Tad Smith Coliseum
| "The Tad Pad" | |
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| Former names | Rebel Coliseum (1966–1972) |
|---|---|
| Location | Confederate Drive University, MS 38677 |
| Coordinates | 34°21′43.91″N 89°32′21.49″W / 34.3621972°N 89.5393028°WCoordinates: 34°21′43.91″N 89°32′21.49″W / 34.3621972°N 89.5393028°W |
| Owner | University of Mississippi |
| Operator | University of Mississippi |
| Capacity | 8,867 (2013–2016) 9,061 (2008–2013) 8,700 (2001–2008) 8,135 (1988–2001) 8,500 (1966–1988) |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1964 |
| Opened | February 21, 1966 |
| Closed | January 3, 2016 |
| Construction cost | $1.8 million ($13.3 million in 2016 dollars) |
| Tenants | |
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Ole Miss Rebels (Men's and women's basketball) |
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C. M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum is an 8,867-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Mississippi. Through the first part of the 2015–16 basketball season, it was home to the University of Mississippi Rebels men's and women's basketball teams, but was replaced by a new arena, The Pavilion at Ole Miss, in January 2016. It has also hosted many concerts, one of which was The Allman Brothers with Gov't Mule in November 1995.
The circular building, similar to many arenas constructed at the time, has a 272-foot-diameter white steel-framed, Neoprene-covered roof which tops out at 89 feet above the court. From its exterior, it looks like a giant hub cap. The floor, 130' from end to end with its Rebel red and blue trim, is located twelve feet below the surrounding ground level. The seats were replaced in 2001 with navy blue upholstered seats. In 2010 the Tad Pad was upgraded. These upgrades included a unique new center hung video display, featuring four LED boards approximately 7 feet high by 13 feet wide. Two ring displays are also part of the center hung structure and are able to show a variety of graphics, animations and statistical information. Overall the display measures approximately 17 feet high by 24 feet wide and also features four dedicated scoring sections. In addition to this upgrade, Daktronics provided a custom sound system for the newly renovated arena. The outside of the building includes red Mississippi brick and blue vinyl-covered steel siding. It is located to the southwest of the center of campus, west of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and across the street from the Robert C. Khayat Law Center. A Confederate cemetery lies behind the building.
The building opened during 1965–1966 as Rebel Coliseum. It was renamed on March 25, 1972, to honor C. M. "Tad" Smith, former three-sport letterman, coach, and athletic director at the university.
The largest crowd ever at the building was on February 10, 2007, when 9,452 fans watched the Rebels defeat the No. 18 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Prior to the building of the Coliseum, the team played in Old Gym (now the Martindale Student Services Center), a 2,500-seat gym built in 1929.
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