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44-753: The arena's formal name was New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum , but most locals simply referred to it as "New Haven Coliseum". The Coliseum held 11,497 people at full capacity, and occupied 4.5 acres (18,000 m) of land next to the Knights of Columbus Building and faced the Oak Street Connector/Route 34 downtown spur. The Coliseum hosted the New Haven Knights of the United Hockey League , New Haven Nighthawks , New Haven Senators , and Beast of New Haven of

88-585: A Sony Jumbotron serving as a scoreboard . The arena offers luxury boxes to corporate sponsors. Since 2008, the Fairfield University men's and women's basketball teams play select games at the arena. Starting in 2013, the arena hosted regular season Connecticut Huskies men's and women's basketball games. The UConn men's hockey team , a new member of Hockey East , were also scheduled to play five regular season games in Bridgeport during

132-718: A men's college basketball tripleheader featuring Connecticut's six mid-major teams, on November 13, 2009. The Sacred Heart Pioneers defeated the Yale Bulldogs 92–86 in the tip-off game of the night. The Fairfield Stags defeated the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 67–58 in game two, and the night concluded with the Quinnipiac Bobcats defeating the Hartford Hawks 85–74. The arena and Fairfield University along with

176-756: A portion of Main Street from its intersection with State Street to the arena in order to house the events. The SportsFest is organized by the Fairfield County Sports Commission and presented by People's United Bank . Webster Bank Arena is home to the Bridgeport Islanders , a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the affiliate of the New York Islanders of

220-474: A relocated Long Wharf Theatre and a new campus for Gateway Community College . A temporary 400-space parking lot opened on the former Coliseum site on December 4, 2007, but plans are advancing to redevelop the site with a hotel, hundreds of housing units and approximately 40,000 square feet (3,700 m) of commercial space. The master developer, LiveWorkLearnPlay had the project approved in 2013, but construction has been delayed due to cost issues related to

264-827: A temporary makeshift COVID-19 hospital, Webster Bank Arena served as the home of the Westchester Knicks , a professional basketball team in the NBA G League and the affiliate of the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). On June 21, 2022, the Westchester Knicks announced that their home games would continue at the Total Mortgage Arena for the 2022–23 season . On November 12, 2016,

308-699: The 2004 tournament and being crowned National Champions. The 2006 tournament featured the Connecticut Huskies , Duke Blue Devils , Georgia Bulldogs, and Michigan State Spartans . The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Connecticut Huskies to win the 2006 Bridgeport Regional before advancing to the Final Four of the 2006 tournament . And the 2008 tournament featured the Connecticut Huskies , Cornell Big Red , Minnesota Gophers , and Texas Longhorns . The Connecticut Huskies defeated

352-664: The Air Force Falcons , Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs , Union Dutchmen , and Yale Bulldogs . The eventual 2011 National Champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs upset the top seeded Yale Bulldogs to win the East Regional and advance to the 2011 Frozen Four . In 2012, the Union Dutchmen defeated UMass Lowell Riverhawks to advance to the Frozen Four. The arena hosted again in 2014. Most recently, in 2018 ,

396-708: The American Hockey League , as well as the 1984 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Yale University 's 2002 National Invitational Tournament men's college basketball tournament opening round games. Also, it was home of the Connecticut Coasters roller hockey team in 1993, the Connecticut Pride of the IBL during the 2000–01 season, and the New Haven Ninjas af2 team in 2002. The UConn Huskies men's basketball team played home games at

440-602: The City of Bridgeport and the Fairfield County Sports Commission have brought the First and Second Rounds of NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship to the arena three times since 2004. The 2004 tournament featured the Auburn Tigers , Connecticut Huskies , Penn Quakers , and North Carolina State Wolfpack . The Connecticut Huskies defeated the Auburn Tigers to win the 2004 Bridgeport Regional en route to winning

484-670: The City of Bridgeport and the Fairfield County Sports Commission have hosted the MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships two times. The MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships features all 20 of the league's teams competing for an automatic berth in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship . In 2007, the Niagara Purple Eagles defeated

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528-808: The National Hockey League (NHL). The team was known as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2001 to 2021. The Sound Tigers joined the AHL in 2001 and the first event at the arena was a Sound Tigers game on October 10, 2001. During their inaugural season, the Sound Tigers won a division championship and made the Calder Cup Finals where they lost to the Chicago Wolves four games to one. On November 28, 2023, it

572-780: The New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors . The Nets defeated the Raptors 93–77. On October 15, 2005, the Arena at Harbor Yard also hosted a preseason game between the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks . The Knicks defeated the Nets 93–84 in the contest. After it was announced that their arena, the Westchester County Center , would be unable to host them for the 2021-22 NBA G League season for it being

616-658: The Niagara Purple Eagles , and the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Tournament Cinderella Siena Saints . The arena was the site of the men's two postseason appearances in the National Invitation Tournament . During the first round of the 2003 National Invitation Tournament , the Stags, led by the nation's blocked shots leader Deng Gai and Nick Delfico played the Boston College Eagles featuring future NBA players Troy Bell and Craig Smith . During

660-699: The Oak View Group , the arena was built alongside the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater and opened on October 10, 2001. Webster Bank entered into a 10-year $ 3.5 million agreement on January 6, 2011, with the City of Bridgeport for the arena naming rights. When this agreement ended, the City entered into a new one on March 8, 2022, that granted the naming rights to Total Mortgage of Milford, Connecticut . The arena houses 33 executive suites, 1,300 club seats, 3 hospitality suites and

704-595: The Oakdale Theatre in the city of Wallingford, Connecticut , after it was upgraded and expanded. Even though the state gave $ 5.5 million to the arena for new paint, signage, and scoreboards, the Coliseum simply could not compete with newer facilities. Even as early as 1980 the Coliseum was decried as a " white elephant ". Mayor DeStefano also had staked out a strategy of investing city resources into arts and cultural activities rather than attracting sports teams to

748-610: The Roman Catholic fraternal service organization, the Knights of Columbus . Also known as the Knights of Columbus Tower or The Knights' Tower, the building was designed by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates and finished in 1969. This 23-story modern style reinforced concrete building, at 320 feet (98 meters) tall, is the third-tallest building in the city's skyline. The Knights' Tower serves as

792-762: The Siena Saints to win the 2007 MAAC Men's Basketball Championships and the Marist Red Foxes defeated the Iona Gaels to win the 2007 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship. And in 2011, the St. Peter's Peacocks defeated the Iona Gaels to win the 2011 MAAC Men's Basketball Championships and the Marist Red Foxes defeated the Loyola Greyhounds to win the 2011 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship. The arena and Fairfield University along with

836-616: The Texas Longhorns to win the 2008 Bridgeport Regional before advancing to the Final Four of the 2008 tournament . The arena was the site of the Bridgeport Subregional during the 2012 tournament and the Bridgeport Regional for the 2013 tournament , 2016 tournament , and 2017 tournament , and the 2022 tournament . The arena has joined Fairfield University and Yale University in co-hosting

880-686: The Washington Capitals . On September 22, 2017, the Islanders hosted the Rangers in a preseason game. Webster Bank Arena served as the pre-season home for the Islanders for the 2021–22 season, as the team awaited the completion of their new permanent home, UBS Arena , in Elmont, New York , which opened on November 20, 2021. On October 18, 2003, the Arena at Harbor Yard hosted an National Basketball Association (NBA) preseason game between

924-655: The 2014–15 season. Total Mortgage Arena was home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's college basketball teams until Fairfield University opened the on-campus Leo D. Mahoney Arena in November 2022. Fairfield is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) where the Stags annually compete against perennial MAAC powers including the Iona Gaels , the 1995 and 2004 NCAA Tournament Cinderella Manhattan Jaspers ,

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968-681: The 2022–23 season upon the completion of a 4,000-seat arena at the Sacred Heart University West Campus in Fairfield, CT . In conjunction with Webster Bank Arena hosting the MAAC and NCAA basketball and hockey tournaments, the Park City SportsFest has become an annual tradition in downtown Bridgeport. SportsFest is a free, multi-venue fan festival. During SportsFest, the City of Bridgeport closes off

1012-446: The Coliseum served as the setting for Van Halen 's multi-platinum concert film Live Without a Net . Many of the era's most prominent musical stars also appeared at the Coliseum. It also was the home of the famous "Eruption" solo performed by Eddie Van Halen and his bandmates which took place on August 27, 1986. The pilot episode of WWE SmackDown was filmed at the Coliseum on April 27, 1999, and aired on UPN two days later. Tool

1056-480: The Coliseum was installed on the parking lot, on March 4, 2021. It was a commemoration of the Coliseum and rock 'n roll culture. 41°18′09″N 72°55′32″W  /  41.302490°N 72.925454°W  / 41.302490; -72.925454 Knights of Columbus Building (New Haven, Connecticut) The Knights of Columbus Building , in Downtown New Haven, Connecticut , is the headquarters of

1100-650: The Devils, 3–0. And on October 1, 2011, the Arena at Harbor Yard hosted an NHL preseason game between the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders, where the Bruins defeated the Islanders 3–2. On October 3, 2014, the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders played an preseason game at Webster Bank Arena. On October 1, 2016, the arena host another Islanders preseason game against

1144-450: The East Regional of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship three times. The 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament featured the Air Force Falcons , Michigan Wolverines , Vermont Catamounts , and Yale Bulldogs . The Vermont Catamounts won a dramatic double overtime game against the Air Force Falcons to win the East Regional and advance to the 2009 Frozen Four. The 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament featured

1188-413: The area which made it overly difficult to construct sub-surface parking facilities. Though an interesting solution, this design proved unpopular because of the quarter-mile helical ramps required to access the parking. Vincent Scully, the revered architectural historian at nearby Yale University, often referred to the design as "Structural Exhibitionism" in his modern architecture lectures. Other features of

1232-604: The arena as their part-time home from 1978 to 1987. Ice Capades also performed at the Coliseum. New Haven Coliseum was also second home to Yale University Hockey, playing games sporadically at the Coliseum over the years. The U.S.A. Women's Olympic Squad played an exhibition game vs. Sweden on December 15, 2001. The Coliseum was also known for hosting many concerts during its existence, notable performers included Elvis Presley , Frank Sinatra , Bee Gees , Queen , Aerosmith , Black Sabbath , Pat Benatar , Judas Priest , Bon Jovi , KISS and Guns N' Roses . Most notably, in 1986,

1276-627: The arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions. On August 24, 2019, Bellator 225 was hosted at Webster Bank with the headliner being Mitrione vs. Kharitonov 2. On October 30, 2010, the President of the United States Barack Obama joined Democratic Party candidates, including former Stamford Mayor and candidate for Governor Dan Malloy , Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes at

1320-403: The city. Actual demolition work began in late October 2005 with removal of most of the arena area. At 7:50 a.m. on January 20, 2007, after years of wrangling and delay, the Coliseum was finally imploded , using more than 2,000 pounds of explosive. It was said that the implosion could be heard all the way to Meriden and Northford . As it came down, a massive cloud of dust and smoke covered

1364-429: The design, such as street storefronts and an exhibition hall, were never completed. During the 1980s, the structure of the parking garages had deteriorated to the point where large canvas panels had to be attached to the outside to catch pieces of concrete that would occasionally drop off onto the sidewalk below. Renovations were made to correct that problem. The city shut down the facility in 2002 after concluding that it

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1408-654: The four NCAA Division 1 men's ice hockey programs in the State of Connecticut : the UConn Huskies men's ice hockey team, the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team, the Sacred Heart Pioneers men's ice hockey team, and the Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey team. Sacred Heart would go on to win the championship game over Quinnipiac by a score of 4–1. The Pioneers are expected to move for

1452-539: The home venue for the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team since the 2016–17 season. Prior to the 2016–17 season, the Pioneers had hosted select games each year at the Arena since the 2010–11 season. During the 2019–20 season, the Pioneers were the hosts of the inaugural Connecticut Ice college hockey tournament, an in-season weekend tournament played at the Arena featuring matchups between

1496-654: The international headquarters for the Knights of Columbus and is home to the Supreme Council. Led by the Supreme Knight , the chief executive officer of the Knights, the building provides administrative support and leadership for more than 15,000 councils worldwide. The cylindrical towers at the corners give the structure a simple geometric form and represent the four core principles of the Order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. The building

1540-426: The moving of utilities and conflicts related to planned highway improvements. On January 12, 2009, the Knights of Columbus filed a lawsuit against the City of New Haven, Stamford Wrecking Company and Demolition Dynamics Company. The lawsuit seeks repayment for damages incurred to the Knights of Columbus Building and Knights of Columbus Museum across the street from the Coliseum. A poster archiving all concerts held at

1584-632: The reasons for the Coliseum's demise was the construction or renovation (often with state money) in the 1990s of alternative comparably sized venues within the southern Connecticut market. The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport attracted a minor league hockey team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers . The Mohegan Sun Arena was built about an hour away, and became the home of the Connecticut Sun . Many musical acts started booking

1628-417: The second round of the 2011 National Invitation Tournament , the Stags, led by head coach Ed Cooley and Derek Needham played the Kent State Golden Flashes . In recent years, Fairfield has brought several perennial national college basketball powers to the arena including the Georgetown Hoyas , Providence Friars and St. Joseph's Hawks . The Arena at Harbor Yard hosted the inaugural Connecticut 6 Classic,

1672-423: The surrounding area, but blew away quickly toward the shoreline. Upwards of 20,000 people watched from the nearby Temple Street Garage and other buildings, and residents of nearby apartments were evacuated. The two helical ramps were not imploded, and were subsequently destroyed by conventional methods. The city has tentative plans to replace the Coliseum with a new downtown/ Long Wharf redevelopment plan, including

1716-432: The top-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the second-seeded Providence Friars to win the East Regional; the Michigan Tech Huskies and Clarkson Golden Knights also participated. The arena would again host the East Regional in 2023 on March 24 and 26, which would feature the eventual 2023 NCAA champion Quinnipiac Bobcats , Ohio State Buckeyes , Harvard Crimson , and Merrimack Warriors . The arena has served as

1760-468: Was a drain on city coffers. However, the city did not hold any public hearings, referendum votes, or conduct any surveys, and several groups, local stakeholders, and the Coalition to Save Our Coliseum mounted a campaign to save and renovate the Coliseum, to no avail. Others in the community supported the plan to demolish the arena. Despite Mayor DeStefano's plan to close and demolish the building within six months, it ultimately took more than four years. Among

1804-424: Was announced that Total Mortgage Arena would host the New York Sirens , then named PWHL New York, for their inaugural season. New York's first home game took place on January 5, 2024— Toronto defeated New York by a score of 3–2. On September 30, 2006, the Arena at Harbor Yard hosted an National Hockey League (NHL) preseason game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders . The Islanders defeated

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1848-429: Was built at 1 Columbus Plaza next to the New Haven Coliseum (razed in 2007), which was designed by the same firm. Arena at Harbor Yard Total Mortgage Arena (formerly The Arena at Harbor Yard and Webster Bank Arena ) is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut , United States. It is the home venue of the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL). Managed by

1892-407: Was built to replace the New Haven Arena , New Haven's prior indoor sports and entertainment venue. The Coliseum, as well as the neighboring Knights of Columbus building, was designed by the architect Kevin Roche of Roche-Dinkeloo . One interesting aspect of the arena's design was that the parking garage was built on top of the actual Coliseum structure; this was necessitated by a high water table in

1936-463: Was the final musical act on August 20, 2002. The final event held at the Coliseum was a professional wrestling show held by World Wrestling Entertainment , one of the original attractions in the arena since 1972. The WWE considered the Coliseum its home arena, as it was—for much of its history—the closest venue to WWE's headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut . Most matches were broadcast, first on WTNH , as well as on local UHF stations. The Coliseum

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