Nebraska Coliseum facts for kids
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| Address | 1350 Vine St. Lincoln, NE 68588 |
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| Coordinates | 40°49′17″N 96°42′09″W / 40.821481°N 96.702607°W |
| Owner | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Operator | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Capacity | 4,030 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1924 |
| Opened | February 6, 1926 |
| Construction cost | $435,000 |
| Architect | Ellery Davis & Walter Wilson |
| Tenants | |
| Nebraska Men's basketball (1926–1976) Nebraska Women's basketball (1974–1976) Nebraska Women's volleyball (1975–1990, 1992–2013) Nebraska Wrestling (1942–1990, 1992–2013) |
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The Nebraska Coliseum (also called the NU Coliseum or The Coliseum) is an indoor coliseum on the campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. It was the home of Nebraska's basketball team from 1926 to 1976 and volleyball team from 1975 to 2013. It currently hosts Nebraska wrestling on occasion, and is used primarily as a student recreation center.
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History
The possibility of constructing a new multi-use venue for Nebraska was proposed in 1924 by John Selleck of UNL's Athletic Board. The Coliseum, located just east of Memorial Stadium, was designed by Ellery Davis and Walter Wilson, who also designed Memorial Stadium and UNL's Morrill Hall and Love Library. The first event ever hosted at the arena was a men's basketball game in 1926, a 25–14 loss to Kansas. The women's basketball team did not play at the Coliseum until 1974, and both moved to the new NU Sports (Devaney) Complex in 1976. The state's high school basketball tournament was held in the Coliseum for many years, until it moved to the Devaney Center as well.
Volleyball
After the completion of the Devaney Center, the Coliseum's primary purpose was to host Nebraska volleyball, undergoing numerous renovations to tailor the facility specifically to the needs of the program. When Pinnacle Bank Arena was built to host basketball in 2013, volleyball moved to the Devaney Center. Between both venues, the Huskers have sold out 231 consecutive home matches, an NCAA record for a women's sport.
Following its renovations, the Coliseum was one of the few collegiate arenas designed specifically for volleyball. The building itself has drawn comparisons to Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium due to its classic architecture, deafening acoustics, and intimate atmosphere. Anecdotally, it has been described as "the arena that the volleyball gods would build." CBS Sports featured the Coliseum in a 2009 documentary.
The 4,030-seat Nebraska Coliseum provided the Nebraska volleyball program with an unmatched home-court advantage. Nebraska had 15 undefeated seasons at the Coliseum, compiling an all-time record of 454–30 (.938) under its roof. Only six times in 37 years at the venue did a conference opponent win in Lincoln (in 1991, the Huskers played at the Devaney Center while the Coliseum was being renovated). In the early 2000s, Nebraska began a home winning streak that would last until 2008, when Nebraska was upset by UCLA, ending the streak at 90, an NCAA record. The Huskers have hosted an NCAA Tournament match every season since 1984, and compiled a 55–5 postseason record in the Coliseum (Nebraska is 16–2 in NCAA play at the Devaney Center).
Vacancy
Following the permanent move of all varsity teams from the Coliseum, the facility is now no longer used in any significant fashion, though it continues to be used as an extra practice facility and as office space by Nebraska's gymnastics teams. It is attached to Cook Pavilion and is used as part of UNL's city campus recreation center.
Other Events
Early in its history, the Coliseum was used for various events, including an Elvis Presley concert in 1956, an address by then-Vice President Richard Nixon in 1960, and a campaign speech by US Senator Robert F. Kennedy in April 1968 (just two months before his assassination).
