C. M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum is an 8,867-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 spectators ...

on the campus of the University of Mississippi. Through the first part of the 2015–16 basketball season, it was home to the

University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi (byname Ole Miss) is a public research university that is located adjacent to Oxford, Mississippi, and has a medical center in Jackson. It is Mississippi's oldest public university and its largest by enrollment. ...

Rebels Rebels may refer to: * Participants in a rebellion * Rebel groups, people who refuse obedience or order * Rebels (American Revolution), patriots who rejected British rule in 1776 Film and television * ''Rebels'' (film) or ''Rebelles'', a 2019 ...

men's and women's

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teams, but was replaced by a new arena,

The Sandy and John Black Pavilion The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss, also known as the SJB Pavilion, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Mississippi in University, Mississippi. The $96.5 million multipurpose arena is home to the University of Mi ...

, in January 2016. It has also hosted many concerts, including

Widespread Panic Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guit ...

in September 1995 and

The Allman Brothers The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman (founder, slide guitar and lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards, songwriting), as well as Dickey Betts (lead guitar, ...

with

Gov't Mule Gov't Mule (pronounced "Government Mule") is an American Southern rock jam band, formed in 1994 as a side project of the Allman Brothers Band by guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody. Fans often refer to Gov't Mule simply as ''Mule''. ...

in November 1995. Tad Smith Coliseum

The circular building, similar to many arenas constructed at the time, has a diameter white steel-framed, Neoprene-covered roof which tops out at above the court. From its exterior, it looks like a giant hub cap. The floor, 130' from end to end with its Rebel red and blue trim, is located below the surrounding ground level. The seats were replaced in 2001 with navy blue upholstered seats. In 2010 the Tad Pad was upgraded. These upgrades included a unique new center hung video display, featuring four LED boards approximately high by wide. Two ring displays are also part of the center hung structure and are able to show a variety of graphics, animations and statistical information. Overall the display measures approximately high by wide and also features four dedicated scoring sections. In addition to this upgrade, Daktronics provided a custom sound system for the newly renovated arena. The outside of the building includes red Mississippi brick and blue vinyl-covered steel siding. It is located to the southwest of the center of campus, west of

Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Vaught–Hemingway Stadium at Hollingsworth Field is an outdoor athletic stadium located in University, Mississippi, United States (although it has an Oxford address). The stadium serves as the home for the University of Mississippi Rebels colle ...

and across the street from the Robert C. Khayat Law Center. A

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cemetery lies behind the building. The building opened during 1965–1966 as Rebel Coliseum. It was renamed on March 25, 1972, to honor C. M. "Tad" Smith, former three-sport letterman, coach, and athletic director at the university. The largest crowd ever at the building was on February 10, 2007, when 9,452 fans watched the Rebels defeat the No. 18

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I as a mem ...

. Prior to the building of the Coliseum, the team played in Old Gym (now the Martindale Student Services Center), a 2,500-seat gym built in 1929. In July 2014, Ole Miss broke ground on a new arena named

The Pavilion at Ole Miss The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss, also known as the SJB Pavilion, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Mississippi in University, Mississippi. The $96.5 million multipurpose arena is home to the University of Mi ...

, which was completed during the 2015–16 basketball season. The final game for the men's team at Tad Smith Coliseum was on December 22, 2015, with the Rebels defeating

Troy Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite language, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite language, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in prese ...

83–80 in overtime. The final game overall was on January 3, 2016 when the Ole Miss women defeated Vanderbilt 55–52. The men's team opened the new arena on January 7 against

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

, with the women's basketball team making their debut in the new arena on January 10 against

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

References

External links

VIDEO: Virtual tour of Tad Smith Coliseum at Ole Miss

TadSmithColiseum.com - Seating Chart, Photos, and views of the court
{{Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball navbox Defunct college basketball venues in the United States Ole Miss Rebels basketball Basketball venues in Mississippi Buildings and structures in Lafayette County, Mississippi Sports venues completed in 1966 1966 establishments in Mississippi 2016 disestablishments in Mississippi