Demolition crew blows up New Haven, Conn., coliseum

StarTribune.com ^ | January 20, 2007 | Associated Press

[scott says]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Crews set off a thunderous explosion Saturday to demolish Veterans Memorial Coliseum, a 35-year-old arena that held sporting events and concerts by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Crowds filled a nearby 10-level parking garage to watch the demolition, which makes way for a downtown redevelopment project. "I've seen many hockey games and concerts at the coliseum, and it's sad to see a landmark in New Haven leaving us," said Ed Seward, 50. Others have considered the building an eyesore. "The first time I came to New Haven, I thought it was so very ugly. I'm glad to see it go," said Linda Young, 32. Much of the building already had been dismantled before two children, who had won a lottery, pushed a plunger to set off about 2,000 pounds of explosives. The blast produced a huge dust cloud and left behind 50-foot piles of rubble. A few windows were broken on nearby buildings. The $230 million development project will include stores and up to 280 housing units. A community college and a theater will move to the site and an adjacent property.

[scott says]

I grew up 15 minutes from New Haven and spent plenty of time at the old Coliseum. My Dad did PR work for the New Haven Nighthawks in the mid 70's and I attended hockey camps and practice with the team as a youngster. I saw my first rock concert at the Coliseum in 1977- the band Chicago, still a great memory to this day.I saw so many bands there I can't remember them all- Grateful Dead,Jerry Garcia Band,James Taylor,Tom Petty,Rush,Styx,Cheap Trick,Doobie Brothers,J Giels Band,Genesis,Kinks,ELO,...too many to mention- Fare Well Coliseum- many wonderful memories of the old barn.

[scott says]

Connecticut Ping

[FLOutdoorsman]

IBT9/11Conspiracy's

[Gay State Conservative]

While they're at it,why don't they do the very same thing to the entire City of Bridgeport?

[scott says]

The place was a real eyesore from day one and was obsolete 20 years ago.....

[scott says]

Bridgeport is a dump! Send the entire city to NJ where it belongs. :-0

[Gay State Conservative]

Bridgeport is a dump! Send the entire city to NJ where it belongs. :-0

I know.I drive through Bridgeport fairly regularly and am constantly amazed how the richest state in the Union can allow it to stand in its current state.

[x]

Somewhere in all that parking, they hid an auditorium.

Not a very pretty building by any means. Pretty brutal, but it did go together alright with the nearby skyscraper:

I saw my first rock concert at the Coliseum in 1977- the band Chicago, still a great memory to this day.I saw so many bands there I can't remember them all- Grateful Dead,Jerry Garcia Band,James Taylor,Tom Petty,Rush,Styx,Cheap Trick,Doobie Brothers,J Giels Band,Genesis,Kinks,ELO,...too many to mention- Fare Well Coliseum- many wonderful memories of the old barn.

I guess not everyone is trying to forget the seventies ...

[scott says]

"Pretty brutal, but it did go together alright with the nearby skyscraper"

Thats the Knights of Columbus headquarters, or least it was when I live in CT, just as ugly as the Coliseum. I saw most of those concerts in the early 80's as a HS student...excellent memories of a long time ago......sigh.

[DBrow]

I bet it wasn't demo charges at all.

I think they flew airplanes into the building, and are only claiming it's demolition charges.

Did you see the way it fell? First one side, then progressively more and more, from right to left as though a 737 was plowing through snapping support columns.

And they only showed one side in the news footage.

(Posted for fun in honor of barking moonbats everywhere)

[Night Hides Not]

The place was a real eyesore from day one and was obsolete 20 years ago.....

Here's another CT eyesore that's been obsolete for more than 20 years:

[ccmay]

While they're at it,why don't they do the very same thing to the entire City of Bridgeport?

Actually, the state and nation could be improved by doing likewise to the whole city of New Haven.

-ccm

[taxed2death]

"While they're at it,why don't they do the very same thing to the entire City of Bridgeport?"

Call me a few minutes ahead of time so I can take my customers bikes out of my shop. Thanks.

[taxed2death]

"I know.I drive through Bridgeport fairly regularly and am constantly amazed how the richest state in the Union can allow it to stand in its current state."

Where else are we supposed to house all the welfare mama's?

In some Greenwhich estate?

[taxed2death]

"Actually, the state and nation could be improved by doing likewise to the whole city of New Haven."

Well, in defense of NH...there are a many, many fantastic restaurants there.....

[babble-on]

Yorkside Pizza not least among them.

[scott says]

"Well, in defense of NH...there are a many, many fantastic restaurants there....."

Pepe's Pizza still is the best.... For a lot of the concerts I listed , We would go to Pepe's for a pie then head over for the show.

[nothingnew]

Pepe's Pizza still is the best....

Still on Wooster St.? How about Sally's?

(I grew up in North Haven)

FMCDH(BITS)

[scott says]

Sally's and Pepe's are still on Wooster Street. The best restaurant on that street was Del Monaco's.....very good.
I grew up in Guilford and have been in No Cal for almost 20 years now.
Whenever I go back to visit I make at least one trip to Wooster Street.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Video

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5965312&nav=menu29_2