Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum - Complex
Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum comprises four venues: an auditorium, a multi-purpose arena, a reception hall and an exhibition hall. Situated on Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, about a stone's throw from the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville, planning for the venue was completed during the 1950s, and construction was completed in 1961. Among the first acts to perform there were Mahalia Jackson and
Bob Dylan
. Over the years, it's hosted such diverse acts as Duke Ellington, Eric Clapton, Myrna Loy, Betty Grable, Cat Stevens,
Gladys Knight
, Willie Nelson, the Monkees, the
The Rolling Stones
,
Jimmy Buffett
and the Temptations. Home to the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey team, the Coliseum has served as headquarters for the Tennessee Thundercats' professional indoor football franchise, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the Knoxville Knights and the Knoxville Cherokees. The Coliseum has hosted circuses, symphony orchestras and musicals. Tickets to Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum events are available at StubHub.
The main auditorium seats up to 2,500 people while the Coliseum holds a maximum of 6,500.
Parking fees for special events is payable in cash on the day of the events. Fees are lower for symphony orchestra concerts and Ice Bears hockey games than they are for other events. Monthly parking fees are available for downtown workers. There are places to park RVs. All City of Knoxville parking garages are free evenings and weekends.
Knoxville Area Transit operates three lines that operate free trolley rides through the region. These are the Green Line, the Blue Line and the Orange Line.
In the auditorium, there is an Upstairs Bar and a Downstairs Bar, both of which serve beer, wine and soft drinks. The Upstairs Bar also serves premium cocktails. Burgers and light snacks are available in the Coliseum.
Children are welcome at many of the events hosted at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. The venue allows each event to decide the age limit for lap seating and whether to charge admission to children under a certain age. In the case that there is an age limit, this information will be clearly posted at the time of sale and displayed on the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum tickets.