The original structure on the site, the St. Paul Hippodrome, was built in 1906 and housed an indoor ice rink from 1909 to 1942. The building fell into disrepair after being used as a military aircraft propeller plant during
World War II.[4] The current structure was built in 1951 in an
Art Deco style consistent with other fairgrounds buildings of the era.[6] It continued to be known as the Hippodrome until 1975 when it was renamed Coliseum.[4] The arena was renamed Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum in 2006. Lee Warner was Vice President of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society Board of Managers, which oversees the Minnesota State Fair, from 1919 to 1944.[7]
On October 6, 1962, President
John F. Kennedy spoke at the arena to campaign for
Democratic candidates in the upcoming congressional election.[8]
Beginning in the mid-1970s, the arena became popular in the winter months as a venue for high school and college
ice hockey, hosting up to five games per week through the 1980s.[9] The
University of St. Thomas men's hockey team played its home games at the coliseum from 1976 until 2003.[6] With expensive repairs needed to the arena's ice-making equipment and decline in usage, the final hockey game was played there in 2014.[9]
The original structure on the site, the St. Paul Hippodrome, was built in 1906 and housed an indoor ice rink from 1909 to 1942. The building fell into disrepair after being used as a military aircraft propeller plant during
World War II.[4] The current structure was built in 1951 in an
Art Deco style consistent with other fairgrounds buildings of the era.[6] It continued to be known as the Hippodrome until 1975 when it was renamed Coliseum.[4] The arena was renamed Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum in 2006. Lee Warner was Vice President of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society Board of Managers, which oversees the Minnesota State Fair, from 1919 to 1944.[7]
On October 6, 1962, President
John F. Kennedy spoke at the arena to campaign for
Democratic candidates in the upcoming congressional election.[8]
Beginning in the mid-1970s, the arena became popular in the winter months as a venue for high school and college
ice hockey, hosting up to five games per week through the 1980s.[9] The
University of St. Thomas men's hockey team played its home games at the coliseum from 1976 until 2003.[6] With expensive repairs needed to the arena's ice-making equipment and decline in usage, the final hockey game was played there in 2014.[9]