Hello Friday.
April 26 2024
Before the future of the Richmond Coliseum is decided, RICtoday is looking into the arena’s 4-decade history, from the multiple city sports teams who have called it home to the most notable performers it has hosted since its opening in 1971.
The Coliseum played host to many CAA championship games. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons, Tiger316 shot in 2010
🏀 Basketball
- Site of VCU men’s basketball games until the Siegel Center was built in 1999
- Part-time home of the Virginia Squires until the NBA was created in 1976
- Decades of MEAC + CAA Championships
- Hosted the Women’s Basketball NCAA Division I Championship in 1994
💪 Professional Wrestling
- Hosted National Wrestling Association events
- WWF In Your House 15 in 1997
- WWE Friday Night Smackdown, WWE Raw with Steve Austin + John Cena
🏒 Hockey
- SPHL Richmond Riverdogs/Renegades played here until 2009
- Indoor Football Association Richmond Raiders used the same field space for 5 years
🤠 Bull Riding
- The Professional Bull Riders hosted its Bud Light Cup Series 1997-1999
- Returned for minor events in 2007
🎶 Concerts
- The Jackson 5 was the first band to play the Coliseum on Dec. 31, 1971 ― the brothers’ first tour. The band’s chart topper “ABC” was released a year prior.
- Elvis Presley performed on June 29, 1976, just over a year before his passing. He closed the concert with “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”
- Snoop Dogg played the last official concert at the Coliseum on Dec. 6, 2018, 47 years after the Jackson 5 show. He closed with “Young, Wild & Free.”
The Richmond Coliseum had a capacity over 13,000 for concerts. \ Giphy via CBS6 Video Vault
The last event was the Harlem Globetrotters on Dec. 28, 2018, ahead of its official closure in Feb. 2019. Now, the sights + sounds of a packed Coliseum have become a thing of the past.
Click to check out the pending redevelopment details for the Coliseum + land around it as a part of the Richmond 300 Master Plan. There, you can see what’s coming to City Center in the next decade and a half.
Do you have a favorite memory from the Coliseum?
We would love to hear your story.
Today
- Paint + Play Drop Off Night | Fri., Oct. 8 | 6-9 p.m. | Off the Wall Indoor Bounce + Party Place, 9201 Midlothian Tpk. | $25 | Drop off your little one so you can have a night out while they play.
- Jazz Night | Fri., Oct. 8 | 8 p.m. | Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St. | Free | Enjoy a cold drink with some chill vibes by Ayinde Williams. 🎷
Saturday
- Marvel Years & Maddy O’Neal | Sat., Oct. 9 | 9 p.m. | The Canal Club, E. 1545 Cary St. | $20+ | Presented by Legacy Concerts + featuring Phyphr and Boogie Knights. 🎶
- Slingshot on Mars | Sat., Oct. 9 | 7 p.m. | Main Line Brewery, 1603 Ownby Ln. | Free | Jam out with this 4-piece band, with food from Auntie Ning’s. 🍺
Sunday
- The Riverbreaks, The Mitras, Rough Age | Sun., Oct. 10 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall, 623 E. Main St. | $10 | A night of raw + rowdy rock.
- RVAFW Finale Runway Fashion Show | Sun., Oct. 10 | 5-10 p.m. | Bon Secours Training Center, 2401 W. Leigh St. | 30+ | Fashion Week concludes with a runway show, featuring music by DJ Mistro + food from Mama J’s.
Monday
Tuesday
- MasterChef Live! | Tues., Oct. 12 | 7 p.m. | Carpenter Theatre | $35+ | Watch past MasterChef + Masterchef Jr. contestants compete in culinary challenges live on stage. 🍽
Wednesday
- Clueless Mystery Club | Wed., Oct. 13 | 5:30 p.m. | Book People Richmond, 536 Granite Ave. | Free | This month’s novel to discuss is “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley.
Thursday
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
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Weather
- 79º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Sports
- The Richmond Kickers soccer team could be heading to the USL League 1 playoffs after its third straight victory Wednesday. The win pushed them into 5th place, with 4 games to go in the regular season. The team's next game is on the road against North Texas FC on Sun., Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ⚽️ (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Jobs
- The Science Museum of Virginia is hiring for several staff positions right now. Current openings include director of operations, gallery educator + grounds maintenance worker. Apply through the state government website here.
Drink
- The Poe Museum is celebrating the Halloween spirit by bringing back Unhappy Hour on Tues., Oct. 26 starting at 6 p.m. Participate in a costume contest and try all sorts of local libations. The band The Embalmers will also play. Tickets are $8. 🍷
Development
- An ice tournament facility in Chesterfield is now underway after developers bought a property off Midlothian Parkway called Spring Rock Green. Managers say it will have space for 2 NHL-sized ice rinks for youth hockey + figure skating events. County officials say construction should start Summer 2022. (NBC12)
State
- The Virginia Department of Elections is reminding absentee voters that they must have a witness signature to complete their 2021 General Election ballot. Completed ballots must be received by local registrars by Fri., Nov. 5 at noon. You can also deliver your ballot to the general registrar’s office or drop-off location on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 2. 🗳 (NBC12)
Outdoors
- Maymont is preparing for Garden Glow and needs volunteers for Oct. 13 + 14 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Participants will help set up the Woodland Path and Japanese Garden. Sign up to volunteer or buy tickets to the event, which begins Fri., Oct. 15.
Health
- VCU’s Massey Cancer Center is the first in the state of Virginia to use a treatment to allow surgeons to save breast cancer patients' lymph nodes. The process uses an FDA-approved substance called Magtrace, which reduces the risk of developing lymphedema — which is what happens when fluid gathers in the arms over time. (VCU Health)
Coronavirus
- The Virginia Department of Health will reopen the Richmond Raceway as a vaccination site starting Tues., Oct. 12. It will be open from Mon.-Sat. from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. All 3 vaccine options will be available, as well as Pfizer booster shots.
Arts
- The Library of Virginia + the VMFA have announced the winner of the annual Art in Literature Mary Lynn Kotz Award. The judges chose “Continuum: Native North American Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art” by Gaylord Torrence. He will be recognized with a book signing event at the VMFA next Friday. Tickets are $8. 📚
Film
- The Byrd Theatre will air 2 classic silent horror films, “Phantom of the Opera” + “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” with a live organist on Sun., Oct. 24 at 3 and 7 p.m. respectively. Michael Britt will play the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ as the score for both films. Tickets are $20, and proceeds will go towards the organ’s upkeep. 🍿
Announced
- Congrats to Reese P., the selected designer in the first round of our Rep Your City Design Contest. Chosen by our team, their illustration of the James River Railway Bridge will soon be featured on swag sold in The RICtoday Shop, and the designer will get paid up to $1,500. (If you weren’t selected this time, don’t worry — we’ll select more designs all year long.)
The folks at RVA Community Fridges say they now have 8 fridges up + running across the city.
Thanks to donations from Woodside Farms and St. Andrews School, this fridge at the Randolph Community Center is full of fresh fruits, veggies + drinks free to those who need them. You can donate a fridge, food, or volunteer your time to clean and paint them here.
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Yesterday, we asked what annual Richmond festival RIC readers look forward to most.
The Greek Festival got a lot of love with 58% of the vote. 18% said the Watermelon Festival, 15% the 2nd St. Festival, and 9% the Jazz Festival. Reader Peter E. also wrote in to share his appreciation for the Irish Festival.
Party on, Richmond. 🎉
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