The Mississippi Coliseum is a 6,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Jackson, Mississippi , built in 1962 and located on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds complex. The arena has 6,812 seats available for basketball, and can be expanded to 10,000 for concerts. It sits 2900 feet (884 meters) atop the extinct Jackson Volcano .
5-860: In addition to the Coliseum, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds includes: The Mississippi Trade Mart, the A & I agricultural complex and the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. It was home to the Jackson Bandits minor league ice hockey team from 1999 to 2003. The Fairgrounds hosts the Mississippi State Fair each October. Each February, the Mississippi Coliseum and surrounding complex host The Dixie National Rodeo , which
10-562: Is the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River Starting in the 2018–19 basketball season, Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball and Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball have played one game at the arena each season. Jackson Bandits The Jackson Bandits were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). The Bandits played at
15-708: The Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson , Mississippi between 1999 and 2003 . Previously the franchise played as the Chesapeake Icebreakers in Upper Marlboro , Maryland prior to their relocation following the 1998–99 season . After being purchased in 1999 by a company called Mississippi Indoor Sports headed by majority owners and Mississippi businessmen Bernie Ebbers , the then MCI WorldCom president and CEO, and J.L. Holloway,
20-548: The then president and CEO of Friede-Goldman International, the franchise was moved to Jackson, Mississippi , and began playing home games at the Mississippi Coliseum . The team was renamed the Jackson Bandits in reference to outlaws famous for robbing wealthy travelers along the Natchez Trace in the 19th century. Derek Clancey, a former Chesapeake Icebreakers' star and eight-year veteran minor-league player,
25-546: Was named head coach and director of hockey operations, positions he would hold during the franchise's entire existence in Jackson. Ebbers' interest in the Bandits was bought out by local businessmen/investors in 2002, shortly after his resignation as President/CEO of WorldCom. The new ownership group included Holloway, Brian Fenelon, Billy Mounger III, and Isaac Byrd. After declining attendance and unsuccessful attempts to get
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