Taft Coliseum

Taft Coliseum

"The Barn"
Former names	Fairgrounds Coliseum, Ohio Expo Center Coliseum
Location	717 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43221
Coordinates	39°59′54″N 82°59′33″W / 39.998454°N 82.9924°W / 39.998454; -82.9924Coordinates: 39°59′54″N 82°59′33″W / 39.998454°N 82.9924°W / 39.998454; -82.9924
Owner	Ohio Expo Center & State Fair
Operator	Ohio Expo Center & State Fair
Capacity	5,003
Surface	hardwood basketball floor
Construction
Opened	1918
Renovated	2005
Tenants
Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA) (1918–1956) Columbus Checkers (IHL) (1966–1970) Columbus Golden Seals (IHL) (1971–1972) Columbus Owls (IHL) (1973–1977) Columbus Horizon (CBA) (1989–1994) Columbus Chill (ECHL) (1991–1999) Columbus Thunderbolts (AFL) (1991) Columbus Stars (UHL) (2003–2004)

The Taft Coliseum is a 5,003-permanent seat multi-purpose arena located at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio.

History[]

It opened in 1918 and is nicknamed "The Barn". The facility hosted the 1929 NCAA Wrestling Championships.^[1]

The Coliseum has become a legendary and traditional high school basketball venue. It hosted OHSAA central district and regional playoffs in boys' High School basketball until 2013, when the Central District Athletic Board opted to move games to Ohio Dominican University. During each fall and winter the Coliseum is also home to CAHA youth hockey.

It was also once home to the Ohio State University men's basketball team, Columbus Horizon CBA basketball team, Columbus Thunderbolts Arena Football League team, and the Columbus Stars and Columbus Chill ice hockey teams.

The Barn was renovated in 2005 to include new scoreboards, the addition of shot clocks above the backboards, a fresh coat of paint, and new rest rooms. On July 28, 2010, the Coliseum was renamed to honor Bob Taft, the 67th Governor of Ohio.

References[]

External links[]

• Ohio Expo Center