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, women's basketball and women's volleyball 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.
Events
Basketball
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.
Professional Wrestling 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 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. List of Concerts Artist Event Date Opening Act(s)311Transistor TourDecember 1, 1997Sugar RaySoundsystem TourFebruary 28, 2000Jimmie's Chicken Shack & IncubusEvolver TourNovember 7, 2003Alien Ant FarmAC/DCBallbreaker World TourSeptember 3, 1996Acquire the Fire —March 30, 2007rowspan="2" March 31, 2007Alan Jackson Freight Train TourNovember 19, 20102019 TourMay 17, 2019William Michael MorganAvenged SevenfoldSounding the Seventh Trumpet TourJune 26, 2002B.B. KingBlues Summit TourJanuary 27, 1994The Beach BoysStars and Stripes Vol. 1 TourOctober 13, 1996Billy Joel1999 TourFebruary 9, 1999Blue Man GroupHow to Be a Megasta Tour 2.1February 14, 2008Bob DylanNever Ending Tour 1991May 4, 1991 rowspan="3" Never Ending Tour 2002February 8, 2002Never Ending Tour 2010October 16, 2010Boston Pops Orchestra —December 1, 2008Brad PaisleyTime Well Wasted TourNovember 18, 2005Sara Evans & SugarlandBush1996 TourFebruary 23, 1996No Doubt & Goo Goo DollsRazorblade Suitcase TourApril 3, 1997Veruca SaltCarrie UnderwoodCarnival Ride TourOctober 24, 2008Little Big TownCeltic WomanSongs from the Heart Tour February 26, 2011 CherLiving Proof: The Farewell TourSeptember 15, 2004Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend Concert —September 18, 2008Chris TomlinHello Love TourApril 9, 2009Israel & New BreedDashboard ConfessionalDusk and Summer TourNovember 15, 2006Brand NewDave Matthews & Tim Reynolds2003 TourMarch 28, 2003Dave Matthews BandCrash TourDecember 28, 1996Béla Fleck and the FlecktonesDavid Lee RothDLR Band TourJune 23, 1999Bad CompanyDelirious?Fire TourSeptember 14, 2002All Star UnitedKingdom of Comfort TourMarch 13, 2008Tree63March 14, 2008March 15, 2008Dierks BentleyHigh Times & Hangovers TourOctober 14, 2006Miranda Lambert & Randy Rogers BandDixie ChicksFly TourAugust 26, 2000Dolly PartonHello I'm Dolly TourNovember 7, 2004The GrascalsElton JohnBig Picture TourOctober 10, 1997align="center" rowspan="3" Peachtree Road TourNovember 9, 200540th Anniversary of the Rocket Man TourApril 6, 2013Gaither Homecoming2010 TourNovember 13, 2010align="center" rowspan="2" 2013 TourApril 26, 2013Garth BrooksSevens TourMarch 25, 1998align="center" rowspan="4" March 26, 1998March 27, 1998March 28, 1998Gretchen WilsonRedneck Revolution Tour February 3, 2006Blaine Larsen & Van ZantHilary DuffStill Most Wanted TourJuly 30, 2005Tyler Hilton & Teddy GeigerHinderBadboys of Rock TourSeptember 16, 2007Papa Roach, Fuel, Buckcherry & Rev Theory Judas PriestEpitaph World TourNovember 27, 2011Thin Lizzy & Black Label SocietyKelly Clarkson & Clay AikenIndependent TourMarch 14, 2004The Beu SistersLil Wayne2008 TourApril 26, 2008Mr. Carter, Baby & Crime MobLudacrisWSSU HomecomingOctober 7, 2006Yung JocLupe Fiasco2010 TourOctober 8, 2010DJ Lil' BoyMarilyn MansonDead to the World TourApril 19, 1997Helmet & RasputinaRock Is Dead TourApril 2, 1999Monster MagnetMark ChesnuttMark Chesnutt TourNovember 30, 2002Joe Diffie & Tracy LawrenceMartina McBrideThe Waking Up Laughing TourJune 2, 2007Jack Ingram, Little Big Town & Rodney AtkinsMatchbox 20More Than You Think You Are TourSeptember 28, 2003Sugar Ray & Maroon 5Michael W. Smith2009 TourOctober 24, 2009Molly Hatchet2006 TourAugust 26, 2006BlackfootMusic as a Weapon2011 TourFebruary 1, 2011Neil Diamond1993 TourMarch 3, 1993align="center" rowspan="2" The Movie Album: As Time Goes By TourDecember 11, 1998NewsboysThe Story Music TourDecember 9, 2011Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Anthem Lights & SelahNine Inch NailsFurther Down the Spiral TourNovember 23, 1994Marilyn Manson & Jim Rose CircusO-TownO-Town TourAugust 23, 2001OnyxSurvival of the Illest TourJuly 4, 1998Def Squad & DMXParachute Band2010 TourMarch 18, 2010align="center" rowspan="6" March 19, 2010March 20, 2010April 18, 2010April 19, 2010April 20, 2010PanteraThe Great Southern Trendkill TourSeptember 5, 1997Papa Roach & BuckcherryRock Allegiance TourSeptember 9, 2011Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., RED, Crossfade & Drive APhishHoist TourApril 21, 1994Dave Matthews Band1995 TourNovember 21, 1995align="center" rowspan="3" Phish Destroys America TourNovember 23, 1997The Story of the Ghost TourNovember 19, 1998Piedmont Wind SymphonyGuest Artist ConcertMay 22, 2008Arturo Sandoval & Three Dog NightPrimusPunchbowl TourNovember 29, 1995Meat PuppetsRadio City Christmas Spectacular2009 TourDecember 4, 2009align="center" rowspan="2" December 5, 2009Rascal FlattsMelt TourOctober 10, 2003Chris Cagle & Brian McComasHere's to You TourNovember 6, 2004Gary Allan, Blake Shelton & Keith AndersonBob That Head TourJanuary 24, 2008Jessica SimpsonReba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson2 Worlds 2 Voices TourJanuary 25, 2008Melissa PetermanSounds of the Underground2005 TourJune 30, 2005StyxCan't Stop Rockin' TourNovember 12, 2009REO Speedwagon & .38 SpecialSwitchfoot & Relient KAppetite for Construction TourNovember 2, 2007RuthSublime with RomeSublime with Rome TourOctober 22, 2010The Dirty HeadsSugarlandChange for Change TourSeptember 29, 2007Little Big Town & Jake OwenT. Graham BrownThe Next Right Thing TourAugust 7, 2004TeslaPsychotic Supper TourMay 15, 1992FireHouseThomas RhettHome Team TourMarch 18, 2017Kelsea Ballerini, Russell Dickerson & Ryan HurdTiëstoClub Life TourSeptember 22, 2011Porter RobinsonTina TurnerWildest Dreams TourJuly 2, 1997Cyndi LauperToolLateralus TourNovember 2, 2002Meshuggah10,000 Days TourJune 13, 2007Melt-BananaUnion Station2004 TourJune 3, 2004Jerry DouglasVince GillHigh Lonesome Sound TourMarch 20, 1997Bryan WhiteWhite ZombieAstro-Creep: 2000 TourJune 28, 1996Widespread PanicEveryday TourOctober 2, 1993Blues Traveler1994 TourMarch 17, 1994align="center" rowspan="2" 1998 TourNovember 6, 1998'Til the Medicine Takes TourNovember 26, 1999Dirty Dozen Brass Band2002 TourNovember 6, 2002Karl Denson's Tiny UniverseWiz Khalifa & YelawolfWaken Baken TourNovember 10, 2010Big K.R.I.T. & DJ BonicsZac Brown BandYou Get What You Give TourApril 6, 2011Blackberry SmokeZZ TopGang of Outlaws TourJune 1, 20123 Doors Down & Gretchen Wilson
Other events
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.
Coliseum Complex
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 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. 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. 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.
See also List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
References
External links