Sudduth Coliseum, in the Lake Charles Civic Center, is a 7,450-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectato ...

Lake Charles, Louisiana Lake Charles (French: ''Lac Charles'') is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Founded in 1861 in Calcasi ...

, USA. Located on Lakeshore Drive, it is the main arena of the Lake Charles Civic Center. It is a venue for hosting concerts and special events, including the 2006 Louisiana State Choir festival and Contraband Days. The center is named for former Lake Charles

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...

James Sudduth. It also serves as a host for gun shows, professional wrestling, dance performances, professional and amateur fights, school field trips and The National Day of Prayer ceremony in Lake Charles.

Contraband Days The Louisiana Pirate Festival, Formally known as Contraband Days, is a 12-day festival filled with Cajun food, family fun, and festivities. Occurring annually in Lake Charles, it is among the larger celebrations in Louisiana, with an attendance ...

is a large festival held on the grounds. The center served as a shelter for displaced residents whose homes were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The center also hosted UFC 22: There Can Be Only One Champion, as well as UFC 24. It also holds Rampage in the Cage events. It also used to be the home stadium of Lake Charles' former pro hockey team, the Lake Charles Ice Pirates who played in the

Western Professional Hockey League The Western Professional Hockey League (abbreviated WPHL) is a defunct minor professional ice hockey league. The WPHL operated from 1996 to 2001 with teams based in the southern United States, primarily Texas and Louisiana. The league started with ...

and the

Louisiana Swashbucklers The Louisiana Swashbucklers were a professional indoor football team based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. They were formed in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) and were originally known as the Southwest Loui ...

indoor football team. The center was authorized as the location of an

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major men's professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976. The ABA ceased to exist with the American Basketball Association–National Basketball Association merger in 1976, leading to four A ...

team, the

Lake Charles Hurricanes A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...

. However, lack of funding caused the team to fold without playing a single game. The coliseum was also the former home of the

McNeese State Cowboys basketball The McNeese State Cowboys basketball team represents McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference. They are led by head coach John Aiken and play their ...

team from 1972 to 1986 when the team moved to the Burton Coliseum. Its former director,

Allen "Puddler" Harris Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to: Buildings * Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee * Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas * Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Univer ...

, is a former member of the bands of

Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician, songwriter and actor. From age eight he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. In 1957, he bega ...

Conway Twitty Harold Lloyd Jenkins (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993), better known by his stage name Conway Twitty, was an American singer and songwriter. Initially a part of the 1950s rockabilly scene, Twitty was best known as a country music performer. ...

, and

Jimmie Davis James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American politician, singer and songwriter of both sacred and popular songs. Davis was elected for two nonconsecutive terms from 1944 to 1948 and from 1960 to 1964 as the ...

References

External links

Sudduth Coliseum Website
Arena football venues Basketball venues in Louisiana Convention centers in Louisiana Indoor arenas in Louisiana Indoor ice hockey venues in Louisiana McNeese State Cowboys basketball Mixed martial arts venues in Louisiana Sports venues in Louisiana Sports venues in Lake Charles, Louisiana Music venues in Louisiana Buildings and structures in Lake Charles, Louisiana Tourist attractions in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana 1972 establishments in Louisiana Sports venues completed in 1972 {{Louisiana-stadium-stub

See also

References

External links