Norfolk Scope
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Norfolk Scope is a 12,600-seat multipurpose arena located on the edge of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, USA. The Norfolk Scope was designed by renowned Italian architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and constructed in 1971 at a cost of $28.1 million (Approximately $140 million in 2006 dollars). The design of the Norfolk Scope is similar to Nervi's Palazzetto dello Sport, built in 1958 for the Olympics in Rome. Nervi's designs and work with reinforced concrete were pioneering for his day, analogous to the acclaim currently bestowed upon Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
With a concrete monolithic dome measuring 440-feet in diameter, and 110-feet tall, the Norfolk Scope arena encloses 85,000 square feet, with a seating capacity of up to 13,800 when configured for concerts, and 10,253 for basketball, making Norfolk one of the largest cities in the United States with its largest multi-purpose arena, having less than 11,000 seats for sporting events.
The Norfolk Scope is currently home to the Norfolk Admirals ice hockey team, of the American Hockey League, and seats 8,994 for hockey.
The Norfolk Scope hosted Larry Holmes's last heavyweight fight. His last fight was a decision victory against Eric Esch (Butterbean) in 2002. This fight was the brainchild of Frank Azzalina, a Virginia Beach businessman who grew up in Easton Pennsylvania and went to school with Larry's daughter Misty. The fight was promoted by Daryl Decroix Promotions - where Azzalina served as Director of Public Relations and oversaw sponsorship strategies.
In previous years, the Norfolk Scope was also home to the arena football team, the Norfolk Nighthawks and the now defunct American Basketball Association (1967-1976) professional basketball franchise Virginia Squires. The Squires played in the Scope, (in addition to the Roanoke Civic Center, Richmond Coliseum and Hampton Coliseum; all within the state of Virginia) from 1971 to 1976. The Norfolk Scope also served as host venue of the ABA All-Star Game on the night January 30, 1974. Approximately, 10,624 were in attendance for the event. The Eastern Conference won that night, against the Western Conference, 128 to 112. Artis Gilmore of the Kentucky Colonels was the MVP of the game.
The Norfolk Scope also served as a host collegiate venue for the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship (AKA Women's Final Four), in 1982 and 1983. It was the first venue to host the Women's Final Four in NCAA basketball. The 1982 inaugural championship game, played on March 29, 1982, drew 9,531 fans, where Louisiana Tech defeated Cheyney University, 76 to 62. In 1983, hall-of-famer, Cheryl Miller won MVP, as USC defeated Louisiana Tech, 69 to 67, at the Norfolk Scope.
The Norfolk Scope was also home to Old Dominion University men's college basketball, until the campus' own 8,639-seat (basketball) arena, the Ted Constant Convocation Center, opened in October 2002 also in Norfolk.
[edit] Memorable Concerts and Wrestling Events Held
On February 7, 1972, The Jackson 5 made their first and only concert appearance at the Norfolk Scope.
The Rolling Stones performed at The Scope on July 6, 1972.
On November 13 and December 13, 1972 and November 14, 2003, Elton John made concert appearances at the Norfolk Scope.
On July 7, 1974 and March 12, 1976, David Bowie performs at the venue.
On July 20, 1975, Elvis Presley made his only concert appearance at the Norfolk Scope, playing two shows on the same day.
On August 30, 1975, Eric Clapton performed at the venue.
On March 8, 1983, Prince made his first and only concert appearance at The Scope.
Ray Charles performed at The Scope on June 12, 1993.
The 1988 and 1991 WCW Starrcade shows, the 1995 and 1996 WCW World War 3 cards, and the WWE Great American Bash 2004 were also held at The Scope. The Scope is also famous in professional wrestling for hosting the edition of WCW Monday Nitro which was "invaded" by the WWF's D-Generation X stable.
[edit] External links
- Norfolk Scope Official Site
- Photos Palazzetto dello sport 1958 District Flaminio, Rome, Italy.
| Current arenas in the American Hockey League | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | |
| Arena at Harbor Yard | Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena | Cumberland County Civic Center | DCU Center | Dunkin' Donuts Center | GIANT Center | Hartford Civic Center | MassMutual Center | Norfolk Scope | Pepsi Arena | Tsongas Arena | Verizon Wireless Arena | Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza | Wachovia Spectrum | Allstate Arena | AT&T Center | Blue Cross Arena | Bradley Center | Carver Arena | Copps Coliseum | MTS Centre | Omaha Civic Auditorium | Ricoh Coliseum | Toyota Center | Van Andel Arena | War Memorial at Oncenter | Wells Fargo Arena | |
