Architect Maciej Nowicki of the North Carolina State University Department of Architecture was killed in an airplane crash before the construction phase. Local architect William Henley Dietrick supervised the completion of the arena using Nowicki's innovative design. Said design features a steel cable supported saddle-shaped roof in tension, held up by parabolic concrete arches in compression. The arches cross about 20 feet above ground level and continue underground, where their ends are held together by more steel cables in tension. The outer walls of the arena support next to no weight at all.
Dorton Arena was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1973.[1] Originally named the "State Fair Arena", it was dedicated to Dr. J. S. Dorton, former North Carolina State Fair manager, in 1961.[2]
In the past, it has hosted many sporting events, concerts, political rallies and circuses.
The Dorton Arena was the first structure in the world to use a cable-supported roof. The structure is based on two parabolic concrete arches which lean over to the point that they are closer to being parallel to the ground than they are to being vertical. The arches lean toward and beyond each other such that they cross each other 26 feet above ground. These arches, approaching horizontal in plane, thus serve as the outer edges of the structure, which when viewed from above appears almost elliptical. The arches are supported by slender columns around the building perimeter. Cables are strung between the two opposing arch structures providing support for the saddle-shaped roof. This was the first permanent cable-supported roof in the world.
The Cougars became tenants after the Houston Mavericks moved to North Carolina in 1969. The Cougars were a "regional franchise", playing "home" games in Charlotte (Bojangles' Coliseum), Greensboro (Greensboro Coliseum), Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum and Raleigh (Dorton Arena). Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown began his coaching career with the Cougars in 1972. Billy Cunningham was the ABA MVP for Brown and the Cougars in the 1972–73 season. Despite a strong fan base the Cougars were sold and moved to St. Louis in 1974.[6]
Besides hosting sporting events, the arena is also used for concerts during the North Carolina State Fair. Various conventions and fairs also use floorspace of the arena as an exhibition space, often in conjunction with the neighboring Jim Graham building.
The arena has hosted the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) regional robotics competition and was the first space to hold a regional in the state.
Dorton Arena and Reynolds Coliseum were the only concert venues in the Capital City for many decades before Walnut Creek Amphitheater and PNC Arena were built. The building was originally designed for livestock shows, not for concerts, so while there are unobstructed views of the stage, the sound tends to bounce off the glass. Fair officials have made significant changes to improve the acoustics of the building in recent years. Many of the biggest names in entertainment have played in this arena.
^Survey and Planning Unit Staff (August 1972). "J.S. Dorton Arena" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
^"Extended history of the J.S. Dorton Arena". North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
^"Dorton Arena". American Society of Civil Engineers. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
^Petroski, Henry (November–December 2002). "Dorton Arena, On the occasion of its 50th anniversary and its dedication as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark" (PDF). American Scientist. 90 (6): 503–507. doi:10.1511/2002.39.3324. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
^. Archived from the original on 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
^. Triangle Torch. August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
^ abcdefghijkl"Concert History of Dorton Arena Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | Concert Archives". www.concertarchives.org. 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
^"Petra Setlist at J.S. Dorton Arena, Raleigh". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dorton Arena.
Official Website 2006-05-28 at the Wayback Machine via the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
of Dorton Arena
Matthew Nowicki Papers at NCSU Libraries, includes drawings of Dorton
Video: JS Dorton Arena, the Fairground Pavilion That Was a Modernist Marvel by ArchDaily.com, 4 September 2014
December 18, 2023
dorton, arena, seat, multi, purpose, arena, located, raleigh, north, carolina, grounds, north, carolina, state, fair, opened, 1952, paraboleumformer, namesstate, fair, arena, 1952, 1961, locationnorth, carolina, state, fairgrounds1025, blue, ridge, roadraleigh. J S Dorton Arena is a 7 610 seat multi purpose arena located in Raleigh North Carolina on the grounds of the North Carolina State Fair It opened in 1952 Dorton ArenaParaboleumFormer namesState Fair Arena 1952 1961 LocationNorth Carolina State Fairgrounds1025 Blue Ridge RoadRaleigh North CarolinaOwnerState of North CarolinaOperatorState of North CarolinaCapacity5 110 Arena Football and Hockey 7 610 BasketballSurfaceIce Concrete HardwoodConstructionOpened1952ArchitectMaciej Nowicki William Henley DietrickTenantsCarolina Cougars ABA 1969 1974 Raleigh Bullfrogs GBA 1991 1992 Raleigh IceCaps ECHL 1991 1998 Raleigh Cougars USBL 1997 1999 Raleigh Rebels AIFL 2005 2006 Carolina Rollergirls WFTDA 2006 present Triangle Torch AIF SIF 2016 2017 J S Dorton ArenaU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of North CarolinaShow map of the United StatesLocationNorth Carolina State Fairgrounds W Hillsborough St Raleigh North CarolinaCoordinates35 47 37 N 78 42 36 W 35 79361 N 78 71000 W 35 79361 78 71000Built1953ArchitectNowicki Matthew et al Muirhead William ConstructionNRHP reference No 73001375 1 Added to NRHPApril 11 1973Architect Maciej Nowicki of the North Carolina State University Department of Architecture was killed in an airplane crash before the construction phase Local architect William Henley Dietrick supervised the completion of the arena using Nowicki s innovative design Said design features a steel cable supported saddle shaped roof in tension held up by parabolic concrete arches in compression The arches cross about 20 feet above ground level and continue underground where their ends are held together by more steel cables in tension The outer walls of the arena support next to no weight at all Dorton Arena was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 11 1973 1 Originally named the State Fair Arena it was dedicated to Dr J S Dorton former North Carolina State Fair manager in 1961 2 In the past it has hosted many sporting events concerts political rallies and circuses Contents 1 Historic significance 2 Sports 3 Other events 4 Concerts non fair 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistoric significance editThe Dorton Arena was the first structure in the world to use a cable supported roof The structure is based on two parabolic concrete arches which lean over to the point that they are closer to being parallel to the ground than they are to being vertical The arches lean toward and beyond each other such that they cross each other 26 feet above ground These arches approaching horizontal in plane thus serve as the outer edges of the structure which when viewed from above appears almost elliptical The arches are supported by slender columns around the building perimeter Cables are strung between the two opposing arch structures providing support for the saddle shaped roof This was the first permanent cable supported roof in the world Completed in 1952 the arena was the predecessor of more famous domed stadiums to follow such as the Houston Astrodome in 1965 and the Louisiana Superdome in 1975 Dorton Arena was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2002 3 4 5 Sports editDorton Arena has hosted numerous sporting events and teams throughout the decades The longest running tenant was the Raleigh IceCaps ECHL ice hockey team from 1991 1998 The American Basketball Association s Carolina Cougars also played some games in the arena from 1969 74 It was also the home of the Carolina Rollergirls WFTDA nbsp Triangle Torch vs Lehigh Valley Steelhawks at Dorton Arena March 25 2016The Cougars became tenants after the Houston Mavericks moved to North Carolina in 1969 The Cougars were a regional franchise playing home games in Charlotte Bojangles Coliseum Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum Winston Salem Memorial Coliseum and Raleigh Dorton Arena Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown began his coaching career with the Cougars in 1972 Billy Cunningham was the ABA MVP for Brown and the Cougars in the 1972 73 season Despite a strong fan base the Cougars were sold and moved to St Louis in 1974 6 Dorton Arena was a popular venue for professional wrestling in the 70s and 80s with sometimes weekly matches Wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Nature Boy Ric Flair for the National Wrestling Alliance U S Heavyweight championship in Dorton Arena on Jan 27 1981 Beginning in 2016 it became the home of the Triangle Torch in American Indoor Football 7 The Torch have since played as members of Supreme Indoor Football but left Dorton Arena prior to the 2018 season in the American Arena League Other events editBesides hosting sporting events the arena is also used for concerts during the North Carolina State Fair Various conventions and fairs also use floorspace of the arena as an exhibition space often in conjunction with the neighboring Jim Graham building The arena has hosted the FIRST Robotics Competition FRC regional robotics competition and was the first space to hold a regional in the state Both Shaw University and Meredith College use Dorton Arena as a site for graduation and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics use the facility as a rain site for their commencement exercises Concerts non fair editDorton Arena and Reynolds Coliseum were the only concert venues in the Capital City for many decades before Walnut Creek Amphitheater and PNC Arena were built The building was originally designed for livestock shows not for concerts so while there are unobstructed views of the stage the sound tends to bounce off the glass Fair officials have made significant changes to improve the acoustics of the building in recent years Many of the biggest names in entertainment have played in this arena Performer Date ReferenceRay Charles and his Augmented Orchestra October 8 1962Johnny Cash September 8 1963 8 The Original Hootenanny The Journeymen The Halifax 111 The Geezinslaw Brothers Jo Mapes Glenn Yarbrough November 1 1963 9 Caravan of Record Stars The Shirelles The Supremes The Coasters July 22 1964The Four Seasons May 4 1964The Beach Boys The Embers The Unknown 4 Inmates July 12 1965 10 11 Warner Mack the Wilburn Brothers Harold Morrison November 26 1965 12 The Righteous Brothers October 28 1966 12 Wilson Pickett Show Jr Walker and the All Stars Sam amp Dave Billy Stewart James Carr TV Mama King Coleman and Al TNT Braggs and his orchestra November 14 1966 12 Otis Redding the Marvelettes James amp Bobby Purify The Drifters January 30 1967 12 The Supremes February 5 1967 13 14 Lou Rawls February 18 1967 13 The Temptations March 12 1967 15 The Beach Boys Davy Jones April 23 1968 rescheduled from April 6 11 The Four Seasons May 4 1968 16 Jimi Hendrix Experience Fat Mattress April 11 1969 11 Led Zeppelin April 8 1970 17 Jerry Lee Lewis Linda Gail Lewis Aug 29 1970 18 The Grand Funk Railroad April 23 1971 11 The Jackson 5 August 1 1971Jerry Lee Lewis Dolly Parton Porter Wagoner May 28 1971 19 James Taylor Carole King March 4 1971 20 The Jackson 5 August 1 1971 11 Black Sabbath March 6 1972King Crimson March 29 1972Jethro Tull Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band April 20 1972 11 21 Chicago April 26 1972The Guess Who August 10 1972 22 The Sylvers November 16 1973 23 Blood Sweat and Tears with the North Carolina Symphony January 12 1974 24 Kris Kristofferson Waylon Jennings February 15 1974Todd Rundgren s Utopia March 8 1974 11 Marvin Gaye The Independents November 16 1974 11 KISS Rock amp Roll Over tour November 27 1976 25 Climax Blues Band November 27 1976 26 The Outlaws Rick Derringer Foghat January 22 1977 27 28 Rick James Prince March 15 1980Kool and the Gang The Gap Band Skyy Yarbrough and Peoples March 27 1981 29 PKM March 1 1982Loverboy September 1982 30 Prince March 12 1982 11 Maxwell House Give em A Hand Concert Waylon Jennings Jessi Colter Jerry Reed Lee Greenwood Cabin Fever July 2 1983Heart August 31 1985Ratt Bon Jovi November 1 1985George Thorogood November 30 1986 31 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble February 11 1987Petra November 2 1990 32 Third Day May 18 2012 11 Thompson Square Lainey Wilson September 23 2018 11 Third Day May 18 2012Jethro Tull March 29 2023 11 See also editTensile architecture Tensile and membrane structures Thin shell structure List of thin shell structures List of Registered Historic Places in North Carolina List of historic civil engineering landmarksReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 Survey and Planning Unit Staff August 1972 J S Dorton Arena PDF National Register of Historic Places Nomination and Inventory North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office Retrieved 2015 05 01 Extended history of the J S Dorton Arena North Carolina Department of Agriculture amp Consumer Services Retrieved June 29 2017 Dorton Arena American Society of Civil Engineers Retrieved January 26 2022 Petroski Henry November December 2002 Dorton Arena On the occasion of its 50th anniversary and its dedication as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark PDF American Scientist 90 6 503 507 doi 10 1511 2002 39 3324 Retrieved March 3 2021 Remember the ABA Carolina Cougars Archived from the original on 2013 11 27 Retrieved 2014 05 19 AIF in Raleigh NC begins today as new team has been awarded to Raleigh NC Triangle Torch August 12 2015 Archived from the original on August 22 2015 Retrieved August 12 2015 Billboard August 31 1963 The Daily Tar Heel October 27 1963 Vintage Concert Posters Buy or Sell Concert Posters vintageconcertposters com Retrieved 2022 09 24 a b c d e f g h i j k l Concert History of Dorton Arena Raleigh North Carolina United States Concert Archives www concertarchives org 2023 Retrieved July 23 2023 a b c d The Daily Tar Heel a b The Daily Tar Heel January 12 1967 Diana Ross Supremes Timeline 1967 dianarosssupremes free fr Retrieved 2023 12 15 Daily Tar Heel March 10 1967 Billboard April 27 1968 Led Zeppelin Official Website J S Dorton Arena April 8 1970 Led Zeppelin Official Website Official Website Retrieved 2022 09 24 Concert Tickets www lookatstubs com Retrieved 2022 09 24 Concert Tickets www lookatstubs com Retrieved 2022 09 24 The Daily Tar Heel from Chapel Hill North Carolina on March 4 1971 Page 3 Newspapers com Retrieved 2022 09 24 Billboard April 22 1972 Billboard August 12 1972 Billboard Magazine October 27 1973 Daily Tar Heel January 9 1974 KISS Setlist at J S Dorton Arena Raleigh setlist fm Retrieved 2022 09 24 Billboard November 27 1976 Concert History of Dorton Arena Raleigh North Carolina United States Concert Archives www concertarchives org Retrieved 2022 09 24 The Technician January 24 1977 NC State University Libraries Rare and Unique Digital Collections d lib ncsu edu Retrieved 2022 09 24 The Technician September 10 1982 Daily Tar Heel December 1 1986 Petra Setlist at J S Dorton Arena Raleigh setlist fm Retrieved 2022 09 24 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dorton Arena Official Website Archived 2006 05 28 at the Wayback Machine via the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Historic photos of Dorton Arena Matthew Nowicki Papers at NCSU Libraries includes drawings of Dorton Video JS Dorton Arena the Fairground Pavilion That Was a Modernist Marvel by ArchDaily com 4 September 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorton Arena amp oldid 1190041094, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
