Cow Palace
Encyclopedia
Cow Palace is an indoor arena, in Daly City, California
, situated on the city's border with neighboring San Francisco, notable as a sporting arena.
of the NBA
from 1962 to 1964 and again from 1966 to 1971. The Warriors temporarily returned to the Cow Palace to host the 1975 NBA Finals
due to the fact that the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena was booked for an Ice Follies
performance. It was the site of both the 1956 Republican National Convention
, and the 1964 Republican National Convention
. It also hosted the San Jose Sharks
of the NHL
from 1991 to 1993 until the San Jose Arena was built. During the 1960s and 1970s, the SF Examiner Games, a world-class indoor track and field meet, was held annually at the Cow Palace. Additionally it hosted the Bay Bombers of the Roller Derby
; the Derby's world championship playoffs were held at the Cow Palace every fall beginning from 1959 through 1973, when the organization was disbanded. The arena seats 11,089 for ice hockey
and 12,953 for basketball
. It has also been the home of the annual Grand National Rodeo
, Horse & Stock Show since 1941 (except for a break from 1942 to 1945 due to World War II
). The venue hosted the 1960 men's NCAA basketball Final Four
and the 1967 NBA All-Star Game
.
. Newspaper records show that the name "Cow Palace" was used as early as May 1935. One story for how the current name came about tells of a newspaper editorial that wondered aloud "Why, when people are starving, should money be spent on a "palace for cows?" Thus, the Cow Palace was born.
, though, the arena was used for processing soldiers bound for the Pacific Theater
. In the following years, it hosted innumerable hockey and basketball games, wrestling and boxing matches, concerts, Roller derby
and political events, most notably the 1956 and 1964 Republican National Convention
s. The arena is still used for the Grand National Rodeo
today and other events.
called the Cow Palace home from 1962-1964 and from 1966-1971. The franchise then moved across the bay to the new Oakland Coliseum Arena and changed their moniker to "Golden State Warriors."
The Warriors lost to the Boston Celtics
in the 1964 NBA Finals
. The 1967 NBA Finals
between Golden State and the Philadelphia 76ers
saw three games held at the Cow Palace. The two NBA Finals games hosted by the Warriors in their 1974-75 championship season, because of other events at the Oakland Coliseum, were also held at the Cow Palace.
The San Francisco Shamrocks (PHL) called the Cow Palace home from 1977-1979. They won the championship their first season, but ended up disbanding in January 1979 part way through their second season.
The Major Indoor Soccer League came to the Cow Palace for the 1980-81 season, when David Schoenstadt relocated his Detroit Lightning
there, renaming them the San Francisco Fog
. After a dismal season with an 11-29 record and less than a thousand fans per game, Schoenstadt moved the franchise again, this time to Kemper Arena
, where the team flourished as the Kansas City Comets
.
More recently, the NHL
's San Jose Sharks
played their first two seasons of existence at the Cow Palace, although the NHL had previously rejected the building in 1967 as a home for the expansion California Seals franchise. From 1991 to 1993, the Sharks sold out every game played at the building, although its capacity for hockey games was just over 11,000. It was one of the last buildings to house a smaller than NHL-standard rink.
San Jose lost their first game at the Cow Palace to the Vancouver Canucks
5-2 on October 5, 1991. Wayne Presley
scored the first Sharks goal at the arena. Three nights later, San Jose won their first game in franchise history there, a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames
.
The Sharks second season in the Cow Palace was highlighted by a 17 game losing streak and a league record 71 losses. The Sharks ended their run at the Cow Palace at the conclusion of the 1992-93 season with a 3-2 loss to eventual Campbell Conference champion Los Angeles
on April 10, 1993. The team moved to the new San Jose Arena (now the HP Pavilion at San Jose) to start 1993-94 after going 22-56-4 at their first home.
At the Cow Palace, the Sharks recorded the franchise's first win, shutout (Arturs Irbe
) and hat trick (Rob Gaudreau
). The team also introduced their mascot, SJ Sharkie, on the Cow Palace ice in mid-1992 when he climbed out of the front of a Zamboni
. He later bungee jumped from the rafters near the end of the 1st season.
In 1995, the IHL's San Francisco Spiders
played their only season at the Cow Palace. Ironically, several players who played for the Sharks during their Cow Palace years suited up for the Spiders that year. Former Shark defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh actually scored the first goal in team history. The team was bounced in the first round of the 1996 Turner Cup
Playoffs despite goaltender Stephane Beauregard
winning the league's MVP that season. Due to poor attendance, the team ceased operations at the end of the 1995-96 season.
The Palace has also hosted wrestling events, most notably WCW's Superbrawl
in 1997, 1998, and 2000 and WWE's No Way Out
in 2004.
In 2010, the Cow Palace once again had a regular sports tenant when the American Indoor Football Association's San Jose Wolves
kicked off. However, the next year they would move to Stockton
as the independent Stockton Wolves.
In fall of 2012, pro hockey will return to the Cow Palace after a 16-year hiatus with the arrival of the ECHL
's San Francisco Bulls
.
opened their first North American concert tour, playing at the Cow Palace.
During a 1973 concert by The Who
, their drummer Keith Moon
, passed out from an overdose of horse tranquilizers. A fan of the band, Scot Halpin
, completed the group's set that evening.
The Allman Brothers Band
played there on New Year's Eve, 1973, with The Grateful Dead
members sitting in. The Grateful Dead also held a double bill, with Santana
, on New Year's Eve 1976 and released a live CD, titled Live at the Cow Palace
. They also recorded Dick's Picks Volume 24
here on March 23, 1974.
KISS and Cheap Trick played the Cow Palace on August 16, 1977. Kiss dedicated Rock and Roll all Night to Elvis.
On April 13, 1975 Pink Floyd
performed here during their Wish You Were Here Tour. The set list included a performance of their entire Dark Side of the Moon album.
A majority of the songs on the album, Live Rust
and the concert film, "Rust Never Sleeps", by Neil Young
& Crazy Horse
, were recorded during a concert at the Cow Palace on October 22, 1978.
In February 1979, Neil Diamond
fell onstage and couldn't get up. Less than two days later, he underwent 14 hours of delicate surgery, to remove a nonmalignant tumor, located dangerously close to his spine.
Prince brought his Purple Rain tour to the Cow Palace for 6 sold out nights from February 27, 1985 - March 5, 1985. Sheila E. was the opening act. On the tickets it said "Wear Purple".
The arena played host to Amnesty International
's A Conspiracy of Hope Benefit Concert on June 4, 1986. The show was headlined by U2
and Sting and also featured Bryan Adams
, Jackson Browne
, Peter Gabriel
, Lou Reed
, Joan Baez
and The Neville Brothers
.
Fleetwood Mac
filmed both 12-13 December 1987 concerts at the Palace for a DVD
, later released in 1988.
Live 105's 10-for-10 (10 bands for 10 bucks) was held there in the 1990s, featuring Beck
, Orbital
, CAKE
and The Chemical Brothers
, as well as 6 other bands.
The Cow Palace is officially the 1-A District Agricultural Association, a State agency of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Division of Fairs and Expositions. It has extensive stable and barn facilities for animal events, which are used for the annual Grand National Rodeo
and occasionally for other events.
advanced legislation to allow Daly City to purchase the Cow Palace from California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Fairs and Expositions in order to develop housing, basic amenities, and possibly a school for the surrounding area. However, the legislation was opposed by groups that regularly use the venue and other California citizens outside Daly City.
On September 9, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
vetoed this proposed sale of the Cow Palace overflow parking lot. Following the 2008 publicity associated with Leland Yee's failed bill, the Cow Palace board of directors entered exclusive negotiations with Cypress Equities for a 60-year lease to develop the 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) proposed by Daly City.
Due to the lack of progress, this agreement was subsequently terminated and negotiations then commenced with a Marin County based developer in early 2010.
Starting in the 2012-2013 season, the Cow Palace will be home to the ECHL's San Franciso Bulls.
.
Daly City, California
Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
, situated on the city's border with neighboring San Francisco, notable as a sporting arena.
History
Completed in 1941, it hosted the San Francisco WarriorsGolden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
from 1962 to 1964 and again from 1966 to 1971. The Warriors temporarily returned to the Cow Palace to host the 1975 NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
due to the fact that the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena was booked for an Ice Follies
Ice Follies
Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies was a touring ice show featuring elaborate production numbers, similar in concept to Ice Capades. It was founded in 1937 by Eddie Shipstad, Roy Shipstad, and Oscar Johnson, who also skated in the show. In later years, Olympic skaters such as Donald Jackson, Barbara...
performance. It was the site of both the 1956 Republican National Convention
1956 Republican National Convention
The 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and former speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. served as...
, and the 1964 Republican National Convention
1964 Republican National Convention
The 1964 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States took place in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, on July 13 to July 16, 1964. Before 1964, there had only been one national Republican convention on the West Coast...
. It also hosted the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
from 1991 to 1993 until the San Jose Arena was built. During the 1960s and 1970s, the SF Examiner Games, a world-class indoor track and field meet, was held annually at the Cow Palace. Additionally it hosted the Bay Bombers of the Roller Derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
; the Derby's world championship playoffs were held at the Cow Palace every fall beginning from 1959 through 1973, when the organization was disbanded. The arena seats 11,089 for ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and 12,953 for basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. It has also been the home of the annual Grand National Rodeo
Grand National Rodeo
The Grand National Rodeo, Horse, and Stock Show is one of the largest rodeo events in the United States. Held annually in the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the annual Grand National brings rodeo to an urban audience. The Grand National is also a county agricultural fair, run by the California...
, Horse & Stock Show since 1941 (except for a break from 1942 to 1945 due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
). The venue hosted the 1960 men's NCAA basketball Final Four
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
and the 1967 NBA All-Star Game
1967 NBA All-Star Game
The 1967 NBA All-Star Game was the 17th All-Star Game played January 10, 1967 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California. The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars, 135-120...
.
Behind the name
The idea for the arena was originally conceived as the result of the popularity of the livestock pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International ExpositionPanama-Pacific International Exposition (1915)
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California between February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery...
. Newspaper records show that the name "Cow Palace" was used as early as May 1935. One story for how the current name came about tells of a newspaper editorial that wondered aloud "Why, when people are starving, should money be spent on a "palace for cows?" Thus, the Cow Palace was born.
During World War II
The arena opened in April, 1941. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, though, the arena was used for processing soldiers bound for the Pacific Theater
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
. In the following years, it hosted innumerable hockey and basketball games, wrestling and boxing matches, concerts, Roller derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
and political events, most notably the 1956 and 1964 Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s. The arena is still used for the Grand National Rodeo
Grand National Rodeo
The Grand National Rodeo, Horse, and Stock Show is one of the largest rodeo events in the United States. Held annually in the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the annual Grand National brings rodeo to an urban audience. The Grand National is also a county agricultural fair, run by the California...
today and other events.
Sports
The San Francisco Warriors of the National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
called the Cow Palace home from 1962-1964 and from 1966-1971. The franchise then moved across the bay to the new Oakland Coliseum Arena and changed their moniker to "Golden State Warriors."
The Warriors lost to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the 1964 NBA Finals
1964 NBA Finals
The 1964 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1963-64 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 1964 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Francisco Warriors and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics...
. The 1967 NBA Finals
1967 NBA Finals
The 1967 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1966-67 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 1967 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Francisco Warriors and the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia...
between Golden State and the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
saw three games held at the Cow Palace. The two NBA Finals games hosted by the Warriors in their 1974-75 championship season, because of other events at the Oakland Coliseum, were also held at the Cow Palace.
The San Francisco Shamrocks (PHL) called the Cow Palace home from 1977-1979. They won the championship their first season, but ended up disbanding in January 1979 part way through their second season.
The Major Indoor Soccer League came to the Cow Palace for the 1980-81 season, when David Schoenstadt relocated his Detroit Lightning
Detroit Lightning
The Detroit Lightning was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1979-1980. The Lightning finished that season at 15-17...
there, renaming them the San Francisco Fog
San Francisco Fog (MISL)
The San Francisco Fog was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1980-1981.-History:The Fog, which played their home games at the Cow Palace, finished their single season of existence at 11-29...
. After a dismal season with an 11-29 record and less than a thousand fans per game, Schoenstadt moved the franchise again, this time to Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena is a 19,500 seat indoor arena, in Kansas City, Missouri.It is named for R. Crosby Kemper Sr., a member of the powerful Kemper financial clan and who donated $3.2 million, from his estate for the arena...
, where the team flourished as the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
.
More recently, the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
played their first two seasons of existence at the Cow Palace, although the NHL had previously rejected the building in 1967 as a home for the expansion California Seals franchise. From 1991 to 1993, the Sharks sold out every game played at the building, although its capacity for hockey games was just over 11,000. It was one of the last buildings to house a smaller than NHL-standard rink.
San Jose lost their first game at the Cow Palace to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
5-2 on October 5, 1991. Wayne Presley
Wayne Presley
Wayne Presley is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1984–85 until 1995–96....
scored the first Sharks goal at the arena. Three nights later, San Jose won their first game in franchise history there, a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
.
The Sharks second season in the Cow Palace was highlighted by a 17 game losing streak and a league record 71 losses. The Sharks ended their run at the Cow Palace at the conclusion of the 1992-93 season with a 3-2 loss to eventual Campbell Conference champion Los Angeles
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on April 10, 1993. The team moved to the new San Jose Arena (now the HP Pavilion at San Jose) to start 1993-94 after going 22-56-4 at their first home.
At the Cow Palace, the Sharks recorded the franchise's first win, shutout (Arturs Irbe
Arturs Irbe
Artūrs Irbe is a former Soviet and Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender. He has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals...
) and hat trick (Rob Gaudreau
Rob Gaudreau
Robert Rene Gaudreau is an American retired professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Gaudreau was drafted 172nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and started his National Hockey League career with the San Jose Sharks in 1992...
). The team also introduced their mascot, SJ Sharkie, on the Cow Palace ice in mid-1992 when he climbed out of the front of a Zamboni
Ice resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
. He later bungee jumped from the rafters near the end of the 1st season.
In 1995, the IHL's San Francisco Spiders
San Francisco Spiders
The San Francisco Spiders were a professional ice hockey team based in Daly City, California. They were members of the South Division of the former International Hockey League...
played their only season at the Cow Palace. Ironically, several players who played for the Sharks during their Cow Palace years suited up for the Spiders that year. Former Shark defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh actually scored the first goal in team history. The team was bounced in the first round of the 1996 Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
Playoffs despite goaltender Stephane Beauregard
Stephane Beauregard
Stephane Beauregard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Winnipeg Jets 3rd choice, 52nd overall, in 1988 Entry Draft. Traded to Buffalo Sabres for Christian Ruuttu and future considerations, June 15, 1992...
winning the league's MVP that season. Due to poor attendance, the team ceased operations at the end of the 1995-96 season.
The Palace has also hosted wrestling events, most notably WCW's Superbrawl
SuperBrawl
SuperBrawl was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view in World Championship Wrestling during the month of February from 1991 through 2001. Along with Starrcade, Bash at the Beach, The Great American Bash and Halloween Havoc, SuperBrawl was booked to be one of WCW's flagship pay-per-views....
in 1997, 1998, and 2000 and WWE's No Way Out
WWE No Way Out
No Way Out was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every February by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1998, with its inaugural event produced as an In Your House event in February of that year. The event in 2000 was rebranded...
in 2004.
In 2010, the Cow Palace once again had a regular sports tenant when the American Indoor Football Association's San Jose Wolves
San Jose Wolves
The Stockton Wolves are a professional indoor football team that currently plays an independent schedule. The Wolves are based in Stockton, California. As the San Jose Wolves, the team played its home games at the Cow Palace, located in Daly City...
kicked off. However, the next year they would move to Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
as the independent Stockton Wolves.
In fall of 2012, pro hockey will return to the Cow Palace after a 16-year hiatus with the arrival of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
's San Francisco Bulls
San Francisco Bulls
The San Francisco Bulls is a professional ice hockey team of the ECHL located in Daly City, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area market...
.
Concerts
On 19 August 1964, The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
opened their first North American concert tour, playing at the Cow Palace.
During a 1973 concert by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, their drummer Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
, passed out from an overdose of horse tranquilizers. A fan of the band, Scot Halpin
Scot Halpin
Thomas Scot Halpin was an artist and musician noted for sitting in for The Who's Keith Moon during a rock concert at the Cow Palace in San Francisco...
, completed the group's set that evening.
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
played there on New Year's Eve, 1973, with The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
members sitting in. The Grateful Dead also held a double bill, with Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, on New Year's Eve 1976 and released a live CD, titled Live at the Cow Palace
Live at the Cow Palace
Live at the Cow Palace is a live album by the American rock band the Grateful Dead. It was recorded at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, on New Year's Eve, 1976. Released in 2007, it was the first Grateful Dead album produced under contract with Rhino Records...
. They also recorded Dick's Picks Volume 24
Dick's Picks Volume 24
Dick's Picks Volume 24 is the twenty-fourth installment of the popular Grateful Dead archival series. It documents most of the concert from 3/23/74 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. The two-disc vault release is mastered in HDCD...
here on March 23, 1974.
KISS and Cheap Trick played the Cow Palace on August 16, 1977. Kiss dedicated Rock and Roll all Night to Elvis.
On April 13, 1975 Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
performed here during their Wish You Were Here Tour. The set list included a performance of their entire Dark Side of the Moon album.
A majority of the songs on the album, Live Rust
Live Rust
Live Rust is a live album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, recorded during his fall 1978 Rust Never Sleeps tour. The show at the Cow Palace, San Francisco was filmed and was the performance used in the concert film, Rust Never Sleeps; however, the album Live Rust was composed of performances...
and the concert film, "Rust Never Sleeps", by Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
& Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse was a Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota. He took up arms against the U.S...
, were recorded during a concert at the Cow Palace on October 22, 1978.
In February 1979, Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
fell onstage and couldn't get up. Less than two days later, he underwent 14 hours of delicate surgery, to remove a nonmalignant tumor, located dangerously close to his spine.
Prince brought his Purple Rain tour to the Cow Palace for 6 sold out nights from February 27, 1985 - March 5, 1985. Sheila E. was the opening act. On the tickets it said "Wear Purple".
The arena played host to Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
's A Conspiracy of Hope Benefit Concert on June 4, 1986. The show was headlined by U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and Sting and also featured Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
and The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
.
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
filmed both 12-13 December 1987 concerts at the Palace for a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, later released in 1988.
Live 105's 10-for-10 (10 bands for 10 bucks) was held there in the 1990s, featuring Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
, CAKE
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
and The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
, as well as 6 other bands.
Rodeos and livestock expositions
Grand National Rodeo
The Grand National Rodeo, Horse, and Stock Show is one of the largest rodeo events in the United States. Held annually in the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the annual Grand National brings rodeo to an urban audience. The Grand National is also a county agricultural fair, run by the California...
and occasionally for other events.
Recent developments
In the spring of 2008, State Senator Leland YeeLeland Yee
Leland Yee is a California State Senator in District 8 which represents the western half of San Francisco and most of San Mateo County. Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a California State Assemblyman, Supervisor of San Francisco's Sunset District, and was a member and President of the San...
advanced legislation to allow Daly City to purchase the Cow Palace from California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Fairs and Expositions in order to develop housing, basic amenities, and possibly a school for the surrounding area. However, the legislation was opposed by groups that regularly use the venue and other California citizens outside Daly City.
On September 9, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
vetoed this proposed sale of the Cow Palace overflow parking lot. Following the 2008 publicity associated with Leland Yee's failed bill, the Cow Palace board of directors entered exclusive negotiations with Cypress Equities for a 60-year lease to develop the 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) proposed by Daly City.
Due to the lack of progress, this agreement was subsequently terminated and negotiations then commenced with a Marin County based developer in early 2010.
Starting in the 2012-2013 season, the Cow Palace will be home to the ECHL's San Franciso Bulls.
Location
The Cow Palace has a Daly City address, and except for the very northwest corner of the parking lot which is across the San Francisco border, it lies entirely within Daly CityDaly City, California
Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
.