70 YEARS OF HISTORY

Since 1955, Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium have hosted more than 20,000 events—from sports and symphonies to rock shows and comedy legends. And after 70 years, the shows go on.

1955

Opened

20,000+

Events

Iconic Venues

Celebrate 70 Years of Memories

Whether it was your first concert, a family graduation or a championship game, these venues have been the backdrop for defining moments across generations. Scroll down to explore the decades and discover the performances, milestones and memories that have shaped the last 70 years.

70TH ANNIVERSARY

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

1950s

When the venues opened in September 1955, the coliseum was the largest unsupported steel dome in the world at 332 feet. Within the first year of opening, the auditorium hosted its first symphony performance, ballet, concert, opera, fashion show and graduation, while the coliseum hosted many sporting events, figure skating shows, consumer events, graduations and public ice skating.

Notable Acts & Moments:

Elvis Presley
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Ice Capades
Fort Wayne Pistons vs Boston Celtics
Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus
Dick Clark Caravan Show
Baltimore Clippers Hockey Game

1960s

Before Charlotte had its own professional basketball team, the NBA and college teams made many appearances at the coliseum. And hockey made a name for itself in the early years of the coliseum, which served as the Charlotte Checkers home venue from 1956-1977. Major performers like Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong and Jimi Hendrix added Charlotte to their tours.

Notable Acts & Moments:

Aretha Franklin
Johnny Cash
Carol Channing
Ray Charles
Liberace
Otis Redding

1970s

By the ‘70s, the venues had become regular stops for top nationally touring acts, including multiple shows from Elvis Presley, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye and KISS. Former President Richard Nixon and evangelist Billy Graham spoke here in 1971. The Charlotte Checkers won both the EHL championship (1971, 1972) and the SHL championship (1975, 1976).

Notable Acts & Moments:

Stevie Wonder
Led Zeppelin
KISS
Elton John
Jackson 5
Rolling Stones

1980s

Top touring musicians like Prince, Luther Vandross, Van Halen, Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne continued to visit the venues in the ‘80s. Wrestling took center stage at the coliseum, becoming a popular spectator sport in the city. The coliseum temporarily closed for updates from 1988-1993.

Notable Acts & Moments:

Tina Turner
AC/DC
David Copperfield
Stevie Nicks
Diana Ross
Cyndi Lauper
World Championship Wrestling

1990s

The coliseum reopened in 1993 with the Charlotte Checkers as the primary tenant. They won the ECHL title in 1996. Numerous World Championship Wrestling events came to the coliseum. Laughs echoed in the auditorium during comedy shows with Jay Leno, Jamie Foxx, Jeff Foxworthy and Bernie Mac, while fans sang along to popular songs from the Backstreet Boys, Brian McKnight and Third Eye Blind.

Notable Acts & Moments:

Backstreet Boys
Tony Bennett
Bob Dylan
Beach Boys
Patti LaBelle
Smashing Pumpkins
Sting

2000s

This decade continued to bring a multitude of diverse events to the venues, including concerts, sporting events, family shows, comedy shows, Broadway shows, speakers, graduations and more. Well-known performers like Jerry Seinfeld, John Legend and Michael Bublé made appearances here. In 2005, the Charlotte Checkers moved to the new arena in Uptown.

Notable Acts & Moments:

Prince
B.B. King
John Prine
George Carlin
Mary J. Blige
Bon Jovi
Chris Rock
Alicia Keys

2010s

The coliseum underwent a major renovation in 2015-2016. The Avett Brothers played multiple sold out New Year’s Eve shows at the coliseum, while major Broadway shows like Wicked sold out at the auditorium. In 2015, the Charlotte Checkers returned home to the coliseum. They won the AHL Calder Cup championship in 2019. The coliseum also hosted several NBA All-Star events that year.

Notable Acts & Moments: