RI AUDITORIUM 

HISTORY

The Rhode Island Auditorium was built in 1925 by a group of investors headed by Rhode Island native Hubert Milot to create another hockey team.  At that time, there were only two organized professional hockey teams in the United States: the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

The RI Auditorium opened at 1111 North Main Street in Providence on February 18, 1926. Surprisingly, when the arena made its debut, it was not for a hockey game, Instead an overflow crowd of 6,000 spectators jammed the new building to enjoy an ice skating show.

The Arena hosted the NBA's Providence Steamrollers basketball team from 1946 until 1949, and the Providence Reds ice hockey team until the Providence Civic Center (now the Dunkin' Donuts Center) was opened in 1972. The arena held 5,300 people and during its life it hosted many events.  By the time Rock n Roll came to town the arena was too old and not meant to host such load volume concerts.  It was not built with acoustics in mind and the sound most of the time just reverberated inside the hall like we were sitting in a can.  Its hallmark in rock n roll history is the fact that such great acts needed to play big halls in Rhode Island and the RI Auditorium opened its doors for our sake.  Thanks to the Arena we got Dylan, Rolling Stones, Hendrix (3x), and Cream on their last show in America in 1968. It was torn down in 1989 and a parking lot now occupies the old site

FOR MORE HISTORY CLICK HERE FOR AN ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

We ask your help to fill in the history of the arena with other concerts, tickets, ads, photos or recording that may exist.

Please send us an email to info@rirocks.net

CONCERT WE PRESENTLY KNOW ABOUT

1989 the RI Auditorium sees the end of its historic life

photo courtesy of Michael"Tucker" Terzian 

Present day where the grand arena once stood