Built as part of the Iowa State Center, the $8.5 million James H. Hilton Coliseum formally opened its doors on Dec. 2, 1971, with Iowa State’s 71-54 win over Arizona before an overflow crowd listed as 15,000 (est.). Over its 52-year history, the iconic building has been home to the Cyclone basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and wrestling teams, numerous NCAA Championship events and concerts featuring some of the world’s most-popular recording artists.
The Coliseum was named after Dr. James H. Hilton, ISU’s President from 1953-65, who first articulated the vison for the Iowa State Center at the University’s 1954 Fall Faculty Convocation that would include an educational, cultural and athletic complex on 76 acres of farmland at the corner of Lincoln Way and Elwood Drive (today, University Drive). The 14,267-seat Coliseum replaced the 6,000-seat on campus Armory, which had served as the home of the Cyclone men’s basketball team from 1946 until 1971.
Built from concrete and steel, having survived two floods and countless court storms over its first 50 years, Hilton Coliseum continues to provide one of the nation’s most dynamic advantages to the Cyclones’ men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics teams who have the privilege of calling the storied venue home.
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