Beasley Coliseum

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Beasley Coliseum
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Facility statistics
Location Washington State University, Pullman
Opened 1973
Owner Washington State University
Operator Washington State University
Architect
Former names
Tenants
Washington State University Cougars (NCAA) (1973-Present)
Seating capacity
11,566
NCAA Men's Basketball WSU vs. UW at Beasley Coliseum on February 4, 2006.
NCAA Men's Basketball WSU vs. UW at Beasley Coliseum on February 4, 2006.

Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum is a 11,566-seat multi-purpose arena on the main campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. The arena opened in 1973 and is named for Wallis Beasley, a WSU professor, vice president and acting president. Beasley was also WSU's faculty representative for athletics in the 1960s.

The building includes Friel Court, the name of the basketball playing surface honoring Jack Friel. Friel coached the Cougar men's basketball team to 495 victories over 30 years. Beasley Coliseum is home to both the Washington State Cougars men's and women's basketball teams. It replaced Bohler Gymnasium which is now home to Cougar volleyball. Current men's basketball coach is Tony Bennett, while the current women's basketball coach is June Daugherty.

Despite the building's full name, it is not only used for concerts, big-name speakers, dinners and Commencement, but also for basketball as mentioned above. Seating capacities for concerts range from 2,500 in a theater configuration to 9,000 in an end-stage configuration and 12,000 in the round.

The Coliseum's Hall of Fame -- famous entertainers who have performed there --include comedians such as Bob Hope, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno and Whoopi Goldberg and musical stars or shows such as The Fifth Dimension, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Stevie Wonder, Grease (musical) and Cats (musical). The Harlem Globetrotters have performed there five times.

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