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Bojangles Coliseum

Bojangles Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena in , originally constructed and opened in 1955 as the . Featuring a distinctive 332-foot unsupported dome that was the largest of its kind upon completion, the venue was designed as part of Charlotte's first major civic auditorium complex dedicated to sports and entertainment. With a maximum capacity of 10,829 seats across various configurations, including 8,600 fixed seats and options for end-stage setups accommodating up to 7,000, it has hosted over 20,000 events ranging from symphonies and operas to rock concerts and . The arena gained prominence for pioneering several firsts in , such as the city's inaugural , , , , and large-scale ceremonies in 1955, alongside early games drawing over 10,000 attendees. Renamed Bojangles Coliseum in 2008 through a naming-rights agreement with the local Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits chain, it underwent renovations in the late , early , and 2015–2016 to modernize facilities while preserving its historic . Currently managed as part of the Bojangles (BOplex) alongside , it serves as the home ice for the of the since 2015, with the team recently extending its lease through enhanced hospitality developments.

History

Construction and Early Years (1955–1960s)

Following voter approval of public bonds in 1951 to fund new civic venues, construction of the commenced in 1953 after initial delays, with completion targeted for 1955. The project, designed by local architect A. G. Odell Jr. and his firm in collaboration with structural engineers, incorporated a pioneering unsupported dome spanning 332 feet in diameter—the largest of its kind worldwide at the time. Approximately 1,000 tons of were used in the structure, reflecting Charlotte's ambitions to bolster its for and amid rapid urban growth. The coliseum, adjacent to the newly built , officially opened in September 1955 with a dedication ceremony led by evangelist . Initial seating capacity stood at around 12,000, providing space for exhibitions, conventions, and athletic contests. This facility marked a significant upgrade from prior makeshift venues, enabling the city to host larger-scale events and positioning more prominently in regional circuits. During its early years through the 1960s, the coliseum quickly became a hub for local sports, including home games for the of the starting in 1956, which helped establish minor professional hockey in the area. It also accommodated matchups and other amateur athletic trials, fostering community engagement and contributing to Charlotte's emergence as a sports destination in the Southeast without relying on temporary or undersized facilities. By 1960, the Coliseum Authority had acquired its own hockey franchise, underscoring the venue's role in sustaining year-round programming.

Expansion and Peak Usage (1970s–1980s)

During the 1970s, the Charlotte Coliseum solidified its role as a regional through sustained popularity in , with the competing in the and drawing dedicated crowds that built on the team's established fanbase from earlier decades. The Checkers' presence contributed to high attendance for hockey games, exemplified by early records like the 10,363 fans at the first professional game in 1956, reflecting the arena's capacity to host competitive minor league play amid growing interest in the sport. The team's return to the Coliseum in 1977 under the Southern Hockey League further extended this peak era before the league's dissolution. Basketball events also marked the venue's expansion in usage, with frequent appearances by NBA exhibition games and college teams prior to the arrival of a local professional franchise. The period culminated in the late 1980s with the Hornets' NBA adopting the Coliseum as its home, leading the league in attendance during the 1988-1989 inaugural season despite the arena's large capacity of approximately 11,000 seats. This surge in professional activity highlighted the Coliseum's adaptations to accommodate major league demands, fostering intense rivalries and consistent sell-outs that underscored its operational peak. The 1970s brought cultural expansion through entertainment events, as the Coliseum became a regular stop for nationally touring musical acts, including multiple performances by , The Eagles, and . Early milestones included the Jackson 5's concert on December 27, 1970, during their first U.S. tour, which drew significant regional attendance and positioned the venue as an emerging hub for pop and rock spectacles in the Southeast. These concerts diversified the Coliseum's programming, enhancing its versatility and contributing to Charlotte's development as a destination for live before shifts in the local economy affected larger venues.

Decline and Revitalization Efforts (1990s)

The opening of the second in 1988, built specifically to accommodate the NBA's expansion Charlotte Hornets with a of nearly 24,000 seats, intensified competition for concerts, sports, and other events, leading to underutilization of the original 1955 venue. The older facility's aging infrastructure and escalating maintenance expenses compounded the issue, prompting its closure in 1988 after minimal activity in prior years. This period of inactivity lasted until 1993, during which the structure risked amid debates over its viability. In response, city officials pursued a $4 million renovation project focused on essential updates to restore functionality without major expansion, coupled with a new lease agreement that ensured continued operation under municipal oversight. The arena reopened on September 18, 1993, as Independence Arena—named for its location along Independence Boulevard—and secured the Charlotte Checkers as its primary tenant. The Checkers, an expansion franchise in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), relocated from a smaller downtown venue and committed to long-term tenancy, providing steady revenue through hockey games and ancillary events. This arrangement underscored a fiscally conservative strategy, leveraging the existing asset to generate bookings rather than incurring further public debt for replacement.

Modern Era and Renaming (2000s–Present)

In February 2001, the venue, previously known as Independence Arena, was renamed Cricket Arena following a naming rights deal with Cricket Communications, marking its reopening after retro-style refurbishments that preserved its mid-century aesthetic while updating infrastructure. The ice hockey team continued using the facility until October 2005, when they relocated to the newly opened (then Charlotte Bobcats Arena). Following the expiration of the Cricket naming rights in 2005, the arena underwent further integration with adjacent under Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) management, forming a multi-venue complex. On November 25, 2008, Charlotte City Council approved a 10-year, $1.25 million naming rights agreement with Bojangles' Restaurants, Inc., renaming it Bojangles Coliseum; the deal was later extended and expanded in 2018 to encompass the full Bojangles Entertainment Complex (including Ovens Auditorium) for another 10 years at $2.85 million. In December 2014, the City Council allocated $16 million for a two-phase overhaul completed between 2015 and 2016, featuring new seating, a video scoreboard, ribbon boards, upgraded restrooms, and infrastructure enhancements like HVAC systems and storm drainage, which facilitated the Checkers' return as primary tenants starting in the 2015–16 American Hockey League season. In November 2024, the Checkers signed a five-year lease extension through 2030 with CRVA, incorporating plans for expanded hospitality areas and venue improvements to meet ongoing operational needs. On October 9, 2025, Zawyer Sports & Entertainment unveiled the Charlotte Crown, a professional women's basketball franchise in the UpShot League, which will play its inaugural 17-home-game season starting May 2026 at Bojangles Coliseum, representing the return of such events to the venue after decades. These developments underscore CRVA's efforts to sustain the facility's viability amid evolving sports and entertainment demands.

Architecture and Facilities

Original Design and Engineering

The original Charlotte Coliseum, constructed in 1955, incorporated an innovative unsupported dome roof spanning 332 feet in diameter and rising 112 feet at its center, marking it as the largest free-spanning dome structure in the world upon completion. This design relied on a of steel trusses to distribute weight without internal supports, enabling an unobstructed interior suitable for large-scale gatherings. Approximately 1,000 tons of were used in the dome's fabrication, reflecting mid-20th-century advancements in prefabricated techniques that prioritized span efficiency and material economy. The arena's multi-purpose floor was engineered with a concrete substructure capable of supporting temporary installations for and other events, alongside standard configurations for and exhibitions. Seating featured utilitarian pre-cast bowls with straight-edged benches, designed for an initial capacity of about 10,000 spectators and minimal amenities, aligning with the era's focus on functional over opulent features. Construction adhered to prevailing 1950s building standards for structural integrity and , including framing rated for load-bearing without extensive reinforcements. Funded by a $3 million approved by voters in October 1950, the project exemplified post-World War II civic investments in regional venues, influencing subsequent arena designs in the American South through its emphasis on expansive, adaptable enclosures.

Capacity and Layout

Bojangles Coliseum maintains a fixed of 8,600 for standard sports configurations, such as and , primarily arranged in a lower bowl surrounding the event floor and upper-level balconies providing elevated views. This setup supports intimate sightlines across the 332-foot-diameter dome structure, with sections divided into numbered blocks for efficient crowd management. Floor-level seating and standing areas can expand the total capacity to 10,829 when added for or similar events, reflecting adaptations from its original 1955 design which initially accommodated around 9,600 before post-1993 adjustments reduced fixed seats for improved comfort and safety. For entertainment events, the layout offers flexibility, with end-stage setups limited to approximately 7,000 attendees in a 180-degree to optimize acoustics and , while in-the-round arrangements can utilize up to 10,000. The ice surface measures 200 feet by 85 feet with dasher boards installed, aligning with standards for professional play, and includes dedicated locker rooms for teams along with loading docks for equipment transport. Accessibility features encompass wheelchair-accessible seating in sections 106, 108, 110, 121, and 123, equipped with companion spaces and varying sightlines, alongside ramps, assistive listening devices, and designated near entrances. The venue integrates logistically with adjacent within the BOplex complex via a 35,000-square-foot connector , enabling shared access points, restrooms, and concessions while preserving independent event flows. Parking lots accommodate thousands of vehicles across surface areas opening two hours prior to events, with ADA spaces available adjacent to the main entrances.

Renovations and Upgrades

In 1993, following a closure period, the venue underwent a $4 million that included extensive refurbishing and to restore its functionality and aesthetic, enabling its reopening as Independence Arena on September 18 of that year. This project focused on structural and interior updates to accommodate renewed tenant operations, such as the hockey team, marking a shift from dormancy to active use. A more comprehensive $16 million renovation occurred in phases between 2014 and 2016, approved by in December 2014 to facilitate the ' return as primary tenants. upgrades encompassed new seating installations, a modernized main , enhanced sound systems, and improvements, completed by mid-2016 to boost operational reliability and spectator experience. These changes supported increased event bookings, with the ' relocation contributing to sustained utilization post-renovation. In 2020, a 35,000-square-foot connector facility was constructed to link Bojangles Coliseum with the adjacent , improving site navigation, access, and overall campus efficiency while adding parking capacity. This structural enhancement, part of broader Bojangles Entertainment Complex upgrades, optimized operational flow without disrupting core arena functions. Ongoing assessments in the mid-2020s, including a 2024 hire of for evaluation ahead of the venue's 70th anniversary in 2025, signal preparations for further multimillion-dollar upgrades to address aging infrastructure. These efforts, managed by the Regional Visitors Authority, aim to extend usability through targeted modernizations, though specific scopes and costs remain under review as of late 2024.

Sports

Basketball Events

Bojangles Coliseum has primarily hosted regional tournaments and exhibitions since its opening in 1955, with a focus on () and historically Black college and university (HBCU) competitions rather than major professional leagues. One of the venue's earliest basketball events was an exhibition matchup between the Fort Wayne Pistons and during the 1955–1956 season, marking an early professional appearance in . Throughout the , the arena regularly accommodated NBA exhibitions and college games, contributing to its role as a hub for regional hoops before larger facilities diminished its prominence for high-major events. The Coliseum served as the host site for the in 1968, 1969, and 1970, drawing crowds for semifinals and championships among conference powers like and North Carolina State. These tournaments underscored the venue's capacity for competitive play, with its approximately 9,000-seat configuration supporting attendance for semifinal and final rounds. The arena has also featured occasional NBA preseason contests, though never as a primary home for NBA teams, reflecting its secondary status amid the rise of larger arenas in the region. In more recent decades, Bojangles Coliseum has emphasized HBCU basketball, hosting early-round games for the (CIAA) tournament, such as in 2019 when preliminary men's and women's matchups were played there ahead of finals elsewhere. The venue hosted the inaugural Black College Invitational Championship (BCIC) from March 20 to 23, 2025, a postseason event for 16 HBCU teams in men's and women's divisions, highlighting its continued appeal for niche college competitions that prioritize cultural and regional significance over national broadcast scale. The announcement of professional returning to the Coliseum came on October 9, 2025, with the unveiling of the , a in the UpShot —a developmental circuit for WNBA prospects operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment. The team is set to begin play in May 2026, positioning the arena as a renewed outpost for women's pro hoops in after a long absence of full-time tenancy. This development signals potential growth in local attendance for , building on the venue's legacy of drawing community crowds for accessible, high-energy games rather than marquee national draws.

Ice Hockey and Charlotte Checkers

The Charlotte Checkers established their primary tenancy at Bojangles Coliseum in 1993 upon the venue's reopening, competing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and providing a stable anchor amid post-1990s operational challenges. The franchise, successor to earlier Charlotte teams that utilized the Coliseum from 1956 to 1977, secured the ECHL's Kelly Cup championship in 1996 during this period. This residency continued until 2005, after which the team relocated temporarily before transitioning to the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2010 as the Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate. The returned to Bojangles Coliseum for the 2015–16 season following $16 million in renovations funded by , which included enhancements to the ice plant, seating, locker rooms, and technology to support professional standards and consistent gameplay. These upgrades enabled the venue to host AHL-caliber events, with the rink facilities modernized to align with league requirements for dasher boards, glass, and player amenities. Under affiliation, the have earned multiple division titles and advanced in , culminating in a victory in 2019 and a finals appearance in 2025. The team's presence has bolstered venue finances through sustained operations and a dedicated fanbase, evidenced by home of 6,979 in the 2023–24 season—the highest since 1997–98—and consistent profitability in recent years. This loyalty underscores the ' role in maintaining Bojangles Coliseum as a viable sports facility.

Other Athletic Competitions

The Bojangles Coliseum has hosted events from the (NWA) and (WCW) throughout the and , including multiple house shows such as those on February 11, 1989, April 9, 1989, and August 19, 1989. These competitions drew crowds for matches featuring prominent wrestlers of the era, underscoring the arena's role in regional combat sports before the rise of national televised promotions. In its early years, the venue accommodated matches, with events in the 1950s representing some of its initial non-traditional athletic programming shortly after opening in 1955. This format, involving teams skating competitively on a banked track, highlighted the coliseum's adaptability for contact sports requiring specialized flooring setups. has featured periodically, with teams like the Carolina Energy playing their 2018 season home games there and the Thunder utilizing the facility for matches in subsequent years. Indoor lacrosse events, including the debut of the Bootleggers against the All-Americans on January 7, 2023, have also taken place, leveraging the arena's ice-removal capabilities for configurations. Combat sports beyond wrestling, such as tournaments from the (), occurred in 2025, with finals events on August 15 featuring championship bouts in , , and women's flyweight divisions. These varied uses demonstrate the coliseum's structural versatility for floor-based athletic competitions, enabling quick adaptations between event types without permanent specialization.

Entertainment and Public Events

Concerts and Music Performances

Bojangles Coliseum has hosted rock concerts since the , establishing itself as a key stop for touring acts in the American South. In the 1970s, it became a regular venue for prominent rock performers, including multiple appearances by , as well as shows by The Eagles and . Other notable rock events from the era included performances by on March 10, 1974, during their Burn World Tour, and Yes on October 27, 1972. These early concerts drew thousands, leveraging the venue's 10,000-plus capacity to accommodate growing audiences for arena-scale rock. The 1980s and 1990s saw diversification into pop and stadium rock, with acts like , , and performing there, contributing to its reputation for high-attendance music events. In more recent decades, the venue has emphasized country and folk-rock genres, exemplified by ' annual residencies. These multi-night traditions, held since at least the early , routinely sell out the 10,829-seat arena, as seen in the packed December 31, 2023, show and the December 31, 2024, performance featuring guests like . Symphonic and orchestral music has also featured, often integrated with the adjacent through the BOplex complex, such as Sarah Brightman's A Winter tour stop. Recent upgrades to the venue's , including immersive audio installations, have enhanced concert quality by addressing the dome's inherent challenges. Setlists from various artists, archived across performances, reflect adaptations like increased acoustic elements to suit the space's acoustics.

Theatrical and Family Shows

Bojangles Coliseum has hosted numerous family-oriented theatrical productions and spectacles, emphasizing acrobatic and ice-based performances that appeal to audiences of . These events utilize the venue's flexible arena configuration to accommodate elaborate staging, including elevated seating for optimal viewing of dynamic routines. In August 2025, presented its production from August 28 to 31, featuring high-energy acrobatics inspired by the insect world and themes of life's interconnected cycles. The show, described by organizers as a vibrant exploration suitable for families, drew crowds through multiple performances over the four-day run. Disney On Ice's Jump In! followed in early October 2025, running from October 2 to 5 with several daily showtimes starting at ticket prices of $20. The production integrated skating sequences from Disney properties including , , Moana 2, , , and , targeting young families with interactive storytelling and character appearances. Tickets were required for children aged two and older, reflecting standard policies for such events to manage capacity. These spectacles, distinct from musical concerts, have sustained the coliseum's programming by attracting local families during periods outside peak sports seasons, leveraging the venue's historic multipurpose design for immersive, non-athletic entertainment.

Community and Miscellaneous Gatherings

Bojangles Coliseum has served as a venue for various civic and community-oriented gatherings, including political rallies and religious events that foster public assembly. On July 24, 2024, former President held a campaign rally at the coliseum, drawing nearly 10,000 supporters. Similarly, on September 20, 2024, the Charlotte Crusade—a collaborative event organized by over 140 local churches—took place, featuring worship services, a 550-voice , and messages centered on Christian themes, aimed at promoting unity among participants. These gatherings underscore the venue's role in accommodating large-scale public assemblies beyond commercial entertainment. The coliseum frequently hosts educational milestones, particularly graduation ceremonies for (). In February 2025, it served as the site for mid-year graduations representing approximately 27 schools and about 1,000 students, with ceremonies at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. End-of-year events in May and June 2025 also utilized the facility for multiple high schools, though some, such as those for South Mecklenburg, Palisades, Mallard Creek, and Garinger High Schools originally scheduled for June 13, were relocated to due to conflicts with playoff games. The venue has additionally supported conventions and trade shows as part of its broader civic functions. In recognition of its 70th anniversary in 2025—marking operations since its 1955 opening as the —the BOplex complex, encompassing and , highlighted its legacy of hosting over 20,000 events that have contributed to community cohesion in . These celebrations emphasized the venues' ongoing service as key gathering spaces for local residents, reflecting their integral role in the city's social fabric.

Operations and Impact

Management and Naming Rights

Bojangles Coliseum is owned by the City of Charlotte and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), a public agency established in as the Auditorium-Coliseum Authority to oversee municipal venues. The CRVA has managed the coliseum since its opening on September 22, 1955, handling day-to-day operations, event booking, maintenance, and revenue generation through a model emphasizing public-private partnerships to supplement taxpayer funding. As part of the Bojangles Entertainment Complex—known as BOplex, which integrates the coliseum with adjacent —this structure enables shared administrative resources, joint marketing, and coordinated infrastructure upgrades to optimize operational efficiency across the facilities. The venue's naming rights have been held by Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits, a Charlotte-based fast-food chain, since November 2008 under a private sponsorship agreement approved by the City Council. Initially valued at $125,000 annually, the deal provides the chain with prominent branding while generating non-tax revenue for venue upkeep, aligning with a prioritizing corporate sponsorships over increased public expenditure. In November 2018, the agreement was renewed and expanded to encompass the entire BOplex for 10 years at a total of $2.85 million, incorporating interior and exterior signage updates and underscoring the CRVA's strategy of leveraging local business ties for financial sustainability. Operational oversight by the CRVA includes ticketing handled through event-specific promoters and standard venue systems, with safety protocols enforced to mitigate risks such as those heightened by the . Post-2020 adaptations feature enhanced cleaning regimens, capacity limits where required, and guest screening measures to ensure compliance with health guidelines, reflecting a pragmatic response to empirical data rather than unsubstantiated mandates. These elements support a revenue-focused model where sponsorships like offset costs, allowing the CRVA to maintain the aging facility without proportional increases in municipal budgets.

Economic and Cultural Significance

Bojangles Coliseum contributes to 's economy through its role in hosting over 200 ticketed and non-ticketed events annually, including sports, concerts, and community gatherings, as part of the Regional Visitors (CRVA) portfolio. The CRVA, which manages the venue, generated $55.9 million in operating revenue in fiscal year 2024 across its facilities, supporting tourism-related spending that totaled $1.1 billion regionally and sustained thousands of jobs in , event staffing, and concessions. Private partnerships, such as the 2018 deal with Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits valued at $2.85 million over 10 years, supplement public operations and enable without relying solely on subsidies. The venue's renovations, including a $16 million city-funded upgrade in 2014 for seating, scoreboards, and to accommodate professional hockey, have maintained its operational viability amid from newer arenas. Subsequent improvements, such as the BOplex connector adding 35,000 square feet of space completed around 2020, demonstrate through continued event programming and preservation of the facility's utility, countering potential decline in an aging structure built in 1955. These enhancements prioritize functional longevity over expansive public expenditure, with CRVA's aggregate impact underscoring the Coliseum's role in broader economic returns. Culturally, Bojangles Coliseum anchors Charlotte's identity as a longstanding , having hosted more than 20,000 events over 70 years since its 1955 opening as the city's first major civic arena. It preserves mid-20th-century modern architectural heritage—one of few remaining examples in the region—while fostering community traditions through accessible programming that includes , reflecting Southern adaptation of Northern sports into local fabric without supplanting indigenous customs. This sustained presence in Charlotte's East Independence Boulevard area supports neighborhood stability, hosting graduations, family shows, and regional gatherings that reinforce civic continuity rather than yielding to narratives of urban obsolescence.

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