Demolition of The Richfield Coliseum Cleveland

[gotribe1997]

I was there for The Shot. I was still 4 months from being born, but I was there

[DoJoRa3]

The Coliseum, brilliantly located between Cleveland & Akron at Interstates 271, 77 & 80, was closed to eliminate (& razed to forever prevent) further competition for Cleveland gangsters like the Jacobs & Gunds. These crooks bribed politicos like Voinovich & Sawyer, conned the public into tearing down FINE venues (...from the aging but solid Municipal Stadium to the gleaming, world-class Coliseum,) while also conning taxpayers into first footing the bill, then giving clear title to the crooks!

[Fanik10]

very sad music. TAPS begins to play.

[83jbolt]

The 1st concert I ever sw there was KISS in '79 and the last was Queensryche in '91 and hundreds in between that!

[99whatever99]

All my aunts and my mom worked there. It was just down the street from my house. :((

[GrahamRiver]

Anyone have any clue the real reason they tore it down? Seems like it would have been well suited for something other than the CAVS . . . maybe concerts etc. Stupid to tear it down!

[83jbolt]

It's kinda like watching an old friend die...Sad!!!

[ramjet1962]

Been there for allot of concerts, Led Zeppelin, stones, rush, aerosmith, black sabbath, blue oyster cult, many many more. Oh and cavs games,

[tharper1961]

S A D !!!!!!!!!!!

[acidpiss]

I remember going to see the Harlem Globetrotters there when I was pretty young, about 8 or 9. Last show I saw there was Pantera in '92 or '93. Another piece of Cleveland history lost.

[6stringgunslinger]

The coliseum was an incredible place for concerts. The walkway between the upper and lower decks was were the real party was. The Q sucks can't move around in it , they herd you in and out like cattle. Had some great times there . RIP old friend.

[bbittker]

I lived a half mile down the road in peninsula. We would use the coliseum fitness center and run into cavs. I shot hoops in the practice gym with steve Kerr, he taught me how to dribble behind my back. My dad treated the sheep that grazed next door. Also I was friends with Joe tait's grandson, we used to shoot hoops. Lot of memories here!

[Roadstar1602]

I loved that place so much. The Force, the Cavs, the Lumberjacks, Tom Petty, Pam Tillis, the circus, monster trucks...I saw so many things there. The only problem with that place was getting in and out of it in your car. It was a nightmare. But other than that it was the greatest place in the world. I still don't know why they tore it down. It still could have hosted concerts and such. There's a need for an indoor soccer team in Cleveland right now. That team could be playing in the Coliseum.

[scoot1105]

I never cared for the Coliseum myself. It was out, literally, in the middle of NOWHERE, took forever to get to the place, and i had, to this day, my most painful live sports experiences in that place with "The Shot"! Was not sad to see that place meet the wrecking ball, but did have some good memories in there.

[vfFokker]

Ughhh it hurts to watch this video. I miss the Coliseum and the Force.

[kingofcons]

i'm a huge bulls fan,but i love watching this for some reason! never been there,been to quicken loans arena once,but i love how it is in the middle of nowhere! the traffic seemed awful though.

[ctrymancmh]

Sad to see this place go I worked at the Taverne of Richfeild at the Coliseum for 3 years , great memories

[skalin23]

It had such a short lifespan of 20 yrs, but of the memories, i remember seeing nance block 11 shots against the knicks in 89, force games, crunch, russian all star hockey team against bowling green, the circus, rod stewart, def leppard, wwf wrestling, disney on ice, countless cavs games, walking to and from the building in that huge parking lot in very cold temps, and than listening to joe tait on the ride back home from cavs games.

[lowery02]

Sad stuff I tell you, and even sadder reading all your comments storying your experiences there. Really glad I stumbled across this vid. Never forget my first Cavs game with my aunt and uncle.. makes me miss municipal stadium as well!

[d84martin]

What was the song on here?

[hoytzone]

So many memories there,it makes you want to cry...

[plantearly]

Nice job!

I'm surprised to see they let you get "inside" for shots.

Also impressed that they disassembled so much of it, and perhaps recycled. Especially back then.

Sure spent a lotta time in that parking lot...... ;>

Just like everyone else, Thanks for the memories!

[Tracymmo]

I have great memories of this place, but it drained money out of downtown. Some of you don't remember the old Arena, which hosted sports (Cavs, Barons and more) and Alan Freed's Moondog Coronation Ball which many people consider the first rock n roll concert ever. Got torn down in 1977 when the Coliseum had taken over. That was such a shame. To those wishing it had been reused, it would have been too expensive.

[GlassedXKE]

Ahhhh....childhood memories of the Cavs and of course, battling December blizzards to get to the game while being serenaded by the eternal voice of Joe Tait on 3WE...

Thanks for the video. Lots of great memories, especially now that I don't live in Cleveland any longer...

[deadcorpert619]

i used to go to wwf and wcw there go to cavs games...brings back memories

[edwinslow]

Wow. The memories of this place for me are amazing! I played for the Southeast Soccers indoor and outdoor soccer teams. I actually got to play on the coliseum floor before a Cleveland Force game in 1988. Whoa! The memories.

[ndubb1]

They really should have never have taken that down. It could have easily been used for something else. I went to a monster truck show there when i was a few years old. I have the letter C from the C section entrance. I even ended up going to the place when i was in 7th and 8th grade which 03-05 for environment stuff. I tried picturing the building still there but it's been soo long now i couldnt remember where it even was in the lot.

[robd1974]

Saw Cinderella's 1988 Long Cold Winter Tour here...Best concert ever! Sad that its gone...

[Felamine]

I was 10 years old when this closed in 1994. Saw the Ringling Bros., wrestling and many Cavs games. A lot of childhood memories at this place.

But in hindsight, I also remember the traffic jams. it definitely was a bad idea to put this arena in the middle of nowhere with just a handful of access roads and no alternate modes of transportation. It's just asking for gridlock. I saw some archive footage from WEWS showing aerial views of the traffic, extending up I-271 for miles!

[Survivor87]

I'm from Indiana, never been there, but this is sad.

[Fanik8]

it's very sad when a venue is demolished like that. i had a similar experience when they tore down the Boston Garden and Foxboro Stadium. The Garden being so old and Foxboro Stadium being the worst and ugliest stadium in the NFL. Good memories are all you have.

[1981CrueHead]

That is just too sad. I know how you guys feel. I feel the same way about our Spectrum in Philly.

[KensingtonPalace1]

Played there in 1989-1990 and have not been back. Thanks for posting. Had some great memories in the building it is was good to see it one more time. Best memory was playing Dallas Sidekicks one winters night and all the roads in and out of the Richfield were closed. The fans (all 200) were forced to stay the night. Luckily, I had a four wheel drive and I made it home.

[superr00k]

@KensingtonPalace1 I was there with my father! We made the long drive up 271 for 10 miles through freezing rain and blizzard conditions. At one point, our car started sliding off the road. Needless to say, as a young boy I will never forget that night! This is such a sad moment. The MISL and the Force at the Richfield Coliseum was one of the best sports venues I have ever seen in my life. To those who say it would have been too expensive:  you never saw the crowds.

[KensingtonPalace1]

Played there in 1989-1990 and have not been back. Thanks for posting. Had some great memories in the building it is was good to see it one more time.

[sxwrulz]

Kool video WMG can go to hell for taking off your music. I have a very close friend who lived in Cleveland and went to WWF events there in the late 80s and early 90s. He went to Survivor Series 92 there and then four years later he went to Summerslam 96 at the Gund Arena and said the difference between the two buildings was like night and day. The image everyone will remember from that building will be Jordan over Ehlo.

[BKerve5894]

I think they should of kept the colisium up and use as a convention center like to bring in more money to Richfield and Cleveland

[zuzanarox]

the coliseum, what a laugh --- what idiots back in the 70s to construct this in the middle of nowhere ... proof positive that even business leaders were on drugs back then. Nick Maletti = just another italian douche-bag ... italians suck

[Whipple236]

Excellent video with a lot of good footage from inside the building! I really miss that building - it was such a great venue and so much more convenient for those of us in Stark County.

I saw so many memorable Cavs games and concerts - Elvis Presley's last Cleveland show (1976); The Rolling Stones in 1981; The Who; Robert Plant; Journey; Kinks and, of course, the Michael Stanley Band, just to name a few!

The parking lot was always challenging, but it was so much more conveniant than the Q!

[hodadsmusic]

Saw the Globetrotters there in '80!

[yyz310]

saw my first rush concert there. thanks brought back alot of good memories

[DblnOhio]

Mark Price - for tha-reeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

[MaccaIsYoDaddy]

Paul McCartney and Wings played there...

[ezandycle]

I'm impressed. Great piece of film. Someone should have documented the location of 20 years worth of great concerts, the Miracle Of Richfield, etc. If it had been built in downtown Cleveland, it would probably still be in use. Nick Mileti, YOU BLEW IT!

[ytownteddy]

When I see the field where it once stood...it gives me a weird feeling. Alot of memories, and alot of noise all gone forever. In about one or two more generations...they'll never know that place was ever even there. If it wasn't for the double laned curve of pavement that slightly leads towards that field, it's almost impossible to believe that's it now..

[supergringo86]

I totally miss going the Crunch games there!

[clevelandcrew]

Why did they tear it down? Couldnt they have used it for high school games or something?

[Ragnorix]

Worked here 10 years. What ablast!

Coming home was always interesting; blizzard,

getting out of the parking lot, going either direction on 303. Whitey's for burgers & booze.

God the circus sucked.

[watertestboy]

Had seen many shows here,Kiss ,Yes,Rush,ac/dc,Tubes,cheap trick.. many more but my fav was seeing the dead invade for Vince's se3cond show..& they did play one more saturday night...

[EBEalienbeing]

I remember seeing the Cavs and Tractor pulling and monster trucks in the 80's and I also can't forget WWF Survior Series 1988. Good times good times.

[hooksman60]

I saw Genesis there in about 1981. Had seats left of the stage Phil could see us and we flipped him off and he gave the finger...... to the crowd and the place went crazy

[pk33617]

unbelievable! since i moved to tampa in 92 i didnt even know the coliseum was gone til i roadtripped home a few years ago..coming up 271 and expecting to see it...and then....nothing! sad sight....INXS...Force games...Circuses...god it sucks getting old.

[mattvj5]

I saw wrestling and Cavs games there..wow

[turk75]

heh i remember being a little kid going to this stadium~ used to look 5x as big when i was younger lolol :) thx for the vid, it brought back good memories

[philipleanza3]

The best rock concert I have seen in my 55 years on the planet was at the Richfield Coliseum. It was either 1976 or 1977 and had 4 acts on the bill. The opening act was Cleveland's own Eric Carmen who had just released his first solo LP. He did 45 minutes with just him and his piano. Then came Dave Mason who had just released his single "Only You Know What I Know". The 3rd act was Hall & Oates who had just released "Sara Smile". Then came the headliner, The Beach Boys in all their glory.

[stric19]

What was the name of this song?

[Grapes428]

It just seemed like it was always real cold weather when I went there for the Cavs games. I'll never forget the game I went to in 92 against the Nets when Derrick Coleman went for 30 on us. My dad saw Springsteen there in 85, my aunt saw Hall & Oates there in the early 80's. I wish I was old enough to remember more about this place. Wasn't it right off of 303?

[GuitarsJohnnyp]

Sorry that your merories are so bad. I dearly loved the place and May God bless Nicky M's soul!

[emauriceharr]

it was on 303 off of I-271 up the hill from the Cuyahoga Valley.

[djdeac]

@Grapes428 Yep. Exit 12 off of I-271 at 303. I pass that exit regularly and to see and empty field there is kind of sad.

[PsYcHo14]

AND OH MY GOD! That kid at 2:39 is me at 8 years old and my mothers caravan, hand to god! I still have that peice of the old collesium! I think im gonna pass out....

That was just so disturbing to me

[deadcorpert619]

@PsYcHo14 thats pretty creepy

[PsYcHo14]

painful... wow. Ill tell you what im from richfield. As your sitting in the middle of that feild drinking and hanging out you can still hear the ghosts. Real creepy...

[Music2Die4]

I don't know if it's a Warner tune, but I'd suggest the Pretenders song "My City Was Gone."

[Ariamaluum]

Michael Jordan.

[ohiogooniegirl]

Wow thanks so much for bringing back such a great memory for me! I saw some of the best concerts there back in the 80s!!! I still can't believe it's gone!

[FlowerClown]

Too many concerts over many years, It was located between Cleveland and Akron, the land has been returned back to the Metro Park and is now just a grassy field. They were talking about making it an outlet mall but in the end it just came down.

If I had my way

If I had my way

In this wicked World

If I had my way

I would tear this old building down.

My first few Dead show were here as well as many others.

[jaydee624]

I saw gloria Estefan and the Miami sound Machine here in 1989.I remember sitting next to 3 women, One who let me use her binoculars,as my seats were quite far.

[1200killer]

I saw INXS, PUBLIC ENEMY, and The Globetrotters there.

Why did they have to tear it down? Couldn't they have just sold it to somebody. Why does it have to be all burningman like and get built then leave no trace of having been there?

[hockeyboy1231]

It was economically obsolete. It was too far out of the city and traffic was always an issue. I just dont know why it had to sit there for 5 years before they finally took it down

[1200killer]

But couldn't they have sold it to someone. Or turn it into a school or training facility. I could think of a lot of things that building could have been used for. But spending probably a fortune demolishing it just seems to be stupid. Even keeping it for shows would not have been a bad idea. Its no worse a location then Blossom and Blossom can only be used from like May to Oct.

[hockeyboy1231]

I agree they could have found a use for it. But it just sat there for over 5 years and it was neglected to the point where renovations would be more costly than just taking it apart. I fear that another truly historic arena known as Maple Leaf Gardens is almost at this point as it has been vacant for nearly 10 years. As for Richfield, they could have turned it into a shopping center like they did to The Forum in Montreal. Or as you said used it for concerts

[1200killer]

Oh yeah and the Cavs

[Bunglbeez]

I Can't Drive 55 tour...We were there.

We had to leave the concert early due to a blizzard. We lost our car in the parking lot.

Those were the days!

[kibbabibba]

I really miss trying to get out of the parking lot after a sold out game or concert, particularly when the Lake Effect snow was flying

[BottomlessJackDaniel]

RIP Old friend

[RobinPratt]

Very very sad...

[Grapes428]

Definitely a great place for a concert. I saw Aerosmith here in 1993 when they had their Get A Grip tour. Acoustics were amazing and the place was packed. I also went to my first Cavs game here in 1992 against Reggie Miller and the Pacers.

[sagedrummer]

The Coliseum was a classic arena venue starting in the 70's. I saw my first Kiss concert there, Bands loved it as well. Zeppelin played there in 75 and 77, The Who, Springsteen, Bowie, the Stones, all the greats. I grew up going to Disney On Ice there and graduated to AC/DC and Metallica. That was very say watching that, wish I could have gotten a piece of it.

[Music2Die4]

I've attended roughly 20 major indoor sports venues during my lifetime. Number one was this place. The building was open for only 20 years- It should have been around for at least 40 more.

[gravy13841111]

well i'll tell you i grew up in that area and have been to see the Cav's play.

i just hope they have left Blossom alone!!!

hi john, you sure are cute. love ,, D.P

[mattkissband]

sad to watch, that's for sure. fottage was great, just sad, like a bad dream come to life. saw my first 3 KISS concerts there. i'll NEVER forget the excitement and anticipation of pulling up in the parking lot.

[nursegonzo]

this was very emotional to watch but i thank you for bringing back such wonderful memories. i agree with others, it was the GREATEST place for concerts. during late 70's early to mid 80's i got to 2-3 concerts a month out there. i miss it. never have found anyplace as good. it was a sad day for everyone when it came down.

[marcsdriver]

If you grew up in the 70's and 80's and didnt go to a concert here then you missed a great big chunk of life. Was without a doubt the best place for a concert ever built. Nothing like going in there and getting totally blasted then trying to find your car or the people you were with...GREAT PLACE!!!!

[timvanichek]

Very sad.... The best place on earth to go see a concert. I have been to many shows there.

[shkernood]

Thank you. What memories, all those concerts in my youth...so strange to see it fall...painful and emotional paired with the sebastian bach vocals...so sad...Where does the time go??

[Whipple236]

Excellent!! That was an awesome facility - far better than the yuppie house downtown. It didn't have the glitz, but it was way better for an event. I saw so many great shows there, from the Stones, Who and Springsteen to Elvis Presley on 10-23-76! Thanks!

[mlcurtis2]

Thanks for the memory

[GuitarsJohnnyp]

Your welcome. It was a college project that I gladly accepted.. Nick got it right when he built that place.. It was a great venue. I turned 18 in there at a boston golden earing concert...Thank you for the time to contact me John