- Denver Auditorium Arena
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Auditorium Arena Location 14th and Arapahoe Streets, Denver, Colorado 80204 Coordinates 39°44′40″N 104°59′51″W / 39.74444°N 104.9975°WCoordinates: 39°44′40″N 104°59′51″W / 39.74444°N 104.9975°W Broke ground 1908 Opened July 7, 1908 Demolished 1990 Owner City and County of Denver Operator City and County of Denver Surface Multi-Surface Architect Robert Willison Capacity 12,500 (original), 6,841 (renovated) Tenants Denver Nuggets (NBL/NBA) (1948–1950)
Denver Nuggets (ABA) (1967–1975)Denver Auditorium Arena was an indoor arena located at the corner of 13th and Champa Streets in Denver, Colorado. It was constructed as the Denver Municipal Auditorium in 1908 during the administration of Denver Mayor Robert W. Speer. The building was opened on July 7, 1908, and was the site of the 1908 Democratic National Convention.
With a capacity of 12,500, the building was at the time of its opening the second largest in America to Madison Square Garden.[1] Initially, the venue was configured and equipped to hold numerous kinds of events including theater, opera, conventions, sporting events, exhibitions, concerts, and more. Renovations were made to the building in the 1940s, and in 1953 the southern half of the building was converted into the Auditorium Arena, a pure sporting venue with seating capacity of 6,841. It hosted the ABA's Denver Rockets, later the Denver Nuggets, from 1967 until they left for McNichols Sports Arena in 1975.
The Auditorium Arena was an annual host of the Colorado high school state basketball tournament, primarily for the smaller-enrollment classifications.
The Auditorium Arena was home to the Denver Comets of the professional International Volleyball Association from 1977-1980, and home to the Denver Racquets of World Team Tennis from 1974-1975.
On December 26, 1968, the rock group Led Zeppelin played their first concert in the United States at the Auditorium Arena.[1]
In the last several years of its existence, the building was a popular venue for professional wrestling, hosting both AWA and WWF events.
In 1990 the building was remodeled into the Temple Hoyne Buell Theater.
References
Events and tenants Preceded by
St. Louis ColiseumHost of the
Democratic National Convention
1908Succeeded by
5th Maryland Regiment ArmoryPreceded by
First arenaHome of the
Denver Nuggets (original)
1948 – 1950Succeeded by
DefunctPreceded by
NoneHome of the
Denver Rockets/Denver Nuggets
1967 – 1975Succeeded by
McNichols Sports ArenaDenver Nuggets The Franchise Arenas Head Coaches Retired Numbers D-League Affiliate Culture Media Categories:- American Basketball Association venues
- Basketball venues in Colorado
- Sports venues in Denver, Colorado
- Denver Nuggets arenas
- Former music venues
- Defunct National Basketball Association venues
- Demolished sports venues in the United States
- Event venues established in 1908
- National Basketball League (United States) venues
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