IUPUI Metros (later, Jaguars) first played their home games for two seasons in the Coliseum. The program moved their home games from The Jungle back to the newly renovated Coliseum in 2014.

1978

1978 Wayne Gretzky practiced at the Coliseum while playing for the Indianapolis Racers. Gretzky went on to have an incredible NHL career, earning the nickname of “The Great One” as he has been called the greatest hockey player to have ever played by many sport

2012

2012 VH1 hosted the Pepsi Fan Jam concert for Super Bowl XLVI

2016

2016 The Dalai Lama gave a public talk entitled "Compassion as the Pillar of World Peace" with thousands of attendees from across the world.

TODAY

TODAY The Horizon League Council selected Indianapolis to host the 2020-22 Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

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