Coordinates: 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.
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]
Active: Baltimore Blast • Monterrey La Raza • Philadelphia KiXX • Rockford Rampage • Milwaukee Wave
Defunct: Orlando Sharks • Massachusetts Twisters
Active: 1st Mariner Arena • Monterrey Arena • Liacouras Center • Rockford MetroCentre • U.S. Cellular Arena
Defunct: Amway Arena • The Big E Coliseum