The facility seats 5,200 fans for basketball events, with chairback seating on both the lower and upper levels. Bleacher seating is also available in the student section on the lower level.
The arena was officially dedicated on Nov. 26, 1977, when the UNCW men’s basketball team battled Wake Forest before a sellout crowd, losing to the nationally-ranked Demon Deacons, 83-79. It was also the site of the Seahawks’ inaugural Colonial Athletic Association victory when the team edged George Mason, 66-64, on Jan. 5, 1985.
The facility is a versatile one, serving as the home floor for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. It contains three general classrooms, one lecture classroom, a physical measurements laboratory, home for the Academic Support Services Center and faculty and administrative offices.
Recent improvements have kept the arena in excellent condition. A $2 milliion renovated project as completed in the fall of 2011, including the installation of an impressive video board and LED courtside boards, and new LED lighting was installed in the fall of 2013.
The 1986 women’s basketball and 1996 women’s volleyball championships for the Colonial Athletic Association were conducted at the facility.
In 1998, Trask Coliseum was the site of a Federation Cup women’s tennis semifinal match between the United States and France. Several of the world's top-ranked women's professional players convened on Wilmington for the ESPN-televised event.
Two National Basketball Association teams have held their training camps at the venue. The Washington Wizards called Trask Coliseum their pre-season training for three seasons from 2001-03 and hometown favorite Michael Jordan was a familiar site on campus for those training sessions.Most recently, the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) trained at Trask Coliseum.
Numerous concert and stage performers have also appeared in the arena, including Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, The Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels, The Righteous Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Four Tops, Willie Nelson, Gladys Knight, and, most recently, country star Brad Paisley and Jessica Simpson.
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If Traveling To Wilmington Via I-40: I-40 becomes US 132/S. College Road once the interstate ends. Continue traveling south on College Road approximately 3 miles. Turn left onto Randall Drive at the traffic light. You are now on the UNCW campus. Take your first right onto Wagoner Drive. Trask Coliseum is approximately ¼ mile on left.
If Traveling To Wilmington Via US 74/76: After crossing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, US 74/76 is also called Dawson Street. Continue on Dawson Street approximately 1.5 miles. Dawson Street (US 76E) will bear right and become Oleander Drive. Continue on Oleander Drive approximately 2.5 miles until it intersects with US 132N/College Road. Turn left onto College Road. Travel approximately 1 mile north, and then turn right onto Hurst Drive at the traffic light. You are now on the UNCW campus. Take your first left onto Wagoner Drive. Trask Coliseum is approximately a ¼ mile on right.
If Traveling From The North Of Wilmington Via US 17: US 17 becomes Market Street in Wilmington. Continue traveling south on Market Street. Go under the overpass at the junction of US 117S/132S, and immediately turn left at the traffic light onto South College Road. Continue traveling on College Road approximately 1 mile. Turn left onto Randall Drive at the traffic light. You are now on the UNCW campus. Take your first right onto Wagoner Drive. Trask Coliseum is approximately ¼ mile on left.
If Traveling From Wilmington International Airport: As you exit the airport, turn left onto 23rd Street. Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Continue to the US 132/College Road intersection, and turn right onto College Road. Travel approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto Randall Drive at the traffic light. You are now on the UNCW campus. Take your first right onto Wagoner Drive. Trask Coliseum is approximately ¼ mile on left.