I had no idea that Denver’s Grand, Old Girl was so storied.
So when I read Jason Blevins’ account of the Denver Coliseum in last week’s Denver Post and that its future was cloudy, it got me thinking.
Why don’t our high school folks use it more often, especially for basketball?
Yes, I reside in suburbia, but I am a city guy at heart. Give me traditional character against indifferent newness any day. It provides variety and adds to history, and in hoops I’ve always loved what’s affectionately known as a pit. The Coliseum proudly qualifies.
Around this planet, particularly in, say, Europe, residents preserve their old structures, upgrade and savor them.
In America, notably involving athletics, we blow ours up and begin anew (see: Yankee and Mile High stadiums), save for Fenway Park and Wrigley and Lambeau fields.
There appears to be little sacred sporting ground.
Locally, Colorado has lacked foresight in its newer schools as too many have constructed a shocking array of bandboxes that lack anything resembling appropriate atmosphere.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for it being cozy as opposed to cavernous, but the art of having a big barn has been lost.
So think about this once the basketball playoffs come around late next month.
Why go to Boulder for upper classes of the state tournament when we have a perfectly good arena in North Denver?
Sure, the University of Colorado’s Coors Events Center, secured for three more years, has its good points. College campus. Nice area, ample arena. And, thank goodness, a men’s coach (Tad Boyle) who clearly pays attention.
However, the Denver Coliseum works for the volleyball tournament despite a shaky format that needs tweaking. It could also handle state for gymnastics and ice hockey.
It has easy access off Interstate 70 or through old neighborhoods. Better parking and paths to the structure. Seating for nearly 10,000, including on the floor, that may make crowd control interesting (yes!). Side rooms that serve as locker rooms have been renovated. Refreshments? I think we agree that arena food is lame and highly priced, and only consumed by adults who didn’t grab a bite after work or kids who don’t know any better or need something just to shut them up.
Most important, it’s closest to and centered within the most people in Colorado.
We’re nearing the point in the school year when many south of Denver begin to lament the trek up the turnpike, most likely at rush hour.
The idea is to make playoffs appealing and accessible to a public that embraces it, and the Colorado High School Activities Association has been progressive in terms of housing sports under one roof.
In prep basketball, my postseason roof for all of it would be over the Coliseum if dates and finances are OK’d.
CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico said the Coliseum “absolutely has been considered.” He’s aware of the whines and how lucky they’ve been with a large northern-area showing in final rounds.
Bert Borgmann, assistant CHSAA commissioner and in charge of basketball, insisted the Coliseum remains viable.
So, if the Coliseum was good enough for the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the Band, Credence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Led Zeppelin (twice; how cool!), the Denver Rockets of the old ABA and the state tourney in the 1970s, why isn’t it good enough now for the likes of East’s Dominique Collier, Highlands Ranch’s Michaela Neuhaus and Lewis-Palmer’s Josh Scott?
Switching makes sense.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
