About 19 miles east of New York City, there is a very active sports center. It is formally called the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and it is located in Uniondale, New York. This Coliseum was built on a former Army and Air Force base, which is now in the Township of Hempstead.
This Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena that is now used regularly for many different purposes - and many that are not sports related. It was opened in 1972 and covers an area of 63 acres.
This sports arena has been the home of many professional sports teams since it was opened. The first team that called the Coliseum its home was the New York Islanders, from the National Hockey League (NHL). It was also the home, at least for some time, of the New York Saints and the New York Titans - lacrosse teams; the New York Arrows and the New York Express - soccer teams; as well as the New York Nets - which is a basketball team.
Today, the Coliseum is still the home of the New York Islanders. Many other types of games have also been hosted at the Coliseum down through the years including some events of the World Wrestling Federation which were broadcast as pay-per-view.
Besides these sports teams, the arena has also been the place to go for many different concerts. Many music celebrities have played here. This would include music greats like Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Britney Spears, and Pink Floyd. Some groups even made recordings in the Coliseum such as The Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Spice Girls, and Phish. Billy Joel, whose hometown is on Long Island, has performed there probably more times than any one else and has made it a regular part of many of his tours.
The Coliseum remains a place of constant activity. Many musical groups and performers are scheduled there constantly. One that is coming soon is the So You Think You Can Dance Tour. There is also the ongoing regular schedule of various sports teams.
Family events are also scheduled there. In the near future, the arena will be hosting Sesame Street Live - with Elmo and Friends, and also Disney on Ice. Miley Cyrus will be there and so will Kiss. Visitors who want to catch specific shows or games will have to check with the Coliseum's calendar of events to see what is happening around the time they will be in the area.
The arena also serves as an Exposition Center and there are various shows going on through the year. The Long Island Auto Show is hosted here, and so is the Long Island Fall Home Show. There is also the International Great Beer Expo, too, in November.
With New York City being so close, and transportation available, there are also plenty of things to see in the Big Apple. Between the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, the beaches of Long Island, and the biggest city in the United States - there will be plenty for anyone of any age to do.
Review, comment, or add new information about this topic: