Cultural District Virtual Tour | |||
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| Located next to Pioneer tower
designed by Herbert M. Hinckley, the Will Rogers
Coliseum was considered unworkable by experts when proposed.
As explained in the
historical marker next to
the door, the engineer who designed the roof staked his
reputation on the viability of his idea of a roof consisting
of curved beams arranged in a radial pattern around a ridge
spine. A roof without interior support columns was an
important element in the project because he wanted to provide
an unobstructed view from every seat in the house. You might also notice that each row of seats is elevated over the one in front by more than what is usual in such a building. This provides room for spectators to wear their ten-gallon hats without obstructing the view of people behind them. This unique building is rich with detail inside and out that you're not likely to notice on your first visit. Besides rodeo, this arena was designed to support a wide range of productions. The ice making equipment which supports two local minor-league hockey teams, was installed when the building was first constructed. From circus to motorcycle races, the coliseum has hosted just about every kind of show. | ||
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