Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

What Allen County War Memorial Coliseum does

The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a government-owned, self-sustaining multi-purpose sports, entertainment, and convention venue located at 4000 Parnell Avenue in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Operated as an Enterprise Fund of Allen County government, the facility spans over 1 million square feet under one roof — the second-largest public assembly facility in Indiana — and comprises three core event spaces: a 13,000-seat Arena (configurable from 3,000 to 13,000), a 108,000 sq ft Expo Center (the largest single-room event space in the region), and a 27,155 sq ft Conference Center added in 2015 with LED video displays. It serves as the home venue for the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL hockey, in residence since 1952) and Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (NCAA Division I men's basketball), and hosts more than 1,800 event days per year drawing approximately 1 million annual visitors from a tri-state catchment of Northern Indiana, Northwest Ohio, and Southern Michigan.

Revenue is generated across six primary streams: space rental (Arena, Expo, Conference, meeting rooms), parking fees ($8–$30 tiered), premium seating access (24 luxury suites, club seat licenses, Super Suite), food and beverage (Aramark-operated, cashless since October 2024), equipment rental, and corporate partner advertising. Pricing is transaction-based across space rentals and concessions, with subscription/annual licensing for premium seating. Distribution runs through Ticketmaster, the on-site MidWest America Ticket Office (in-person, no convenience fees), direct sales via a Premium Seating Office, and direct booking with the venue sales team. Marketing uses social media, email newsletter, the venue website, and partnership-based cross-promotion with promoters and corporate partners.

The Coliseum is governed by the Allen County Board of Commissioners and an appointed Board of Trustees and operates as a "living memorial" to war veterans following a 1946 county referendum authorizing the original $3 million bond issue. The facility has undergone three major capital expansions (1989 Exposition Center, 2002 Arena renovation, 2015 Conference Center), with the final payment on the 2002 arena expansion bonds made in October 2025, eliminating the facility's prior dependence on the county Supplemental Food and Beverage Tax and reinforcing its self-sustaining financial model.

Name

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Legal name

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Website

https://memorialcoliseum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a government-owned, self-sustaining multi-purpose venue in Fort Wayne, Indiana hosting 1,800+ events annually — sports, concerts, trade shows, weddings — across 1M+ sq ft of Arena, Expo, and Conference space for ~1 million annual visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports and Entertainment Venue Services

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Multi-purpose venue
• Sports entertainment
• Event hosting
• Convention services
• Arena rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Space Rental: Revenue from renting Arena, Expo Center, Conference Center, and various meeting rooms for events, concerts, trade shows, corporate events, and weddings
2. Parking Fees: Revenue from on-premises parking: $8 standard, $12 preferred, $16 for RVs/limousines, $30 VIP
3. Premium Seating Access: Revenue from luxury suite rentals/leases, club seat licenses, and Super Suite rentals for events
4. Food & Beverage Sales: Revenue from Aramark-operated concessions, catering services, and bar operations throughout the facility. Went cashless for F&B as of October 2024.
5. Equipment Rental: Revenue from renting audio-visual equipment, staging, dance floors, and other event necessities
6. Corporate Partner Advertising: Revenue from partnerships with companies seeking brand exposure through signage, digital displays, stair graphics, website advertising, and immersive branding opportunities reaching 1M+ annual visitors

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue in Fort Wayne, Indiana, operating three connected event spaces — a 13,000-seat arena, a 108,000-square-foot Expo Center, and a 27,155-square-foot Conference Center. It hosts professional hockey (Fort Wayne Komets), collegiate basketball (Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons), concerts, family shows, trade shows, conventions, banquets, and consumer expositions, with more than 1,800 events and 1 million+ visitors annually.

Product overview

The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue offering over 1 million square feet under one roof. The venue consists of three primary event spaces: the Arena (13,000 seats for hockey, basketball, concerts, and family shows), the Expo Center (108,000 sq ft for trade/consumer shows), and the Conference Center (27,155 sq ft with LED displays). Premium seating options include Club Seats with in-seat service and Luxury/Super Suites for private events. The venue provides in-house catering through Aramark, event planning services, and various rental spaces including the Rooftop Lounge, Appleseed Room, and Century Club for weddings, corporate events, and banquets. The coliseum hosts the Fort Wayne Komets hockey team and Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons basketball team as primary tenants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arena (13,000 seats) A 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena hosting professional hockey (Fort Wayne Komets), collegiate basketball (Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons), concerts, family shows, and other live entertainment events. Targeted at sports teams, concert promoters, event organizers, and consumer ticket-buyers.
• Expo Center

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AramarkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAramark is the exclusive in-house food and beverage service provider at the Memorial Coliseum. They provide full catering services for events, weddings, and premium seating. Aramark offers fundraising opportunities for non-profit groups through concession stand staffing. Their award-winning chefs provide all food service.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketmaster is the primary online ticketing platform for Memorial Coliseum events. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and the Ticketmaster Mobile App for concerts, family shows, and select sporting events.
• MidWest America Federal Credit UnioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMidWest America operates the on-site ticket office at the Memorial Coliseum (MidWest America Ticket Office). They provide in-person ticket sales without convenience fees.
• KultureCityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide sensory-friendly accommodations including sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards. Also supports the Price Fund Sensory Pod with specialized equipment for guests who may need a quieter environment.
• Holiday Inn at Purdue Fort WayneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner located across from the Coliseum at 4111 Paul Shaffer Drive, offering discounted rates for Coliseum visitors.
• Fort Wayne KometscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome ice hockey team (ECHL) playing at Memorial Coliseum since 1952. The coliseum is the primary home venue for all Komet home games and has hosted 10 championship celebrations.
• Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome basketball team (NCAA Division I) playing at Memorial Coliseum. The coliseum hosts all home games and exhibition games including Mastodons vs. Purdue Boilermakers.
• Visit Fort WaynecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tourism bureau partnered with Memorial Coliseum to submit NCAA championship event bids and attract major events to Fort Wayne. Hosted DIII Men's Basketball National Championship from 2019-2025.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BOK Center: Multi-purpose arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma of similar size (~19,000 seats) hosting concerts, family shows, and sporting events. Comparable mid-market regional arena competing in the same touring act and minor league sports ecosystem.
• Cajundome: Multi-purpose arena and convention center in Lafayette, Louisiana with a comparable arena capacity, attached exhibit hall, and conference space. Operates with a similar mix of sports tenants (UL Lafayette), concerts, and convention business.
• Von Braun Center: Multi-purpose civic arena and convention complex in Huntsville, Alabama combining a main arena, exhibit hall, and conference space—nearly identical product structure to Memorial Coliseum's Arena/Expo/Conference Center combination.
• Allen Event Center: Multi-purpose arena in Allen, Texas with similar mid-size market positioning, hosting concerts, family shows, and sporting events at a comparable scale. Most directly comparable venue in terms of size, market position, and event mix to Memorial Coliseum.
• Bon Secours Wellness Arena: Multi-purpose arena in Greenville, South Carolina of comparable capacity (~15,000 seats) hosting ECHL Swamp Rabbits hockey, concerts, and family shows. Same product category and market positioning as Memorial Coliseum.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium: Larger Indianapolis-based convention and event complex that competes with Memorial Coliseum for statewide convention and trade show bookings. Operates at greater scale but in the same NAICS segment for convention/arena events.
• Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Indiana's flagship NBA arena (Pacers, Fever) located in Indianapolis. Larger and higher-profile than Memorial Coliseum, but operates in the same multi-purpose arena category and competes for the same touring acts, NCAA events, and corporate event business within Indiana.

Regional players

• Huntington Center (Toledo): Mid-size arena in Toledo, Ohio—directly within Memorial Coliseum's tri-state service area of Northwest Ohio. Hosts ECHL Walleye hockey and similar concert/entertainment programming, making it the most immediate geographic competitor.
• Grand Wayne Convention Center: Convention and event facility also located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Directly overlaps with Memorial Coliseum's Conference Center and meeting room business in the same local market, competing for the same corporate and association events.

Others

• Aramark Sports & Entertainment: Exclusive food and beverage concessionaire and partner at Memorial Coliseum. Operates F&B service across hundreds of North American sports and entertainment venues—provides ecosystem context and benchmarks for venue catering operations, but is a partner/supplier rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acwmc
• Facebookfacebook.com/acwmc
• Instagraminstagram.com/acwmc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/allen-county-war-memorial-coliseum

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Allen County War Memorial Coliseum