[4] The distinctive saddle-shaped, tension-cable roof, supporting over 1,000 precast concrete panels, was considered innovative architectural engineering.

It may have been at least partially influenced by the equally innovative Dorton Arena at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, completed in 1952.

The design influenced later arenas' architecture, including the defunct Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, and the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

There was an early controversy over whether alcohol would be served at the new facility, but legislation was signed in April 1965 by Governor Sam Goddard providing for limited liquor sales.

[9] A preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers had to be canceled on October 6, 1974, after a leaky roof rendered the floor unplayable.

Due to renovations at Talking Stick Resort Arena (now Footprint Center), the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury was to play at the Coliseum for the 2020 season, though the COVID-19 pandemic moved the Mercury to a league-wide bubble environment at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

The Coliseum also hosted a Saturday Night's Main Event taping on Feb. 15, 1986 (shown on NBC on March 1, 1986), when King Kong Bundy attacked Hulk Hogan at the end of his title defense versus Magnificent Muraco.

Hogan suffered (kayfabe) rib injuries, setting up their steel cage main event match at WrestleMania 2.

[13][14] In the late spring and early summer of 2021, the Coliseum was the site of the controversial multi-month audit of Maricopa County's 2020 presidential election ballots by the Republican caucus of the state Senate.