The Ector County Coliseum is a 5,131 seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

Odessa, Texas Odessa () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, Ector County with portions extending into Midland County, Texas, Midland County. Odessa's population was 114,428 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 ...

Tenants

It is home to the

Odessa Jackalopes The Odessa Jackalopes are a Junior ice hockey#Tier II, Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The team is based in Odessa, Texas and plays their home games at Ector County Coliseum. History The fra ...

(

North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 50th season of operation in 2024–25. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...

), the Sand Hills Rodeo, and the biennial Permian Basin International Oil Show. Each January the arena hosts a major rodeo, and the animals are kept in a large hall at one end of the arena. This is the same area that, before hockey games, group picnics are served to as many as 500 people.

History

The Coliseum was built in 1954 and was previously the home of the original

team. The Coliseum was the oldest arena still being used for CHL games until the Fort Wayne Komets and their facility, the

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, near present-day Johnny Appleseed Park. It opened in 1952 with a construction cost of nearly $3 million. The Allen County Wa ...

, entered the league in 2010. It was home to the Odessa/West Texas Roughnecks indoor football team from 2004 until the team folded in 2012, then the West Texas Warbirds/Desert Hawks arena football franchise, who played from 2021 to 2024. On April 29, 1983 - after rehearsing with new production for several days - the British band

Def Leppard Def Leppard are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, ...

launched their first headlining tour at the coliseum. English heavy rock band

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

played the first-ever US gig of their comeback tour at the venue on Jan 18, 1985. Elvis Presley played two sold out shows at the coliseum on May 29–30, 1976. The Professional Bull Riders hosted a Bud Light Cup Series event known as "Top Guns Bull Riding" at the Coliseum annually from 1995 to 2000.

References

External links

Ector County Coliseum website
Sports in Odessa, Texas Soccer venues in Texas American football venues in Texas Sports venues completed in 1954 Buildings and structures in Ector County, Texas Indoor soccer venues in the United States 1954 establishments in Texas Ice hockey venues in Texas {{Texas-sports-venue-stub