Located in Long Island, Uniondale, New York, the Nassau Coliseum was built in 1972. The field where it stands was formerly the Mitchel Air Force base, a United States Air Force base named in honor of John Purroy Mitchel. Mitchel was a former New York City mayor who was killed during his training for the Air Service in Louisiana. When the base was shut down in the 1960s, several plans and proposals were made for the development of the area. Some of these proposals included the construction of a library, cultural center, museum, civic center and residential buildings. Finally, it was decided that an arena would be built in the area. This arena is now the Nassau Coliseum.
Since the Nassau Coliseum opened, it has become a venue of numerous concerts, family entertainment and sports events. Many wrestling championships, football matches, hockey competitions, track and field meets and many other sports events have been hosted here. Many sports teams called it home, including the New York Nets basketball team, New York Saints, NY Arrows and Express indoor soccer teams and the Lacrosse teams.
It is currently home to the New York Islanders and the New York Dragons. Apart from this, the arena is a popular venue of concerts and performances by various world-renowned artists, including the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. From 1981 to 1984, the management of the Coliseum had to increase the area's seating capacity to meet the growing number of people attending.
The Nassau Coliseum is home to various important events in history. It is in this arena that the New York Nets played from 1972 to 1997 and won two NBA championships. In 1972 and several years after, numerous WWF title defense matches took place in The Coliseum. Renowned wrestlers who fought for their titles in this arena included WWF champion Bruno Sammartino, Gorilla Monsoon and Hulk Hogan. The Nassau Coliseum was also the host of the Goodwill Games gymnastics and figure skating events in 1998. Even the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, was scheduled to perform in the arena. However, that performance never transpired due to his death a week prior.
The Nassau Coliseum is almost considered obsolete, unfit and unsafe for use; although the Islanders and other sports teams continue to utilize the facility. Plans for renovations have been considered, as authorities intend to remodel the facility into a 60-story tower, designed on the order of a lighthouse. Housing units may also be added in the area as well as new athletic and sports facilities, restaurants, a hotel and a minor league baseball stadium.