History
Ice company owner Mike Uline built the concrete arena in Northeast Washington, opening it in January 1941 with an Ice-Capades show. It seated about 8,000 and had what was then described as the largest indoor rink in the country.
The Washington Capitols played there in the BAA and early NBA from 1946 until folding in 1951, and the ABA Caps spent the 1969-70 season there. Renamed the Washington Coliseum in 1960, it hosted the Beatles' first American concert on February 11, 1964.
Major events moved to the Capital Centre after 1973, and the arena closed in the mid-1980s and later served as a parking lot. Listed on the National Register in 2007, it was restored and reopened in 2016 as REI's flagship store.
Why it matters: It was the home of one of the original BAA franchises and the venue for the Beatles' first concert in the United States.
Timeline
- January 28, 1941Opening[1]
An Ice-Capades show opened the arena.
- January 20, 1953
The arena hosted one of Dwight Eisenhower's inaugural balls.
- February 11, 1964
The Beatles played their first American concert here.
- May 17, 2007
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- October 21, 2016
REI opened its D.C. flagship store in the renovated building.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | REI flagship store (opened October 2016) and offices[1,3] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Washington Capitols | BAA/NBA · 1946–1951 |
|---|---|
| Washington Caps | ABA · 1969–1970 |
| Washington Lions | AHL/EHL · tenant |
| Georgetown Hoyas | NCAA · 1946–1951 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Official name | Washington Coliseum |
|---|---|
| Other names | Washington Coliseum (1960) |
| Location | 1132-1146 3rd Street NE, Washington, DC, Washington, Washington, D.C.[1,2] |
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | BAA, NBA, ABA, NCAA |
| Opened | January 28, 1941[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | 1985[1] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Original capacity | 8,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | About 8,000 (Wikipedia). |
| Architect | Kubitz & Koenig (per Wikipedia infobox)[1] |
| Owner / operator | Michael J. Uline; later Harry G. Lynn (1959), Waste Management (1994), Douglas Development (2004) |
| Closure | Large events moved to the suburban Capital Centre after 1973, and the aging arena fell out of use. |
Documented details
- The cover photo of Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits was taken at a 1965 concert here.[1]
Sources
- Uline Arena, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, teams
- M.J. Uline Ice Company and Arena (Washington Coliseum), DC Preservation League. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, events, opened
- REI's DC flagship store set to open at site of historic Washington Coliseum, FOX 5 DC. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: current land use, events
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 names Kubitz & Koenig in the infobox but its text cites 1940 coverage naming Joe Harry Lapish as architect.
- Wikipedia gives differing years for the Washington Lions in its infobox and text; years omitted here.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.