Crown Complex Explained

Crown Coliseum
Former Names:Cumberland County Crown Coliseum (1997–2014)
Logo Image:Crown Coliseum.PNG
Pushpin Map:North Carolina#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within North Carolina##Location within the United States
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label:Crown Coliseum
Address:1960 Coliseum Drive
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28306-3059
Location:Crown Complex
Owner:Cumberland County Civic Center Commission
Operator:Comcast Spectacor
Cost:$55 million
($ in dollars)
Architect:Odell Associates
Structural Engineer:Fleming and Associates, PA
General Contractor:Turner Construction
Capacity:10,000
Tenants:Fayetteville Force (CHL) (1997–2001)
Fayetteville Patriots (NBDL) (2001–2006)
Fayetteville Marksmen (SPHL) (2002–present)
Cape Fear Wildcats (af2) (2002–2004)
Fayetteville Guard (NIFL/AIFA) (2005–2010)
Fayetteville Force (SIFL) (2011)
Cape Fear Heroes (AIF/XLIF/SIF/AAL) (2012–2015, 2017–2019)
Fayetteville Fury (NISL) (2021–present)
Fayetteville Mustangs (NAL) (2023)
Fayetteville Stingers (TBL) (2023-present)

The Crown Complex[1] (originally the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum) is a multi-purpose venue in Fayetteville, North Carolina that includes the Crown Coliseum, an indoor stadium. The stadium broke ground in 1995[2] and opened in 1997,[3] and is currently home to the Fayetteville Marksmen ice hockey team. The Coliseum replaced the Crown Arena in the same complex as the main venue for sports events.

The complex also contains a 2,400-seat auditorium named the Crown Theater and a 4,500-seat venue named Crown Arena,[4] both of which were built in the 1960s.[5] On January 22, 2020, Cumberland County's commissioner announced that the Crown Arena and Crown Theater would close in October 2022 due to the venues' non-compliance with the ADA, but would not affect the Coliseum.[6] The closing was pushed back to November 2025.[5]

During the early stages of its construction, Crown Coliseum was mentioned as a possible temporary home for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, but this was blocked by minor league hockey executive Bill Coffey who had signed an exclusive lease agreement with the arena for the Fayetteville Force of the Central Hockey League.[7]

It was reported in mid-January that TNA Wrestling would be taping its weekly TNA iMPACT! broadcast in the arena on February 24, 2011 — which would be only the second time in its history that the show would be broadcast outside Universal Studio's iMPACT! zone in Orlando, Florida. WWE taped its annual Tribute to the Troops show at the venue on December 11, 2011.

Fayetteville native rapper J. Cole's and his concert film, Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming was recorded at the arena on August 30, 2015, during his Forest Hills Drive Tour.[8] Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming aired on HBO, January 9, 2016.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Crown Complex shows off its changes . Campbell . Sarah . March 27, 2014 . . Fayetteville Publishing Company . November 26, 2015.
  2. News: Coliseum Still Lacks 'Crowning' Touch. Gary. Moss. Fayetteville Observer. March 23, 1995. November 19, 2011.
  3. News: Lights Come On at New Crown Coliseum. WRAL. October 23, 1997. November 19, 2011.
  4. Web site: About the Crown Complex . Crown Complex . October 6, 2019.
  5. Web site: Rift between Fayetteville and Cumberland County could close Crown Complex, officials say . JDNews.com . May 23, 2020 . May 6, 2021 . May 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506024107/https://www.jdnews.com/news/20200523/rift-between-fayetteville-and-cumberland-county-could-close-crown-complex-officials-say . dead .
  6. Web site: Plans to close Fayetteville's Crown Arena and Crown Theater in 2022 . January 22, 2020 . WRAL.com . en . January 26, 2020.
  7. Book: Scott, Jon C.. Hockey Night in Dixie: Minor Pro Hockey in the American South. 2006. Heritage House Publishing Company Ltd.. 103. 1-894974-21-2. registration.
  8. Web site: Boehrer . Kat . Here's J. Cole's 'Forest Hills Drive Live' Album . Complex . November 21, 2016 . January 27, 2016.
  9. Web site: Montes . Patrick . J. Cole's 90-Minute HBO Documentary 'Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming' Is Here . hypebeast . November 21, 2016 . January 10, 2016.