Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, also called the Madhouse Coliseum or Phoenix Memorial Coliseum, is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, located at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. It hosted the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association from 1968 to 1992, as well as indoor soccer, professional roller hockey, multiple professional minor league ice hockey teams, and roller derby.

The Arizona State Fair Commission began planning an "Arizona State Fairgrounds Exposition Center" as early as February 1960. The Commission envisioned an indoor facility which could be used during the state fair as well as year-round. In 1964, Phoenix architect Leslie Mahoney, of the firm Lescher and Mahoney (designers of the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix) presented the final plans to the commission, and construction began that summer. Tucson architect Lew Place (son of University of Arizona chief campus architect Roy Place, who later took over his father's firm) was also involved in the design. The structural engineering firm was T. Y. Lin International.

The distinctive saddle-shaped, tension-cable roof, supporting over 1,000 precast concrete panels, was considered innovative architectural engineering. It may have been at least partially influenced by the equally innovative Dorton Arena at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, completed in 1952. Veterans Memorial Coliseum contains a series of murals by Phoenix artist Paul Coze. The design influenced later arenas' architecture, including the defunct Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, and the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

In April 1965, the name was changed to honor Arizona's war veterans. There was an early controversy over whether alcohol would be served at the new facility, but legislation was signed in April 1965 by Governor Sam Goddard providing for limited liquor sales. The Coliseum opened November 3, 1965, with a production of Ice Follies. The final cost was estimated at $7 million, all privately funded.

The Coliseum suffers from a leaky roof dating back to at least its first anniversary, when management put a 25-foot (7.6 m) candle on the roof to celebrate the building's first birthday. The candle broke the roof's seal, which caused a number of leaks over the years.

On January 21, 1967, The Monkees performed at the Coliseum on their first ever live tour, which was filmed and portions used in episode 4753 The Monkees on Tour. The episode first aired on NBC, April 24, 1967. The episode included footage of the band's stay at Mountain Shadows Resort. On November 11, 1969, The Rolling Stones played a show for their Let it Bleed tour at the Coliseum. On September 9, 1970, Elvis Presley kicked off his first tour after returning to live performing, to a sell-out crowd of 13,000 as he did his first tour of 1973 on April 22 in front of 15,000. On October 18, 1993, Nirvana kicked off their In Utero world tour with a sold-out concert at the Coliseum.

The arena hosted the Phoenix Suns of the NBA from 1968 to 1992. During the Suns' tenure, the Coliseum was affectionately referred to as "The Madhouse on McDowell" (for McDowell Road on which the arena is located) by both fans and the local media. Ironically, it was Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn who conferred the nickname during the 1970 playoffs.

A preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers had to be canceled on October 6, 1974, after a leaky roof rendered the floor unplayable.