By For more than six decades, the big nights in Greensboro have happened under one roof. Elvis Presley played here in 1972 and again in 1977, Phish drew a record crowd of 23,642 in 2003, and the ACC men’s basketball tournament has made the building practically a second home. Today that landmark on West Gate City Boulevard carries a new name, First Horizon Coliseum, and it anchors a sprawling six-venue campus that handles everything from arena-rock spectacles to intimate club shows. Here is how to make the most of a concert or live event there, whether you are a lifelong Greensboro resident or visiting the Gate City for the first time.
The Venue: One Name, Many Stages
The building most people still call “the Coliseum” opened on October 29, 1959 as a memorial to North Carolinians who served in the World Wars, with an original capacity of about 7,100. Three major expansions (in 1972, 1978, and 1993) grew it into the roughly 22,000-seat arena it is today, making it one of the largest indoor venues in the Southeast. In October 2024, First Horizon Bank signed the first naming-rights agreement in the venue’s history, and the arena officially became First Horizon Coliseum. The wider campus is still managed under the Greensboro Complex umbrella, now operated by Oak View Group on behalf of the City of Greensboro.
The smartest thing a concertgoer can do is learn which stage their show is actually on, because the Greensboro Complex is not a single hall. It is six distinct venues, each with its own size and feel:
- First Horizon Coliseum: the 22,000-seat main arena, home to the biggest touring acts, the UNC Greensboro Spartans, and the ECHL’s Greensboro Gargoyles.
- White Oak Amphitheatre: an outdoor amphitheater on the complex grounds, built for warm-weather concerts under the stars.
- Piedmont Hall: a flexible, club-sized room that hosts hard rock, metal, and mid-level touring bands.
- Special Events Center: a large multipurpose hall used for expos, banquets, and seated shows.
- Odeon Theatre (the historic War Memorial Auditorium space): a theater-style room for performances and ceremonies.
- Novant Health Fieldhouse: a court and event space used for sports and community gatherings.
When you buy a ticket, check the venue line carefully. A show at Piedmont Hall is a completely different night out (and a different parking approach) than a sold-out arena concert.
What Is Coming to the Stage
The 2026 calendar is a good snapshot of the range this complex pulls in. A single season spans country, classic pop, Latin superstars, hard rock, contemporary Christian, and family tours. Highlights announced for 2026 include:
- Darius Rucker, Songs of Summer Tour (June 18, White Oak Amphitheatre) with George Birge and Austin Williams
- Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind & Fire, the Sing a Song All Night Long Tour (July 18, First Horizon Coliseum)
- Skillet (July 31, Piedmont Hall)
- Barry Manilow, The Last Greensboro Concert (August 10, First Horizon Coliseum)
- Chayanne, Bailemos Otra Vez Tour (September 4, First Horizon Coliseum)
- Koe Wetzel, The Night Champion World Tour (September 11, First Horizon Coliseum)
- Zac Brown Band, Love and Fear Tour with Grace Potter (October 10, First Horizon Coliseum)
- TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, and Third Day (November 8, First Horizon Coliseum)
- Banda MS (November 13, First Horizon Coliseum)
Smaller rooms keep the calendar busy between arena dates: Down with Helmet (August 16), Mastodon (October 21), and Ashley McBryde (November 13) are all booked into Piedmont Hall in 2026. Lineups change constantly, so the only reliable place to confirm dates, on-sale times, and which venue a show lands in is the official Greensboro Complex events calendar.
Buying Tickets the Right Way
This matters in a city full of resale traffic. According to the complex, Ticketmaster is the only authorized online ticketing provider for every Greensboro Complex venue. Tickets purchased anywhere else may be invalid, overpriced, or ineligible for venue assistance if something goes wrong. You have three safe routes:
- Online through the official ticketing page, which links to Ticketmaster.
- In person at the box office.
- By phone through the administrative offices at 336-373-7400.
A few practical notes. Entry is by mobile ticket through the Ticketmaster app; screenshots and printed-at-home pages are generally not accepted, so charge your phone before you leave. Accessible and ADA seating can be purchased online through Ticketmaster, at either box office, or by emailing the venue at AccountManagerCS@greensboro-nc.gov. The box offices (at the Coliseum and at the affiliated Tanger Center downtown) generally run Thursday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., with reduced summer hours and extended hours on arena event days.
Parking, Arrival, and Getting In
The complex sits just west of downtown along West Gate City Boulevard, with surface lots surrounding the arena. For big arena shows, paid event parking opens a couple of hours before doors, and the lots closest to the main entrance fill first. Locals know the trick: arrive early, or be ready to walk a few minutes from an outer lot. Rideshare drop-off is straightforward and often the least stressful option on a sold-out night, since you skip the post-show lot crawl entirely.
Give yourself extra time for security screening at the doors. Most large venues operate clear-bag policies and metal detection, and the specifics for a given show are posted on that event’s page, so it pays to read the event details before you head out.
Where to Stay and Eat Nearby
Greensboro is a convenient overnight if you are coming in from Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, or farther out. Hotels cluster near the airport on the west side of town (a quick drive to the complex) and downtown around Elm Street, which puts you near restaurants and the Tanger Center. You can compare and book area hotels and inns through Expedia’s Greensboro hotel listings. For pre-show food and post-show drinks, the downtown core and the nearby colleges keep plenty of options open late; Visit Greensboro’s official travel guide is a reliable starting point for restaurants and things to pair with your concert night.
A Building Worth the Trip
Part of what makes a show here memorable is the history baked into the place. The Coliseum has hosted 14 NCAA tournament appearances and the 1974 Final Four, and Wake Forest played part of its home schedule here for three decades. It has staged everything from Elvis to the Phish crowd that still holds the all-time attendance record. When you walk in for a 2026 concert, you are stepping into a room that has been Greensboro’s gathering place since 1959. For background on the venue’s history and current tenants, the First Horizon Coliseum overview is a useful read.
Plan Your Visit
- Venue: First Horizon Coliseum / Greensboro Complex (First Horizon Coliseum, White Oak Amphitheatre, Piedmont Hall, Special Events Center, Odeon Theatre, Novant Health Fieldhouse)
- Address: 1921 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27403
- Phone: 336-373-7400
- Website: gsocomplex.com
- Box office hours: generally Thursday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., plus event-day hours; reduced hours in summer
- Tickets: Ticketmaster is the only authorized online provider; buy online, at the box office, or by phone
- Accessible seating: available via Ticketmaster, the box office, or AccountManagerCS@greensboro-nc.gov
One last tip: before any show, open the specific event page on the official site to confirm the venue, doors time, bag policy, and parking gate. The Greensboro Complex runs several rooms at once, and a five-minute check ahead of time is the difference between strolling in relaxed and scrambling at the gate.