About Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
- Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum first opened on February 11, 1972 with an ABA game between the New York Nets and the Pittsburgh Condors.
- With an initial capacity of 15,000, the arena occupied 63 acres of Mitchel Field, a former Army/Air Force base, and was built at a cost of $32 million.
- After an extensive renovation, The Coliseum reopened on April 5, 2017 with a concert by Billy Joel after an 18-month, $180 million renovation.
- The Coliseum offers 14,500 seats for basketball, MMA and boxing, 13,900 for hockey, up to 16,000 for concerts, and 4,500 seats for its theater configuration.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The venue’s unique skin evokes Long Island’s iconic imagery, such as beach dunes, dune fencing, decks, and boardwalks.
- The façade is made up of aluminum fins that pay homage to Long Island’s history as the cradle of the aviation industry.
- Guest enhancements include a new exterior glass storefront to infuse natural light into the refreshed concourse, a redesigned main entrance, all new seating, improved bowl circulation, and revamped bathrooms and concessions.
- Fans have access to free high speed Wi-Fi, upgraded phone service for all major cellular carriers, and an enlarged high definition LED scoreboard.
- Sustainability fixtures include waterless urinals, LED lights, and all new windows and doors to provide improved thermal performance throughout the building.
- With 77 acres of property to work with, Nassau Coliseum is prepared for large-scale festivals that expand beyond the building’s walls.
- Nassau Coliseum is the proud home of the Long Island Nets, and New York Riptide.