History
Opened in February 1926 on North Main Street, the 5,300-seat barn became the home of the Providence Reds, who played there until 1972 and won several Calder Cups.
The Steamrollers were charter members of the Basketball Association of America and played there from 1946 to 1949. Rocky Marciano fought 28 of his professional bouts there, and Providence College hockey used it into the 1970s.
After the Reds moved to the downtown Civic Center the building hosted tennis, concerts and a roller disco before being demolished in 1989. The site is now parking for The Miriam Hospital.
Why it matters: It was home to one of the original BAA franchises and to one of the longest-running minor-league hockey clubs.
Timeline
- February 18, 1926
An ice show drew an overflow crowd.
- 1946
The Steamrollers began play in the new Basketball Association of America.
- 1972
The Reds moved to the new Providence Civic Center.
- 1989
The building was torn down.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Parking for The Miriam Hospital[1,2] |
| Surviving remnants | A 2009 plaque by the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society marks the site |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Providence Reds | AHL · 1926–1972 |
|---|---|
| Providence Steamrollers | BAA · 1946–1949 |
| Providence College Friars | NCAA · 1952–1973 · 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 | 1111 North Main Street, Providence, RI, Providence, Rhode Island[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Hockey, Basketball, Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | BAA, NCAA |
| Opened | February 18, 1926[1,2] |
| Demolished | 1989[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 5,300[1] |
| Owner / operator | Hubert Milot; Louis A. R. Pieri (1938-1967) |
| Closure | Its main tenants moved to the Providence Civic Center in the early 1970s; later uses dwindled before demolition. |
Documented details
- Rocky Marciano fought 28 of his 49 professional bouts at the Auditorium.[1]
Sources
- Rhode Island Auditorium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, teams
- Forgotten Stadiums: Rhode Island Auditorium, Stadium Journey. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, current land use, demolished, opened, 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.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.