War Memorial Coliseum
From Hoopedia
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
It was originally built in 1952 for $3 million on the northwest corner of Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The coliseum was designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball. A major renovation and expansion in 2002, which raised the coliseum's roof by 41 feet, increased the arena's seating capacity to 10,500 for hockey or music concerts and 13,000 for basketball.
The structure was designed by A. M. Strauss Architects for the Allen County, Indiana Commissioners. The coliseum was noted for its innovative use of a long-span, all-welded rigid steel frame, which at the time of construction in 1952 was the longest span for that technique.
It is home to the Fort Wayne Komets Ice hockey team, the IUPU Fort Wayne men's basketball team and the Fort Wayne Fusion arenafootball2 team. In fall of 2007 it will be home to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, an expansion team of the NBA Development League.
The arena was home to the National Basketball Association's Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons from 1952 until the team's move to Detroit in 1957 and saw two NBA Finals, in 1955 and 1956, as well as the NBA All-Star Game in 1953. The arena hosted the 2000-02 Mid-Continent Conference men’s basketball tournaments.
