- McElroy Auditorium
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Aerial view of the National Cattle Congress area; McElroy is the oval-shaped building.
McElroy Auditorium, also known as the Hippodrome, is a 6,630 permanent seat multipurpose arena located in Waterloo, Iowa. The auditorium was built in 1919 and renovated in 1936, when the roof was raised, floor was excavated and additional seating was added.
Contents
Arena Design
The auditorium has been in continuous operation since 1919, making it one of the oldest arenas in the country. The arena contains 260 classic arena style box seats and a 4,000-square-foot (370 m2) art deco lobby. With chairs placed on the arena floor, the arena holds up to 8,735 seated for concerts depending on stage configuration. There are four large concession areas and a 150-seat restaurant. For concerts, remote beverage stations are added along with an old milk truck that has been restored into a "hot rod" style beer truck with 8 tappers. There are 6 large modern dressing rooms and 5 large box office windows.
Usage
National Cattle Congress
The arena style auditorium, part of the National Cattle Congress complex, is used for trade shows, concerts, conventions, livestock shows, rodeos, meetings, sporting events and more. It housed the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks from their inception in 1962 until Young Arena opened in 1995 and the Iowa Stars (1969-70) Central Professional Hockey League during the 1969-70 season. It also hosted the Waterloo Hawks of the NBL and NBA in the 1940s and 1950s.
As a concert venue
The roof design and construction materials along with the room design make the venue well-suited for concerts acoustically. It has hosted a variety of acts such as Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, Jackie Gleason, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, KISS, Aerosmith, Rush, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Nelly, Rob Zombie, Disturbed and among others. New management in 2011 has revitalized the venue and is now one of the busiest large venues in the Midwest.
Photo Gallery
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A view from the rear of the auditorium looking towards the stage
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A view from the stage looking towards the rear
External Links
National Cattle Congress NCC Facebook Page
Coordinates: 42°30′35″N 92°22′25″W / 42.50972°N 92.37361°W
Categories:- Indoor arenas in the United States
- Convention centers in Iowa
- Sports venues in Iowa
- Waterloo, Iowa
- National Basketball League (United States) venues
- Buildings and structures in Black Hawk County, Iowa
- Visitor attractions in Black Hawk County, Iowa
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