In 1908, during the administration of Denver Mayor Robert W. Speer, the Denver Municipal Auditorium (an indoor arena) was completed and opened on July 7, 1908, as the host site of the 1908 Democratic National Convention. With a seating capacity of 12,500, the massive 246 by 145 foot arena was, at the time of its opening, the second largest to the world renowned Madison Square Garden in New York City. Known as Denver Municipal Auditorium from 1908 - 1953, Denver Auditorium became the Denver Auditorium Arena from 1953 - 1990. An annex built in 1940 was expanded in 1950, and the building became a component of the, now, Denver Performing Arts Complex . In 1967, the arena hosted the ABAs Denver Rockets (later the Denver Nuggets) until they left for the new McNichols Sports Arena in 1975. After the Nuggets left, the building was gutted on the inside in 1990. It was reopened as the Buell Theater. The old arena lives on, but instead of basketball games, Broadway shows and musicals.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 02:24:16 +0000