Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (also known as LJVM Coliseum, Joel Coliseum or simply The Joel) is a 14,665-seat multi-purpose arena, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Construction on the arena began on April 23, 1987, and it opened on August 28, 1989. It was named after Lawrence Joel, an Army medic from Winston-Salem who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1967 for action in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. The memorial was designed by James Ford in New York, and includes the poem "The Fallen" engraved on an interior wall. It is home to the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons men's basketball and women's basketball teams, and is adjacent to the Carolina Classic Fairgrounds. The arena replaced the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum, which was torn down for the LJVM Coliseum's construction.

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
"The Joel"
Map
Location2825 University Parkway
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Coordinates36°07′40″N 80°15′27″W / 36.127866°N 80.257628°W / 36.127866; -80.257628
OwnerWake Forest University[1]
OperatorASM Global
Capacity14,665 (basketball)
14,407 (multi-purpose)
8,013 Upper level seats
6,559 Lower level seats including roll-out bleachers.
SurfaceMulti-surface, Parquet
Construction
Broke groundApril 23, 1987
OpenedAugust 19, 1989
Construction cost$20.1 million
($49.4 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectEllerbe Becket[3]
General contractorP.J. Dick Contracting[3]
Tenants
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (NCAA) (1989–present)
Winston-Salem Energy (NIFL) (2002)
Carolina Cowboys (PBR) (2022)
Website
http://ljvm.com/

Events

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Basketball

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The Coliseum before a 2019 Wake Forest game

The Coliseum is primarily home to the Wake Forest University men's and women's basketball teams. Its construction allowed Wake Forest to move all of its home games to Winston-Salem for the first time in three decades. Starting in 1959, they played a number of ACC games in Greensboro. In 1982, they moved the bulk of their ACC schedule to the larger Greensboro Coliseum, as well as other games against popular opponents that could not be accommodated at the 8,200-seat Memorial Coliseum. The arena has generally featured a parquet floor for basketball games since its opening in 1989.

However, other basketball games are held there, such as the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic basketball tournament, an annual event for high school basketball teams in the area. Since 2003, the LJVM has hosted the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Western Regional Basketball Tournaments. The LJVM was the site of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournament from 1994 to 1999. Also, the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship have been held at the Coliseum four times (1993, 1997, 2000 and 2007). It also hosted the MEAC men's basketball tournament from 2009 to 2012.

In a memorable NCAA second-round game at the Coliseum on March 15, 1997, North Carolina gave head coach Dean Smith victory number 877, surpassing Kentucky legend Adolph Rupp as the winningest college basketball coach in history. Another memorable NCAA tournament game at the LJVM Coliseum happened on March 17, 2000 when fifth seeded Florida needed a buzzer beater by Mike Miller to beat twelfth seeded Butler in overtime. The victory started a 5 game winning streak for Florida, including wins over Illinois, #1 Duke, and UNC. The run ended with a loss to Michigan State in the championship game

The Harlem Globetrotters have played in the Coliseum as well.

Wrestling

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It hosted the annual Fall Brawl pay-per-view event from 1996 to 1999 which also featured the WarGames matches from 1996 to 1998.

Concerts

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The arena has hosted concerts by many famous artists, spanning many different genres. The LJVM's amply large size makes it an ideal location for performers who wish to perform at smaller venues. The main arena can also be curtained off to create a theater-like setting.[1]

List of Concerts
Artist Event Date Opening Act(s)
311 Transistor Tour December 1, 1997 Sugar Ray
Soundsystem Tour February 28, 2000 Jimmie's Chicken Shack & Incubus
Evolver Tour November 7, 2003 Alien Ant Farm
AC/DC Ballbreaker World Tour September 3, 1996
Acquire the Fire March 30, 2007
March 31, 2007
Alan Jackson Freight Train Tour November 19, 2010
2019 Tour May 17, 2019 William Michael Morgan
Avenged Sevenfold Sounding the Seventh Trumpet Tour June 26, 2002
B.B. King Blues Summit Tour January 27, 1994
The Beach Boys Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 Tour October 13, 1996
Billy Joel 1999 Tour February 9, 1999
Blue Man Group How to Be a Megasta Tour 2.1 February 14, 2008
Bob Dylan Never Ending Tour 1991 May 4, 1991
Never Ending Tour 2002 February 8, 2002
Never Ending Tour 2010 October 16, 2010
Boston Pops Orchestra December 1, 2008
Brad Paisley Time Well Wasted Tour November 18, 2005 Sara Evans & Sugarland
Bush 1996 Tour February 23, 1996 No Doubt & Goo Goo Dolls
Razorblade Suitcase Tour April 3, 1997 Veruca Salt
Carrie Underwood Carnival Ride Tour October 24, 2008 Little Big Town
Celtic Woman Songs from the Heart Tour February 26, 2011
Cher Living Proof: The Farewell Tour September 15, 2004
Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend Concert September 18, 2008
Chris Tomlin Hello Love Tour April 9, 2009 Israel & New Breed
Dashboard Confessional Dusk and Summer Tour November 15, 2006 Brand New
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds 2003 Tour March 28, 2003
Dave Matthews Band Crash Tour December 28, 1996 Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
David Lee Roth DLR Band Tour June 23, 1999 Bad Company
Delirious? Fire Tour September 14, 2002 All Star United
Kingdom of Comfort Tour March 13, 2008 Tree63
March 14, 2008
March 15, 2008
Dierks Bentley High Times & Hangovers Tour October 14, 2006 Miranda Lambert & Randy Rogers Band
Dixie Chicks Fly Tour August 26, 2000
Dolly Parton Hello I'm Dolly Tour November 7, 2004 The Grascals
Elton John Big Picture Tour October 10, 1997
Peachtree Road Tour November 9, 2005
40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man Tour April 6, 2013
Gaither Homecoming 2010 Tour November 13, 2010
2013 Tour April 26, 2013
Garth Brooks Sevens Tour March 25, 1998
March 26, 1998
March 27, 1998
March 28, 1998
Gretchen Wilson Redneck Revolution Tour February 3, 2006 Blaine Larsen & Van Zant
Hilary Duff Still Most Wanted Tour July 30, 2005 Tyler Hilton & Teddy Geiger
Hinder Badboys of Rock Tour September 16, 2007 Papa Roach, Fuel, Buckcherry & Rev Theory
Judas Priest Epitaph World Tour November 27, 2011 Thin Lizzy & Black Label Society
Kelly Clarkson & Clay Aiken Independent Tour March 14, 2004 The Beu Sisters
Lil Wayne 2008 Tour April 26, 2008 Mr. Carter, Baby & Crime Mob
Ludacris WSSU Homecoming October 7, 2006[4] Yung Joc
Lupe Fiasco 2010 Tour October 8, 2010 DJ Lil' Boy
Marilyn Manson Dead to the World Tour April 19, 1997 Helmet & Rasputina
Rock Is Dead Tour April 2, 1999 Monster Magnet
Mark Chesnutt Mark Chesnutt Tour November 30, 2002 Joe Diffie & Tracy Lawrence
Martina McBride The Waking Up Laughing Tour June 2, 2007 Jack Ingram, Little Big Town & Rodney Atkins
Matchbox 20 More Than You Think You Are Tour September 28, 2003 Sugar Ray & Maroon 5
Michael W. Smith 2009 Tour October 24, 2009
Molly Hatchet 2006 Tour August 26, 2006 Blackfoot
Music as a Weapon 2011 Tour February 1, 2011
Neil Diamond 1993 Tour March 3, 1993
The Movie Album: As Time Goes By Tour December 11, 1998
Newsboys The Story Music Tour December 9, 2011 Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Anthem Lights & Selah
Nine Inch Nails Further Down the Spiral Tour November 23, 1994 Marilyn Manson & Jim Rose Circus
O-Town O-Town Tour August 23, 2001
Onyx Survival of the Illest Tour July 4, 1998 Def Squad & DMX
Parachute Band 2010 Tour March 18, 2010
March 19, 2010
March 20, 2010
April 18, 2010
April 19, 2010
April 20, 2010
Pantera The Great Southern Trendkill Tour September 5, 1997
Papa Roach & Buckcherry Rock Allegiance Tour September 9, 2011 Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., RED, Crossfade & Drive A
Phish Hoist Tour April 21, 1994 Dave Matthews Bsnd
1995 Tour November 21, 1995
Phish Destroys America Tour November 23, 1997
The Story of the Ghost Tour November 19, 1998
Piedmont Wind Symphony Guest Artist Concert May 22, 2008[5] Arturo Sandoval & Three Dog Night
Primus Punchbowl Tour November 29, 1995 Meat Puppets
Radio City Christmas Spectacular 2009 Tour December 4, 2009
December 5, 2009
Rascal Flatts Melt Tour October 10, 2003 Chris Cagle & Brian McComas
Here's to You Tour November 6, 2004 Gary Allan, Blake Shelton & Keith Anderson
Bob That Head Tour January 24, 2008 Jessica Simpson
Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour January 25, 2008 Melissa Peterman
Sounds of the Underground 2005 Tour June 30, 2005
Styx Can't Stop Rockin' Tour November 12, 2009 REO Speedwagon & .38 Special
Switchfoot & Relient K Appetite for Construction Tour November 2, 2007 Ruth
Sublime with Rome Sublime with Rome Tour October 22, 2010 The Dirty Heads
Sugarland Change for Change Tour September 29, 2007 Little Big Town & Jake Owen
T. Graham Brown The Next Right Thing Tour August 7, 2004
Tesla Psychotic Supper Tour May 15, 1992 FireHouse
Thomas Rhett Home Team Tour March 18, 2017 Kelsea Ballerini, Russell Dickerson & Ryan Hurd
Tiësto Club Life Tour September 22, 2011 Porter Robinson
Tina Turner Wildest Dreams Tour July 2, 1997 Cyndi Lauper
Tool Lateralus Tour November 2, 2002 Meshuggah
10,000 Days Tour June 13, 2007 Melt-Banana
Union Station 2004 Tour June 3, 2004 Jerry Douglas
Vince Gill High Lonesome Sound Tour March 20, 1997 Bryan White
White Zombie Astro-Creep: 2000 Tour June 28, 1996
Widespread Panic Everyday Tour October 2, 1993 Blues Traveler
1994 Tour March 17, 1994
1998 Tour November 6, 1998
'Til the Medicine Takes Tour November 26, 1999 Dirty Dozen Brass Band
2002 Tour November 6, 2002 Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
Wiz Khalifa & Yelawolf Waken Baken Tour November 10, 2010 Big K.R.I.T. & DJ Bonics
Zac Brown Band You Get What You Give Tour April 6, 2011 Blackberry Smoke
ZZ Top Gang of Outlaws Tour June 1, 2012 3 Doors Down & Gretchen Wilson

Other events

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Inside of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

The LJVM has played host to large-scale events such as the quarterfinals of the 2007 Davis Cup, but has also hosted racing, bull riding, circus, religious conferences, conventions and other events.

Barney's third stage show, and first national stage show tour Barney’s Big Surprise was taped at the coliseum in 1997 and was released in 1998

The movie The Longest Ride filmed a bull riding scene at the Coliseum in August 2014.[6]

Coliseum Complex

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Prior to being purchased by Wake Forest in 2013, the LJVM was the centerpiece of the Winston-Salem Entertainment-Sports Complex. This complex originally included Joel Coliseum, Truist Field (Groves Stadium), David F. Couch Ballpark (Ernie Shore Field), the Fairgrounds Arena and the off-site Bowman-Gray Stadium.

Ownership

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The Winston-Salem Foundation donated the land the coliseum now sits on to the city of Winston-Salem in 1969. The city of Winston-Salem completed construction of the coliseum in 1989 at a cost of $20.1 million.[7] On May 20, 2013, the Winston-Salem city council approved the sale of the Joel Coliseum to Wake Forest University for $8 million. Wake Forest may consider buying the naming rights to the arena as well, which is currently owned by the city.[8] Wake Forest University completed the purchase of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the surrounding 33 acres on August 1, 2013. Wake Forest has made numerous upgrades to the coliseum, including LED court lighting, which improved energy costs, and a 1,400-foot center hung display monitor at mid-court.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wake Forest buys Joel Coliseum". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "LJVM Coliseum – Winston-Salem, North Carolina". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  4. ^ "WSSU Homecoming 2006: Ludacris with Special Guest Yung Joc". Eventful.com. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Piedmont Wind Symphony Guest Artist Concert Featuring Arturo Sandoval…". Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Local organizations offered money to provide extras for 'The Longest Ride'". Myfox8.com. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b Gigley, Chris. "Deaconizing the Joel". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  8. ^ "City Council OKs sale of Joel Coliseum". Winston-Salem Journal. May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
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