Grady Cole Center
 | |
| Former names | Park Center (1954–1987) |
|---|---|
| Location | Elizabeth, Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Owner | City of Charlotte |
| Operator | Mecklenburg Parks & Rec |
| Capacity | 3,000-3900 |
| Opened | 1954 |
| Tenants | |
|
Charlotte Roller Girls 2008-Present Queens Royals 2012 | |
Grady Cole Center is a small civic center located on the campus of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 3,000 seat center is located near the city's center, and can host several types of events. It was built in 1954 to replace the Charlotte Armory Arena, which had been destroyed by fire. Originally the Park Center, it was renamed in 1987 in honor of WBT Radio morning personality, Grady Cole.
The building was an important venue for Jim Crockett Promotions during the organization's heyday.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Grady Cole center served as the practice facility for the Charlotte Hornets.
The arena hosted UFC 3 in 1994. Concerts held in the arena include The Allman Brothers with Duane Allman, Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath, and James Gang in 1972, Pink Floyd in 1973,[1] David Bowie in 1974, as well as shows by Dire Straits, Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughan and R.E.M. in the 1980s. The 1990s saw shows from Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Widespread Panic, Marilyn Manson, and Tool.
The center is located on the same complex as American Legion Memorial Stadium.
The arena hosted the 2007 CIAA women's volleyball tournament. The arena also hosted the Internet-only pay-per-view ROH The Big Bang! on April 3, 2010.
The arena was home to Barstool's Rough-N-Rowdy 3 in 2018.
Queens University of Charlotte has used the arena for athletic events in 2012 while construction work is done on their usual on-campus home.
References
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mammoth Gardens |
Ultimate Fighting Championship venue UFC 3 |
Succeeded by Expo Square Pavilion |