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| - I attended few performances / events @ this 'iconic' building over the years, recently being the Arizona State Fair 2015, to see Sheryl Crow's free show.
This huge building has a now-weathered characteristic saddled look that's a bit dated; perhaps being kept this way, along with the other 'iconic' onsite landmark- the Grandstand, for vintage purposes? But, then, again, the neighborhood of 19th Ave / McDowell Rd have pretty much gone downhill without much upgrading. While they did keep up with keeping the area clean- including the restrooms, the air conditioner was lately brrrrr in the arena (during Sheryl Crow's performance). The parking lot is also huge.
The Coliseum celebrated 50 years when it was built in 1964- the year I was born(!) and opened in 1965 to host many sporting events and eventually State Fair concerts and other events (ice capades, animal adoptions). President Obama held a rally on January 28, 2008 during his candidacy for president. Oh, and the building was designed by the architecture firm that built a fellow iconic & beloved Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix.
Nowadays, the box office is not so busy like it used to be since there have been other competing arenas been built over several decades that have snared many events away to cater more to materialistic Arizonans who have been willing to pay more to watch events at a more formal surrounding ;)
Yet, no matter what, while they talked of re-modeling the Grandstand and preserving other small nearby buildings, I do hope the Coliseum stays around for many more years ahead...
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