Beasley Coliseum

Beasley Coliseum
Aerial view from southwest in 2024
Map
Pullman is located in the United States
Pullman
Pullman
Location in the United States
Pullman is located in Washington (state)
Pullman
Pullman
Location in Washington
Full nameBeasley Coliseum
Former namesWashington State University
Performing Arts Coliseum
(1973–1981)
Address925 NE North Fairway Rd.
LocationWashington State University
Pullman, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates46°44′6″N 117°9′27″W / 46.73500°N 117.15750°W / 46.73500; -117.15750
Elevation2,550 feet (775 m) AMSL
OwnerWashington State University
OperatorWashington State University
Capacity12,058
Construction
Broke groundFebruary 8, 1971[1]
OpenedJune 3, 1973;
51 years ago (1973-06-03)[3][4][5]
Construction cost$8.5 million
($58.3 million in 2023[2])
ArchitectJohn Graham & Company
Tenants
Washington State Cougars - NCAA
(1973–present)

Beasley Coliseum is a general-purpose indoor arena in the northwest United States, located on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. The home venue for the Cougars men's and women's basketball teams of the Pac-12 Conference, it opened 51 years ago in 1973,[3][4] and its current seating capacity is 12,058 for basketball.

The arena was renamed in 1981 for Wallis Beasley (1915–2008),[6] a long-time sociology professor and executive vice president,[7] shortly before his retirement from the university. He was WSU's faculty representative for athletics in the 1960s and also served as interim university president.[8][9][10] For its first eight years, the venue was known as "Washington State University Performing Arts Coliseum."

The building used "space frame" construction, relatively novel at the time.[11] The elevation of the court is approximately 2,550 feet (775 m) above sea level.

The project was approved by the WSU board of regents in early 1969.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Coliseum Site (photo)". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. February 9, 1971. p. 11.
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "New WSU Coliseum expands seating for events". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. photos. May 5, 1973. p. 9.
  4. ^ a b "WSU holds graduation for 2,462". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. June 4, 1973. p. 6.
  5. ^ "WSU graduation opens Coliseum". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. June 4, 1973. p. 6.
  6. ^ White, Vera (November 4, 1993). "Reflections on the first 20 years". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
  7. ^ "Dr. Beasley is promoted to new post". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. October 26, 1968. p. 8.
  8. ^ "College names acting president". Tri-City Herald. Washington. Associated Press. August 16, 1966. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Interim chief is named at university". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. August 30, 1966. p. 3.
  10. ^ "Wallis Beasley - obituary". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. May 24, 2008. p. 4A.
  11. ^ "Novel technique used". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. (photo). September 18, 1971. p. 7.
  12. ^ "WSU board approves coliseum, art center". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). January 11, 1969. p. 1.
  13. ^ "WSU plans to construct coliseum-arts center". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). January 12, 1969. p. 8.