Mid-South Coliseum

Mid-South Coliseum is an enclosed event venue in Memphis, Tennessee, recognizable by its circular exterior and tiered seating configuration. The interior features multiple levels that accommodate sporting contests, concerts, and other large gatherings, with rows of seats arranged in a bowl shape facing a central floor.

The building opened in October 1964 and served as the first public facility in Memphis where people of all backgrounds gathered together without separation. Over the following decades, it became a stop for national touring acts and hosted professional sports teams before operations gradually ceased in the early 2000s.

The venue became a cultural gathering place for Memphis residents who attended basketball games, circus performances, and trade shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Locals still recall the energy of those events, when families would arrive early to explore the concourse before the main attraction began.

The site lies near the fairgrounds and connects to surrounding roads, with parking available on the adjacent grounds. The entrance is visible from the exterior, though the building currently stands vacant and is not open to visitors.

During its peak years in the 1970s, the facility hosted ice shows and rodeo events that brought real horses and artificial snow into the building. The floor could be reconfigured so quickly that it served basketball one evening and a circus the next night.