Rapides Parish Coliseum
Encyclopedia
The Rapides Parish Coliseum (often called the Rapides Coliseum, as noted on the sign out front) can seat about 6,500 people in the 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) building. Additional space is in the smaller Exhibition Hall, also on the property. Built in 1965, the dome-topped Coliseum has hosted thousands of events, including music concerts, "monster" truck shows, professional wrestling, trade shows and sporting events.
Past sports teams based at the Rapides Coliseum include the Louisiana Rangers, a member of the IPFL, and the Alexandria Warthogs
, a member of the WPHL
.
Additional facilities on the grounds include a 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²) Exhibition Hall often used for trade shows and the 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) Lewis-Odom Agricultural Complex used during livestock auctions and 4-H shows.
Located on Louisiana Highway 28 West in Alexandria, La., with parking for nearly 2000 vehicles, the Coliseum was home to the annual Rapides Parish Fair every October; the fair will move to the LSU AgCenter in Alexandria starting in 2009.
Some of the site's more famous visitors include Lipizzan stallions
(1973), Elvis Presley
(1977), Holiday on Ice
, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1966), Ronald Reagan
(1975), George C. Wallace, Jr. (1976), and Britney Spears
(2002).
In October 2008, a report http://www.thetowntalk.com/assets/pdf/DK1209811024.PDF was produced for the Rapides Parish Police Jury that estimates the total cost of repairs and needed updates to be $10 million dollars.
In April 2009, Rapides Parish voters will find a proposed 1.5-mill ad valorem tax on the ballot. If passed, this new tax is expected to generate an estimated $900,000 annually for a 10-year period to pay to operate and maintain the Coliseum. Priority projects include the electrical system, roof, rest rooms and parking lot.
Recent events staged at the site include the Barnum and Bailey Circus on Dec. 2, 2008, World Wrestling Entertainment in January 2009, and the Gaither Homecoming Tour on March 7, 2009.
It has also hosted the LHSAA Girl's Basketball Championships.
The coliseum was built by Buddy Tudor
's family-owned construction company in Pineville
.
Past sports teams based at the Rapides Coliseum include the Louisiana Rangers, a member of the IPFL, and the Alexandria Warthogs
Alexandria Warthogs
The Warthogs were an ice hockey team based in Alexandria, Louisiana. They played from 1998 to 2000, as a member of the Western Professional Hockey League, in the Rapides Parish Coliseum. The team folded at the end of the 1999-00 season, while the league folded in 2001....
, a member of the WPHL
Western Professional Hockey League
The Western Professional Hockey League is a defunct minor professional ice hockey league.It operated in the United States from 1996 to 2001, with teams in the southern United States, mainly Texas. The league started with six teams in the 1996-1997 season and grew to 18 teams in 1999-2000...
.
Additional facilities on the grounds include a 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²) Exhibition Hall often used for trade shows and the 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) Lewis-Odom Agricultural Complex used during livestock auctions and 4-H shows.
Located on Louisiana Highway 28 West in Alexandria, La., with parking for nearly 2000 vehicles, the Coliseum was home to the annual Rapides Parish Fair every October; the fair will move to the LSU AgCenter in Alexandria starting in 2009.
Some of the site's more famous visitors include Lipizzan stallions
Lipizzan
The Lipizzan or Lipizzaner , is a breed of horse closely associated with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, where the finest representatives demonstrate the haute école or "high school" movements of classical dressage, including the highly controlled, stylized jumps and other movements...
(1973), Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
(1977), Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1966), Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
(1975), George C. Wallace, Jr. (1976), and Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
(2002).
In October 2008, a report http://www.thetowntalk.com/assets/pdf/DK1209811024.PDF was produced for the Rapides Parish Police Jury that estimates the total cost of repairs and needed updates to be $10 million dollars.
In April 2009, Rapides Parish voters will find a proposed 1.5-mill ad valorem tax on the ballot. If passed, this new tax is expected to generate an estimated $900,000 annually for a 10-year period to pay to operate and maintain the Coliseum. Priority projects include the electrical system, roof, rest rooms and parking lot.
Recent events staged at the site include the Barnum and Bailey Circus on Dec. 2, 2008, World Wrestling Entertainment in January 2009, and the Gaither Homecoming Tour on March 7, 2009.
It has also hosted the LHSAA Girl's Basketball Championships.
The coliseum was built by Buddy Tudor
Buddy Tudor
Robert Beall Tudor, Jr., known as Buddy Tudor , was a general contractor and real estate developer in Pineville, Louisiana, whose family-owned Tudor Construction Company and Tudor Enterprises together surpassed a billion dollars in development...
's family-owned construction company in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
.