By: North Charleston Coliseum Staff
On January 29, 1993, the Lowcountry entertainment scene changed forever. On this date, the North Charleston Coliseum first opened its doors. The event was World Figure Skating Champions featuring Olympic champions Elizabeth Manley and Marina Klimova & Sergio Ponomarenko. The next night, country music superstars Alan Jackson and Lorrie Morgan took the stage for the first ever concert in the Coliseum. With capacity crowds at both shows, the Lowcountry finally had a world class entertainment venue. Since that time, the biggest names in music and entertainment have made the North Charleston Coliseum a regular stop on their world tours.
In addition, on October 23, 1993, the Lowcountry sports scene changed forever when the South Carolina Stingrays played their first game in the Coliseum. The ECHL hockey team has called the Coliseum home for 30 years. During this time, they have played over 1,000 home games, won the Kelly Cup Championship three times (1997, 2001 and 2009) and won the hearts of all Lowcountry hockey fans.
“If you build it, they will come,” goes the old saying. The City of North Charleston built the Coliseum and come they did. Since opening, nearly 11 million people have come through the doors to enjoy the biggest names in music, sports and family entertainment: Prince, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, South Carolina Stingrays hockey, Dave Matthews Band, Disney on Ice, Garth Brooks, Pearl Jam, Mary J. Blige, Taylor Swift, Harlem Globetrotters, AC-DC, The Beach Boys, Metallica, Tina Turner, Widespread Panic, Kenny Chesney, KISS, Neil Diamond, Phish, Luke Bryan, Jay Z, Def Leppard, WWE and Darius Rucker. The list goes on and on.
With the incredible success of the Coliseum, the City of North Charleston opened the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center adjacent to the Coliseum in 1999. The three venues, along with the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hotel, are located on the Bourne-Summey City Center Complex and host hundreds of public and private events each year.
“There is no doubt the North Charleston Coliseum has been a great asset for the city, serving as the location for sports and entertainment, and creating jobs and economic impact for the Lowcountry,” said Doug Thornton, Executive Vice President of ASM Global, the management company for the Coliseum. “We are grateful for our partnership with the City of North Charleston, and join with city leaders in celebrating the successes of 30 years.”
The Coliseum shows no sign of slowing down as the 2023 calendar is already filling up. Upcoming shows include Jim Gaffigan on January 26, Chris Rock & Dave Chappelle on January 27, Professional Bull Riding on February 3 & 4, The Impractical Jokers on February 16, Jeff Dunham on February 23, and Billy Strings on March 11 & 12. The South Carolina Stingrays have home games scheduled for February 10, 19 22, 24 and 25. Tickets for all events are on sale now at the North Charleston Coliseum Advance Ticket Office or online at Ticketmaster.com.
“Celebrating three decades is wonderful, however, we are very excited about our next year and all of the great events we have planned,” said Frank Lapsley, North Charleston Coliseum General Manager. He promised several major concerts will be announced in the near future.
Throughout 2023, the Coliseum will celebrate special memories and fun facts from the last 30 years on our social media. The public is encouraged to share their favorite memories as well. For more information, visit www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/about-us/coliseum-30-years-anniversary or the North Charleston Coliseum social media. The hashtag for the celebration is #NCC30. In addition, a special North Charleston Coliseum playlist featuring many of the artists that have played the venue over the years, is on Spotify. To listen, click here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3hNRocHsfTQkOvZ3pCZ0nh?si=8fb16f01439743f1
The North Charleston Coliseum is owned by the City of North Charleston and managed by ASM Global. For information on the North Charleston Coliseum, visit www.NorthCharlestonColiseumPAC.com.
