When Nick Mileti bought the Cleveland Arena and got an expansion NBA team, he had plans beyond Euclid Avenue. The Arena was old, and Mileti wanted nothing less than a palace. But he had to go to Summit County to get it.
Envisioning development on Interstate 77 between Akron and Cleveland, Mileti looked to Richfield for the site of his Coliseum, which opened with a performance by Frank Sinatra on Oct. 26, 1974. The event was an extravaganza, including an after-party in the arena’s skyboxes — an innovation. Two days later, Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan had a concert there.
“Mileti’s $15 million dream midway between Cleveland and Akron is a reality,” The Plain Dealer said in an editorial. “We congratulate Mileti. His eager, bouncy determination won out. He has poured a heartful of hope into that showplace.”
In 1975, Muhammad Ali fought Chuck Wepner, a journeyman known as “The Bayonne Bleeder,” which inspired Sylvester Stallone to write a script about another journeyman who got a title shot — Rocky Balboa. In 1976, the Cavaliers made their first playoff appearance, and the “Miracle at Richfield” season had the Coliseum seemingly shaking from the noise and excitement of fans.
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Every major rock act from the era played at the Coliseum, including titans like Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and Kiss. It also was home to two hockey teams, two soccer teams and a football team.
Finally, in 1990, Cuyahoga County voters passed a sin tax to fund a new sports complex Downtown, including a ballpark for the Indians and a new arena for the Cavs. The Coliseum was abandoned in 1994 and ultimately torn down. Cuyahoga Valley National Park took over the land.
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