There are lot of factors to consider in wrestling. From the actual wrestling, to whether or not a performer has the “it” factor, to star power, storylines, good guys, bad guys, fan reactions, ppvs, production, right down to the gritty backstage politics. Something that often times seems over-looked, though, is where the show is actually emanating from. Yeah, ok, sometimes WWE will cut to an outside shot of the building, hype up the next Madison Square Garden event, and mention where the show is “airing live” from, but unless it’s MSG, not much attention is paid to the locale, let alone it’s historical importance. This is a real shame, considering there are several very special arenas out there. So, in no particular order, and excluding Madison Square Garden, I present you part one of this very interesting series, taking a look at some of those special arenas.
Cow Palace
Located on the outer edges of San Francisco, this venue was completed in 1941, but the first wrestling event would not be held here until the early 1960s. Roy Shire became the first promoter to hold a show at the Cow Palace, when he started up his own wrestling promotion, “National All-Star Wrestling,” in Northern California, and made stops at the Palace his “crown jewel” shows (kind of like ppvs today). These shows were the jewels,because the Palace housed 15,000 in attendance. There was doubt that Shire could fill the building up, due to the fact that wrestling had been on a popularity decline in the region and the company was an upstart, but on March 4, 1961, when National All-Star Wrestling ran it’s first show there, over 16,000 fans attended the event. The top draw was the then United States Heavyweight Champion, Ray Stevens.
Around the same time, the American Wrestling Association broke away from the National Wrestling Alliance. The Cow Palace was crucial to the organization’s expansion, as it was in traditional NWA territory, and was in an important wrestling region. They held countless events at the arena, including SuperClash II, where Curt Hennig pinned Nick Bockwinkel to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. I’m sure if you ever watch the AWA on ESPN Classic’s, you’ll see a show emanating from the Palace.
Much like the AWA, when Vince McMahon wanted to expand the WWF out of it’s Northeast territory, he looked to the Cow Palace. The venue housed some of the company’s first West Coast events. A more recent event, that you’re probably familiar with, held at the Palace, was No Way Out 2004. This is most notably when Eddie Guerrero won his first WWE Championship. Even more recently, Ring of Honor has held shows at the famed venue, as well as several other independent organizations, and companies throughout history.
It may not be Madison Square Garden, but the Cow Palace holds it own in wrestling history.
Dallas Sportatorium
It may not look like much, but the Dallas Sportatorium historically ranks right up there with the Cow Palace. The building was originally constructed in 1935, in an octagonal shape, and could then house 10,000. The first wrestling card to be held in the arena, took place that same year, and was promoted by Burt Wiloughby. He promoted wrestling cards there until 1940, when a man by the name of Ed McLemore bought out Wiloughby. Unfortunately, but adding further wrestling history to it, the original octagon building was partially burned down in 1953, supposedly by a rival wrestling promoter. After that, it was only able to house about 4,500 in seating.
McLemore would form a very significant partnership in 1966, when wrestler Jack Adkisson was brought into the business fold. Adkisson is better known as Fritz von Erich. Two years later, McLemore would begin suffering a series of heart-attacks, and a year later would pass away, leaving the company to Von Erich. Under Von Erich, the promotion would become known as World Class Championship Wrestling; easily the most successful and famous organization to run shows out of the Sportatorium.
Times were tumultuous in the mid and late 1980s, with the World Wrestling Federation quickly expanding their reach into other territories, and making business hard for smaller companies. A few promotions tried to combat the spread by making their own company larger, WCCW being one of them.
In 1986, WCCW split away from the National Wrestling Alliance, for the second time in the organizations history (the first time was in 1953). A bigger reason WCCW left the NWA banner, though, was due to then NWA President, Jim Crockett Jr, making the decision to no longer book World Champion, Ric Flair, in the state of Texas.
WCCW would fold in 1990, due to the changing times, and would be marred by numerous tragedies involving several top stars. The Dallas Sportatorium’s doors remained open, however. The Global Wrestling Federation found a home in it, but the organization only lasted until 1994. After that, various independent companies ran some shows in the arena, but they never drew many fans, and eventually the companies turned to smaller venues. In 2001, the building would once again be stricken by fire, this time causing much more damage than the previous. Two years later, the building would finally be torn down.
Just brainstorm some of the names who came through the region, and you’ll understand the historical significance of the Dallas Sportatorium. Names like Gorgeous George, Shawn Michaels, the Von Erichs, Bruiser Brody, the Fabulous Freebirds, the Midnight Express, Jake Roberts, Gino Hernandez….they and others all graced the Sportatorium’s hallowed halls.
Kōrakuen Hall
Time to add some international flavor to this article.
Constructed in 1962, in Tokyo, this arena is not only one of Japan’s most famous venues, but the World’s. Though it can only seat 1,800 spectators, it’s hailed as the Japanese Madison Square Garden, for good reason. From All Japan Pro Wrestling to New Japan Pro Wrestling, all of Japan’s major promotions, have run shows in this venue. Smaller promotions, including those now defunct, have also all been showcased at the Kōrakuen Hall. Yes, that means every Japanese promotion, has held at least one show in this arena.
The fans also make this venue special. While the crowds are the traditional, respectful Japanese audience, it’s all but guaranteed that the crowd will be hot, night in and night out. These fans simply love puroresu, which is a good thing considering how many promotions hold shows here.
For wrestlers, Kōrakuen Hall is one of the premier places you want to compete, whether you be Japanese, or foreign to the country. International legends have been born, and have died, here.
Kiel Auditorium
While maybe not as famous as the previous three arenas, the Kiel Auditorium, located in St. Louis, Missouri, still has much significant wrestling history behind it.
Built in 1934, the Kiel is most notable here, for holding countless NWA events from the 1950s up until it’s closure in 1991, the most famous event being Starrcade ’90. It’s also worth noting that the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the famous “10 pounds of gold,” changed hands on three separate occasions, in this venue. This venue, was also in stark contrast to the other prominent arena in St. Louis- The Chase Hotel. While the Chase presented wrestling in a ballroom lit by chandeliers, accommodated patrons, who dressed in high-fashion, with only the very best food and beverage, the Kiel sold hotdogs, to raucous fans, dressed like…well, wrestling fans. Going to the Kiel meant one thing; you were going to a wrestling event. It wasn’t just any random wrestling card you were going to see, though.
St. Louis was not it’s own territory, nor was there a dominant promotion controlling the area, like how the WWF claimed the Northeast or how WCCW had Texas. Now, you might assume that this was a bad thing for residents in the region, however, the region’s centralized location, and abundant monetary funds, drew in pretty much every wrestler you can name. Legends such as Lou Thesz, Bruno Sammartino, Buddy Rogers, the Von Erichs, the Funks, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Billy Graham, Gene Kiniski, Dick Murdoch, and many, many more, all competed in front of Kiel Auditorium crowds. It would be faster, yet more difficult, to name performers who haven’t competed at the Kiel, than it would be to name those that did. Therefore, you were pretty much always certain the card would be a good one.
Similar to the Cow Palace, the Kiel Auditorium was the first major arena the WWF began running shows out of, outside the Northeast territory. This would lead to competition between promotions, who wanted to book the Kiel.
The Kiel Auditorium would be demolished in 1991, when the city of St. Louis decided to build a new hockey arena. The last show ever held at the building, was a WCW event.
Comiskey Park
Ok, so, while not quite an arena per say, Comiskey Park has held a good number of wrestling events, especially for a baseball diamond. I’m not sure why wrestling promoters like this field so much more than others, but to each their own. Personally, I’d prefer they held events at Chicago’s other ballpark, Wrigley Field; go Cubs, go! Anyway, back to the wrestling…
The first wrestling event held at Comiskey Park, saw Frank Gotch and Georg Hackenschimdt, pitted against one another for the World Heavyweight Championship, for their second and final encounter, in 1911. Besides for the mega-stars involved (and make no mistake, these two are right up there with Hogan, Austin, Rock, etc), and the championship being on the line, this match is remembered for the controversy stemming from it. You see, Frank Gotch may be hailed as the father of American professional wrestling, which he deserves, but let’s just say he was the original “Dirtiest Player in the Game.” In their first bout, Gotch oiled himself up, to avoid Hackenschmidt’s patented move, the Bearhug. In this match, Gotch resorted to paying a Hooker(not what you think it means…) to injure his opponent during a training session before their match. Nonetheless,the match drew 30,000 fans, for a record gate of $87,000. I’m not a math whiz, but I’m sure you can imagine how that figure would relate to today monetarily.
Fast forward to 1961, and another legend in the making, “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers has been voted into a NWA World Heavyweight Championship match, by the NWA booking committee.Rogers defeated Pat O’Connor (who had originally won the belt two years earlier in the Kiel Auditorium) in the bout at Comiskey Park, to win his first World Championship, in front of over 38,000 fans. An attendance record, that stood for over two decades, until WrestleMania III would shatter it. This moment is one of the most significant in wrestling history, as it’s the dawn of a new age for the sport. It marks the change from legitimately good in-ring competitors, to the showman wrestler.
The AWA was fond of holding shows at fields and parks. The company’s most favorite, by far, though, was Comiskey Park. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, several AWA shows emanated from here, including the first SuperClash event, in 1985.
I must express, it seems kind of odd to me to end this article about historic arenas, with a baseball field. That’s not what I originally intended, but once I get going, I can’t stop, and thus had to split this thing into two articles. Plus, these venues truly do have a ton of history behind them, that deserves to be recognized. So, be sure to check back here next week, when the next and final installment of this two-part series drops.
Thanks for Reading,
J.
@J712v2
Reminder: Check out this week’s “J Classic,” featuring a classic Survivor Series match-up.
I pass OVW’s Danny Davis Arena when going to visit my dad.
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Have you ever gone to any of the shows?Personally think that OVW was WWE’s best developmental territory.
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No, but I talked a coworker into taking her grandson there once. I described Punk and she remembered him being there.
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You must love your famous arenas, here’s a question….which one do you to rate at the top and which would you love to wrestle in the most? Great read J, didn’t realize how much impact these arenas have had in wrestling, changing the history forever.
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Ha, I’ve actually been asking myself which of these arenas I’d most want to compete in, since I began writing this article. Out of these, it’s between the Cow Palace and the Kiel Auditorium. The Dallas Sportatorium is up there as well, but I’m not that big a of a Von Erich fan.
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The WWE should have a future event at Wrigley Field. That would be awesome.
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Agreed! Wrigely is like the second most historic baseball, behind Boston’s. Plus,as I mentioned, I’m partial to Cubs.
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Baseball park that is.
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Damn J , you know your wrestling history! You could be a good historian!
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That would probably be a good fit for me; it combines two things I love (one more so than the other,though 😉
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Thank you for mentioning the Sportatorium. Being from Texas & a WCCW fan, this has a very special place in my heart. This arena brought us so many great moments & instilled many great memories. Thank you again 🙂
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Of course! The Sportatorium easily deserves to be considered one of the best venues.
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I remember watching World Class on ESPN.
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I wonder if there’s a chance wrestling will ever be broadcast on ESPN again? That would be cool, and great for a smaller organization and fans. It would definitely need to be a smaller company, more focused on the wrestling aspect, than the storylines.
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I heard outside the U.S., the news considers wrestling sports and entertainment.
As far as ESPN goes, a while back ESPN Classic starting playing reruns of old wrestling from the 80’s.
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The recent ESPN book had an interesting few pages about them bringing wrestling to their network. At the time, the guys in charge of ESPN wanted Pro Wrestling on ESPN. They knew it was fake but it was getting good ratings. WWE and WCW were already taken so ESPN asked what was the #3 territory. That would be NWA. One of their employees reportedly got very excited when he found out one of wrestlers on the NWA roster was Sgt. Slaughter. After he got weird looks from everyone in the room, he said he only heard of him because his kids watch wrestling but everyone knew he was lying so he wouldn’t look like a wrestling mark.
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Sorry….I meant AWA not NWA.
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I don’t think it’s seen as a mainstream sport J, IMO it’s seen as entertainment more so than a sport, I could be completely wrong but it’s what I think. So I don’t think it’ll ever be on ESPN etc
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Well now see, that’s just ignorant of people. People say wrestling is fake, and what not…meanwhile, there’s no NBA this year, and was almost no NFL, because the players are ~derogatory word here~! I’d like to see “real” athletes compete 300+ days a year, while traveling Worldwide, putting their bodies on the line, with little protection.
But yes, it’s not as mainstream as football, etc. Really, though, what are sports? Entertainment.
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Concerning the players being a “derogatory word”, replace it with owners and we can agree.
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AMEN! Wrestling is a sport for me, and whilst a lot of today’s WWE (Storylines and social media) I cannot understand why people say it’s fake. We often hear how wrestlers get addicted to painkillers, and it’s not because “hey let’s just whack a few of these down me throat see what happens” it’s because they live in pain and painkillers ease the pain somewhat. When something helps your pain it’s hard not to continue the use of it. Haters are so stupid sometimes it’s best just to ignore them.
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You took that wrong, I see it as a sport, they train hard, work had..they’re athletes without a doubt but IMO I don’t think people see it as a mainstream sport, I think it is without a doubt.
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I know you think they’re athletes, and it’s a sport, but those who don’t are ignorant.
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I don’t really mind the “it’s not a sport” point, because it is scripted, but what I don’t get is when people say wrestlers aren’t athletes. They need to go and try it.
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Off topic, but this is terrific!
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7272973/ce-na-sucks
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Did that guy seriously complain about waiting 15 minutes to get inside MSG? I wait at least 15 minutes to get into the Allstate Arena and that’s after getting there about 20 minutes before the doors open. He must not go to many WWE Events.
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He might’ve mentioned it to make the column easier to relate. We’ve all been stuck in the cold or rain, just wanting to get in.
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@Capt. Players, owners…same difference 😛
And yeah, I’ve heard someone say (I think a McMahon or two) say that they don’t get why the US categorizes into one section of media, when the rest of the World considers wrestling both a sport and entertainment. Personally, I believe that sports ARE entertainment, so..
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Players= Millionaires
Owners= Billionaires
Players= The ones who bring in the cash.
Owners=The ones who make the cash. (Well, most of it.)
Players= Fine with the agreement that they were in the middle of.
Owners= Stopped the current agreement in order to get more money.
Players= They play for their pay.
Owners= By teams as, and I quote, “hobbies”, but unwilling to accept that when having a hobby, there is a good chance you’ll sink money into it.
Players= For most, this is all have.
Owners= The teams are pocket change for them.
Strike= Players leave on their own.
Lockout= Owners literally lock the players out.
All this= Not the “same difference”.
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Ok, ok; I stand corrected, and will vow to never make jokes about the issue again.
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@Ry Exactly! Though, I could totally see some older stars, say Ultimate Warrior, just taking whatever, because back then they all felt like rockstars…and in his case, was just insane lol
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@J712: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
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