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at least 10 rows of seats were also set up between the main stage/ring and the wall. A United States flag was displayed on the wall of section D for most of the arena's existence, and was changed once when the 48-star U.S. flag was replaced with a 50-star U.S. flag in 1960. The flag was moved to the section C area in 1987, then later above section I in the 1990s when the arena was refurbished for the Global
Wrestling Federation.
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During wrestling matches, the heel wrestlers came out of the northwest aisle, between sections B & C, while the babyfaces came out of the aisle on the southwest corner, or sections J & A. A broadcast studio was set up adjacent to the heel's locker room area; and an overhead section was later
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The
Sportatorium fell into disuse in the late 1990s when local independent wrestling promotions, by now drawing crowds only in the low hundreds, elected to run their shows in dance halls and other smaller venues instead. In addition, the aging arena was seriously dilapidated by this time, was out of
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The arena was configured with several ring aisles with the majority of the seats (mostly bleachers) set up on the east, south and west portions of the building. The north side of the building, best known as "Section D", was used mostly for a small stage and media area for cameras and reporters, but
469:
and the
Houston Wrestling Office. In January 1968, McLemore started suffering a series of heart attacks and was no longer able to attend to the company's day-to-day business; he died on January 9, 1969, leaving Adkisson in charge. Adkisson's promotion, which became known in the early 1980s as
657:, February 18, 2003, the "World Famous Sportatorium" Main Entrance sign was saved from demolition by wrestling announcer Doyle King, who retains possession of it to this day. It has been on display at several local wrestling reunions and some local Dallas Fort Worth wrestling events.
417:, and seated approximately 10,000. Its inaugural wrestling event, promoted by Burt Willoughby, took place on December 9, 1935. Willoughby promoted wrestling at the Sportatorium until 1940, when the company was bought out by its former concessions manager, Ed McLemore.
633:
and Kurt
Herwald, chairman of Stevens Aviation, resulting from controversy over Southwest's use of the slogan "Just Plane Smart" (Stevens claimed that it infringed on its own "Plane Smart" slogan). The match was a publicity stunt designed to raise funds for charity.
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by a rival wrestling promoter. It was quickly rebuilt at the same location as a rectangular venue (with a modified octagonal seating configuration similar to the original), and reopened on
September 22 of that year, billed at the time as
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infestation problems and apparently a large chamber or pit in the foundation), the Dallas
Sportatorium is nonetheless still remembered fondly for its intimate atmosphere, and is considered one of pro wrestling's most legendary venues.
622:). Following the GWF's demise, a succession of smaller promotions (including the NWA between 1995 and 1996) attempted to hold shows in the building, each of them running out of money and closing their doors after only a short time.
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On the
Industrial Blvd side of the arena was the offices of Big Time Wrestling/World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). Jack Adkisson and his sons each shared office space in the arena. Others like David Manning,
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took off a bench-seat and a few items from the
Sportatorium as souvenirs. Kevin took one final tour of the historic arena, which was featured in its famed DVD documentary
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After WCCW folded in 1990 due to dwindling attendance, fundamental changes in the wrestling industry and tragedies involving a number of its top stars (including all but
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In late
December 2001 a fire started inside the building. The flames quickly spread and caused major damage to the arena's upstairs offices. The fire proved to be the
454:. The arena also hosted boxing events and concerts featuring up-and-coming rock stars over the years, very much in the same manner as its Los Angeles counterpart, the
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events. The building, which stood at 1000 S. Industrial Blvd, or the intersection of
Industrial Boulevard and Cadiz Street (near the I-30/I-35E Interchange), had a
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1000 S. Industrial Blvd (now Riverfront Boulevard) (intersection of Industrial Boulevard & Cadiz Street near the I-30/I-35E Interchange)
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compliance with local building codes, and was often used as a shelter by homeless people who entered the building illegally.
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Although it had a reputation for being uncomfortable and unsanitary (having inadequate heating and cooling facilities,
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as its top stars, was the most famous and successful wrestling federation to run regularly at the Dallas Sportatorium.
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for the Sportatorium, its long-rumored demolition finally taking place in the spring of 2003. Before its implosion,
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Built in 1934 by the Cox Fence Company, the original Dallas Sportatorium was constructed in the shape of an
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The Sportatorium was partially destroyed by fire on May 1, 1953, in what was rumored to be an act of
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The land that had been occupied by the arena is slated to be a part of the new
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However, it did gain one last bit of notoriety in March 1992 when Dallas-based
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World Class Memories: WCCW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - THE SPORTATORIUM
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and referee David Manning at a live event in the Sportatorium, 1981.
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Buildings and structures in the United States destroyed by arson
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From 1948 until 1966, the Sportatorium was also the site of the
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Dallas Sportatorium, The Million-Dollar Sportatorium, GlobalDome
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Aerial view of original octagonal Sportatorium, 11 March 1949
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438:; portions of the Jamboree were broadcast nationally on the
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Confederate/Continental Wrestling Alliance (1995–1997)
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In late 1966, McLemore formed a partnership with wrestler
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653:, released in 2006. Exactly 10 years after the death of
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Rebuilt buildings and structures in the United States
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from 1991 to 1994 (billing itself for a time as the
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Wrestling venues in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
522:would also occupy the front offices of the arena.
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614:), the Sportatorium served as home base for the
57:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
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629:held an arm-wrestling match between chairman
570:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
373:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
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299:World Class II: The Next Generation (1997)
590:Learn how and when to remove this message
393:Learn how and when to remove this message
88:Learn how and when to remove this message
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265:Southwest Sports, Inc. (1966–1969)
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568:adding citations to reliable sources
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371:adding citations to reliable sources
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29:
278:United States Wrestling Association
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1009:World Class Championship Wrestling
731:World Class Championship Wrestling
472:World Class Championship Wrestling
273:World Class Championship Wrestling
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994:Demolished sports venues in Texas
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256:Burt Willoughby (1935–1940)
1044:Sports venues demolished in 2003
953:Southwest Championship Wrestling
691:(includes article on demolition)
689:Sportatorium/Big D Jamboree page
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34:
1019:Sports venues completed in 1935
979:2003 disestablishments in Texas
828:Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
452:The Million-Dollar Sportatorium
1029:Defunct sports venues in Texas
989:Defunct indoor arenas in Texas
458:, did during that time frame.
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258:Ed McLemore (1940–1966)
16:Arena in Texas, United States
974:1935 establishments in Texas
7:
999:Global Wrestling Federation
948:National Wrestling Alliance
616:Global Wrestling Federation
293:National Wrestling Alliance
283:Global Wrestling Federation
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823:Cotton Bowl Extravaganza
800:Southwestern Heavyweight
456:Grand Olympic Auditorium
331:of approximately 4,500.
43:This article includes a
19:Not to be confused with
1024:Sports venues in Dallas
770:World Light Heavyweight
280:(1989–1990; 1991)
275:(1982–1989; 1990)
153:32.766319°N 96.803073°W
72:more precise citations.
1034:Music venues in Dallas
765:World Six-Man Tag Team
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325:professional wrestling
311:, located in downtown
21:Hollywood Sportatorium
670:Trinity River Project
651:Heroes of World Class
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158:32.766319; -96.803073
683:Sportatorium tribute
564:improve this section
485:WCCW ring announcer
367:improve this section
932:Dallas Sportatorium
833:Wrestling Star Wars
818:Parade of Champions
606:of the Von Erichs,
323:used primarily for
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750:NWA World Tag Team
627:Southwest Airlines
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319:, was a barn-like
301:Arturo Agis (1998)
288:Southwest Airlines
268:Big Time Wrestling
235:General contractor
214:September 22, 1953
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45:list of references
25:Tampa Sportatorium
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775:Texas Heavyweight
755:World Heavyweight
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440:CBS Radio Network
435:Louisiana Hayride
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295:(1994–1995)
285:(1991–1994)
270:(1969–1981)
263:(1948–1966)
246:Cox Fence Company
175:Enterprises, Inc.
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883:Von Erich family
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329:seating capacity
243:Main contractors
206:December 9, 1935
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738:Championships
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643:coup de grâce
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612:Bruiser Brody
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549:This section
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516:Skandor Akbar
513:
512:Percy Pringle
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474:and featured
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463:Jack Adkisson
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335:Early history
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123:Dallas, Texas
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941:Partnerships
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580:January 2024
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562:Please help
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487:Gene Summers
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383:January 2024
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365:Please help
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309:Sportatorium
308:
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190:Construction
101:Sportatorium
84:
75:
64:Please help
56:
520:Chris Adams
508:Ken Mantell
467:Paul Boesch
156: /
131:Coordinates
70:introducing
968:Categories
795:Television
620:GlobalDome
526:Eric Embry
227:Demolished
144:96°48′11″W
141:32°45′59″N
551:does not
504:Gary Hart
354:does not
211:Renovated
78:June 2021
476:his sons
238:W.T. Cox
181:Capacity
169:Operator
117:Location
572:removed
557:sources
532:Decline
415:octagon
375:removed
360:sources
251:Tenants
66:improve
662:rodent
610:, and
313:Dallas
290:(1992)
219:Closed
203:Opened
810:Shows
447:arson
321:arena
317:Texas
195:Built
185:4,500
125:75207
51:, or
872:1989
867:1987
862:1986
857:1985
852:1984
847:1983
842:1982
837:1981
555:any
553:cite
518:and
432:and
358:any
356:cite
307:The
222:1998
198:1935
604:one
566:by
369:by
23:or
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