The Hampton Coliseum is celebrating 50 years! VA Peninsula Media wants your memories about it. What was your favorite show? Do you have a special memory with that special someone? Let us hear from you. Email info@VAPeninsulaMedia.com
Hampton Coliseum Turns 50, Tell Your Story
My favorite time at the Hampton Coliseum is the circus with family.
Loudest rock show I ever attended; June 1970, Grand Funk Railroad.
Best show was the 1978 Yes show that featured their circular, ‘In The Round’ concert.
A 1987 Genesis show was really good too.
Saw zztop there and what a great concert.
New to the Va area moved here Feb 1 2020 the last outing I was able to go to was the Valentine’s Day concert there .. feels like the city welcomed me here with a beautiful concert before it shut it’s doors due to Covid … it’s a beautiful building I’m a photographer and I’ve been fascinated at 1st sight.
My first concert…Donnie Osmond in the seventies all I remember is screaming with all the other girls and running up and down the ramp.
My mom surprised me at 6 years old. Told me we were going to get my Dad wrestling tickets. We sat in the seats and Donnie and Marie came on! I was so excited!
Saw “The King” there in 1974… even in the nosebleed seats, his charisma was undeniable.
I went to see the Association! I believe it was the first concert held at the Coliseum. I was in Jr High School and it was my first concert with my best friends in the world!! Hard to believe it was 50 years ago.
Wow so many memories, too many to name but some are the obvious like carnivals, circus and can’t even tell you how many concerts through the years, from Bon Jovi to Garth Brooks, Van Halen to Alan Jackson. Went to seasonal basketball games when we had a semi pro team the Virginia Squires as well as many a hockey games with the Hampton Gulls!! I miss those times, so very many great memories made at the Hampton Coliseum!!
Donny Osmond concert, with my mother. I had stars in my eyes, I just knew with all my being that he was singing “Puppy Love” to ME! Cloud 9 to this day when I catch a glimpse of him.
Growing up we did not have a lot of extra money. My dad worked at the shipyard and my mom stayed at home to raise my brother, sister and I. One night, on a school night albeit, we all piled into the van for a surprise. When we arrived at the Hampton Coliseum my parents told us we were here for the circus! We had shaved ice and we enjoyed ourselves so much. It was such a special treat and I will always remember that day
Comedian Pat Paulsen made our new Coliseum a campaign stop for his “Presidential” run. As a junior high student I was chosen to be one of his campaign whistle stop aides. I still have the autographed Styrofoam campaign hat and buttons. What a treat that was! The only thing that topped it was Elvis.
Hampton Coliseum, the Mothership. Some of the best and most formative moments of my life were there. Mick Jagger touched my hand at 15, I saw Keith Richards el kabong a guy with his telecaster. Ozzy Osborne, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Rush . I became a life-long deadhead after my first Hampton show(and never missed a Hampton show after that). Formerly the Warlocks. Phish. So many great memories and so much of my heart is in that place. All love Mothership! Happy 50th!!
My memory was before the coliseum even opened. My father, Dave Luck, was part of the advertising team for the opening., Lawler Ballard has the job. My father arranged for the costumes from Franco Zeffirelli’s film RoMEO and JULIET to be put on display. They were in our house for weeks and of course tried them all on. He took us over to the coliseum before it even opened. Pretty cool stuff
I also remember meeting Julius Erving. He was part of the new team, the Virginia Squires that would be playing at the Coliseum. Cool stuff
Have gone to quite a few concerts there, Monster truck shows & even the circus when they were still coming around. My best memory is having my high school graduation ceremony there in ’92. Lots of good memories!!
First crush, first concert. Saw Shaun Cassidy there in the late 1970s. I remember being ? at first because I didn’t know there was an opening act, he didn’t look like himself, and I didn’t know any of the songs. (Why didn’t they tell me about opening acts? Lol) Then Shaun came out … singing Thats Rock and Roll and all was right in my 8-year old world again!! Ahhhh memories!
This was my first concert too. Very cool!
I have several memories from going to concerts at the Hampton Coliseum. First Motley Crue concert with my older brother and his friends I got Tommy Lee’s drum stick ! Becoming a die hard fan after that for sure. I was 8 months pregnant with my son on their supposed to be “Last Tour” in 1989 I went to their concert again. The security guard took one look at my belly and gave me and my friend one of the best seats ever by the stage! Amazing night for sure
That’s where I saw my very first concert in 1979, KISS. And the first 3 times I saw Van Halen was there. Got Eddie Van Halen’s autograph too. This place started my lifelong love of concerts. I hope that place has 50 more birthdays! ?❤️
This is where I had my graduation in 1988….I wish my daughter could have a similar experience in Florida in 2020.
I am so proud of you Hannah Isabella Burke.
You are amazing, a beautiful and unforgettable person. I’m blessed to be your Mom I wish we had a Hampton Collisium here. ? Mom
I remember our mom and dad taking us to see the circus there.
I have seen many concerts there, but I think my stand out memory was winning 2 tickets from WGH AM radio to see The Beach Boys there, years before Dennis died ♥️ I was a teenager, and felt SO grown up that my parents let me and my friend go in unchaperoned!
It was 1970 I was 14. The concert was Steppenwolf’s farewell tour. If I close my eyes I can see myself there. Awesome first concert.
I remember when the Coliseum first open it was named the Hampton Roads Coliseum. It was my understanding that the city of Newport News was supposed to join Hampton in paying for it and then backed out. Afterwards they changed the name dropping the Roads from the name. I attended my very first music concert there, the Jackson 5. The very next year in June 1973 I graduated from Bethel High in the Hampton Coliseum.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!