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

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 (Epithet, byname Ole Miss) is a Public university, public research university in University, near Oxford, Mississippi, United States, with a University of Mississippi Medical Center, medical center in Jackson, Miss ...

Rebels A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

men's and women's

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

teams, but was replaced by a new arena, The Sandy and John Black Pavilion, 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 (musician), John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJ ...

in September 1995 and

The Allman Brothers The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969. Its founding members were brothers Duane Allman (slide guitar, lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards), 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 by guitarist Warren Haynes, bassist Allen Woody (both of The Allman Brothers Band at the time) and drummer Matt Abts (whom Haynes had worked with in ...

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 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 college football team. ...

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

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

cemetery lies behind the building. The building was designed by a joint venture of two architectural firms: Brewer, Skewes & Godbold of Clarksdale and Pritchard & Nickles of Tunica."Pritchard, John Hayes" in ''American Architects Directory'' (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 736. It 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 college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the Na ...

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

Troy Troy (/; ; ) or Ilion (; ) was an ancient city located in present-day Hisarlik, Turkey. It is best known as the setting for the Greek mythology, Greek myth of the Trojan War. The archaeological site is open to the public as a tourist destina ...

83–80 in overtime. The final game as the Rebels permanent home 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 Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

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

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

Tad Pad Throwback Games
In August 2023 Ole Miss Athletics announced that a throwback game at the Tad Pad would take place on November 17, 2023. New Men's Head Basketball Coach Chris Beard came up with the idea and the Ole Miss Athletic Department made it happen. In this game, Ole Miss defeated

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two indi ...

70–67 in the first game back in the Tad Pad since 2016. On November 12th, 2024 Ole Miss took the floor at the Tad Pad once again defeating South Alabama 64-54.

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 College basketball venues in Mississippi Buildings and structures in Lafayette County, Mississippi Sports venues completed in 1966 1966 establishments in Mississippi 2016 disestablishments in Mississippi