History
Opened in 1964 at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, the round Coliseum seated about 11,000 for basketball and was the city's main arena for four decades.
The ABA's Memphis franchise played there as the Pros, Tams and Sounds from 1970 to 1975, and Memphis State basketball used it until 1991. It was also the base of Memphis wrestling, the site of Jerry Lawler's 1982 confrontation with Andy Kaufman, and a stop for Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
The building was listed on the National Register in 2000 but closed in 2006 when Memphis and Shelby County refused to cover operating losses. Preservation and redevelopment proposals have come and gone, and it remains standing and unused.
Why it matters: It hosted Memphis's only ABA franchise and is a National Register-listed example of a mid-century civic arena.
Timeline
- April 15, 1963Groundbreaking[1]
Construction began.
- October 1964Opens[1]
The Coliseum opened at the Mid-South Fairgrounds.
- August 19, 1966The Beatles[1]
The Beatles played two shows.
- 1975ABA team leaves[2]
The Memphis Sounds moved to Baltimore.
- 2000National Register listing[2]
The Coliseum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2006
Local governments declined to cover operating losses.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, unused |
|---|---|
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
We have not verified what occupies the site today. Know? Tell us, with a source.
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Memphis State Tigers men's basketball | NCAA · 1966–1991 |
|---|---|
| Memphis Pros/Tams/Sounds | ABA · 1970–1975 |
| Memphis RiverKings | CHL · 1992–2000 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 996 Early Maxwell Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38104, Memphis, Tennessee[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | ABA, NCAA |
| Opened | October 1964[1] |
| Last used for sports | 2006[1,2] |
| Physical status | Standing, unused |
| Original capacity | 10,085[1] |
| Capacity notes | 10,085 permanent seats; 11,200 for basketball (Wikipedia). |
| Architect | Merrill G. Ehrman (Furbringer and Ehrman); Robert Lee Hall & Associates[1] |
| Closure | Memphis and Shelby County governments declined to fund roughly $1 million a year in operating losses; it also needed ADA upgrades. |
Documented details
- A 2016 assessment put the cost of renovating and restoring the Coliseum at about $23.8 million.[1]
Sources
- Mid-South Coliseum, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, coordinates, events, opened, teams
- Mid-South Coliseum, The Clio. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, events, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Wikipedia says the Coliseum opened in October 1964 (groundbreaking April 1963); The Clio says it was built in 1963.
- The Clio lists the Memphis Wings as 1964-1969; Wikipedia lists the Wings 1964-1967 and the South Stars 1967-1969.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.