Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 10/07/2026 04:21:00

Built in 1962 on the 105-acre Mississippi State Fairgrounds complex in Jackson, the Mississippi Coliseum is a 6,500-seat multi-purpose arena that expands to 10,000 for concerts using temporary floor seating. The facility sits -- remarkably -- 2,900 feet above the extinct Jackson Volcano, an igneous dome buried deep underground and dating to 69-79 million years ago, making it one of the most geologically unusual arena sites in North America. The coliseum is best known as the longtime home of the Dixie National Rodeo and Livestock Show, the largest indoor rodeo east of the Mississippi River, which takes place each February and draws thousands of spectators for world-class equestrian competitions and headline country music performances. The venue also hosts the annual Mississippi State Fair each October, along with monster truck shows, ice shows, trade shows, concerts, and sporting events throughout the year. The 25,449-square-foot arena floor can be configured with dirt for agricultural and equestrian events or cleared for other programming. The coliseum connects directly to the adjacent 110,000-square-foot Mississippi Trade Mart, enabling expanded event capabilities. Former tenants include the Jackson Bandits of the ECHL (1999-2003) and the Mississippi Raiders of the Arena Indoor Football league. Mississippi State and Ole Miss men's basketball have each played annual games here since the 2018-19 season. Owned and operated by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the fairgrounds complex hosts more than 700 events per year. Amenities include wheelchair accessibility, stage availability, AV equipment, on-site catering, on-site parking, and Wi-Fi. A $2.2 million renovation completed in 2020 modernized seating and safety features.