The arena was built in 1961. It is home to the Knoxville Ice Bears ice hockey team of the Southern Professional Hockey League; and the University of Tennessee Ice Vols Hockey Team, of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. In the past, the Coliseum hosted the Knoxville Speed of the United Hockey League; the Knoxville Cherokees of the East Coast Hockey League; and the Knoxville Knights of the Eastern Hockey League.