Bridge Makeover Will Not Destroy This El Paso Landmark

An iconic El Paso entertainment venue, visited by generations and generations of El Pasoans, will continue to be the setting for all kinds of shows and events.

For over 80 years, the El Paso County Coliseum has been making memories. For a minute, it looked like its days were numbered.

Modernization of the nearby Bridge Of The Americas had the coliseum's future in jeopardy but, thankfully, everything is ok now.

Plans to renovate the El Paso County Coliseum had been abandoned for fear that the General Services Administration, (GSA), would be assuming control of the historic venue.

Now, the GSA has decided not to go that route with their bridge plans and renovation plans for the coliseum, affectionately referred to by some as "the barn", are once again being considered.

Commissioner David Stout:

In fact, plans to renovate the Coliseum, which were originally on the list for the County’s upcoming bond proposal, were removed because of uncertainty around whether the GSA would take the property. I pushed to have the Coliseum added back to that list, and with this news, it seems we have a much clearer path to complete these renovations if voters so choose. - KVIA

The Coliseum is showing its age but hopefully renovation plans will be approved and the building will be better than ever. No word yet on what effects bridge upgrades will have on the area but a community meeting is scheduled for June 26th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, at the Hilos de Plata Senior Center - 4451 Delta.

My own coliseum memories involve rodeos, circuses and ice skating shows but mostly concerts.

Over the years it's practically become a second home as I've gone back hundreds of times to see bands like Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Zombie, (White and Rob), Bush, Avenged Sevenfold, Motionless In White and countless others.