The Big E Coliseum Information & The Big E Coliseum Links at HealthHaven.com

Coordinates: 42°05′29″N 72°37′00″W / 42.09125°N 72.61655°W / 42.09125; -72.61655 The Eastern States Coliseum, better known as the Big E Coliseum, is a 5,900-seat multi-purpose arena in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

[edit] History

The Big E Coliseum was built in 1926. The longtime home of the Springfield Indians professional hockey team in the American Hockey League, it was a part time home to the New England Whalers ice hockey team while the team was in the World Hockey Association, as well as briefly being the venue for the Hartford Whalers when the team joined the National Hockey League, until the repair of the Hartford Civic Center in January, 1980.^[1] In the 1940s through to the building of the Springfield Civic Center in 1972, the Coliseum frequently hosted local showings of the Ice Capades and the Ice Follies. ^[2]

Today, though the ice plant has been dismantled and hockey games are no longer played there ^[3], the arena is a venue for The Big E, and hosts Shriner circuses, equestrian shows and other local events.^[4] The Coliseum has often been the location for the draft horse World Championship Finals, serving as such in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2009.^[5]

[edit] References

Preceded by Boston Arena	Home of the New England Whalers 1973 – 1975	Succeeded by Hartford Civic Center

[0] "Hartford Whalers found their way to Eastern States Coliseum," Springfield Republican, May 9, 2009

[1] "Birthday Edition Of Ice Capades Hailed By Critics," Hartford Courant, November 1, 1959.

[2] "Hockey mecca's demise leaves high schools scrambling," USA Today, April 1, 1991

[3] Eastern States Exhibition website

[4] BigE Draft Horse Show

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