Battelle Hall
Encyclopedia
Battelle Hall is a 6,864 seat multi-purpose exhibit hall located in Columbus, Ohio
, part of the Greater Columbus Convention Center
. It opened as the Ohio Center on September 10, 1980, and although sometimes considered a white elephant
because of its small size and seating capacity (concert fans usually found themselves driving to Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum, Indianapolis Market Square Arena
, Cleveland Richfield Coliseum or Pittsburgh Civic Arena
), it has been used for a variety of events, including concerts, trade shows, and sporting events such as the 1993 and 1994 Mid-American Conference
men's basketball tournaments. The exhibit hall was also the home of professional wrestling
cards from the mid-80's to mid-90's with monthly visits from the WWF and the occasional NWA
/WCW
event. The hall totals 90000 square feet (8,361.3 m²) of exhibit space - 65,000 on the main floor and 25,000 on the balcony, and can be divisible into two halls.
The first entertainment event at the facility was comedian Rodney Dangerfield
and special guest McGuffey Lane
on September 20, 1980 attended by 6,677 persons.
Seating capacities:
Other Dimensions:
The exhibit hall features a 32 foot portable stage.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, part of the Greater Columbus Convention Center
Greater Columbus Convention Center
thumb|right|300px|Front entrance to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in [[Downtown Columbus|Downtown]] [[Columbus, Ohio]].The Greater Columbus Convention Center is a convention center located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, United States, along the east side of High Street.The convention center...
. It opened as the Ohio Center on September 10, 1980, and although sometimes considered a white elephant
White elephant
A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth...
because of its small size and seating capacity (concert fans usually found themselves driving to Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum, Indianapolis Market Square Arena
Market Square Arena
Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...
, Cleveland Richfield Coliseum or Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
), it has been used for a variety of events, including concerts, trade shows, and sporting events such as the 1993 and 1994 Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
men's basketball tournaments. The exhibit hall was also the home of professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
cards from the mid-80's to mid-90's with monthly visits from the WWF and the occasional NWA
NWA (wrestling stable)
The NWA was a professional wrestling stable that competed in the World Wrestling Federation in 1998 and was led by Jim Cornette.-History:On December 30, 1997 , Jim Cornette brought NWA promoters/officials Howard Brody and Dennis Coralluzzo to RAW Is WAR and made a match between Jeff Jarrett and...
/WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
event. The hall totals 90000 square feet (8,361.3 m²) of exhibit space - 65,000 on the main floor and 25,000 on the balcony, and can be divisible into two halls.
The first entertainment event at the facility was comedian Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield , was an American comedian, and actor, known for the catchphrases "I don't get no respect!," "No respect, no respect at all... that's the story of my life" or "I get no respect, I tell ya" and his monologues on that theme...
and special guest McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane is an American country rock band from Columbus, Ohio. McGuffey Lane was formed in 1972 by Terry Efaw and Steve Reis, who played together under the name Scotch & Soda...
on September 20, 1980 attended by 6,677 persons.
Seating
Unlike arenas, Battelle Hall has no permanent seats. Instead, inexpensive plastic seats attached to metal bleachers are positioned into place for scheduled events.Seating capacities:
- Bleacher seats:
- Main floor - 3,116
- Balcony - 3,679
- Soccer set - 5,074
- Concert set (with obstructed seat) - 7,588
- Concert set (without obstructed seats) - 6,400
- Concert in the round - 7,918
- Basketball - 6,500
- Ice Show (Ice CapadesIce CapadesThe Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympicand National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition....
) - 5,464 - North Hall set - 3,801
- South Hall set - 2,494
Other Dimensions:
- With risers set for concerts - 65 foot
- Full hall beginning at columns - 141 foot/33840 sq ft (3,143.8 m²)
- Battelle Hall North - 141 foot/20445 sq ft (1,899.4 m²)
- Battelle Hall South - 95 foot/13395 sq ft (1,244.4 m²)
- Balcony railing to Wall - 33 ft (10.1 m)
- From floor to underside balcony - 13 inch
- Main floor to underside of hoisting grid - 33 ft (10.1 m)
The exhibit hall features a 32 foot portable stage.
See Also
- Greater Columbus Convention CenterGreater Columbus Convention Centerthumb|right|300px|Front entrance to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in [[Downtown Columbus|Downtown]] [[Columbus, Ohio]].The Greater Columbus Convention Center is a convention center located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, United States, along the east side of High Street.The convention center...
- Columbus Capitals (indoor soccer)Columbus Capitals (indoor soccer)The Columbus Capitals were an indoor soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association. The club played its home games at Battelle Hall from 1984 - 1986....
- Columbus HorizonColumbus HorizonThe Columbus Horizon is a defunct basketball team from Columbus, Ohio that played for five seasons in the Continental Basketball Association from 1989 - 1994.-New team on the horizon:...
- Columbus QuestColumbus QuestThe Columbus Quest was a professional women's basketball franchise located in Columbus, Ohio in the now-defunct American Basketball League . They were one of the league's original eight teams that started play in 1996...