The building was constructed in 1971 as part of the Iowa State Center, an athletic and cultural events area located southeast of the main campus.

Until Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines was built, Hilton Coliseum was Central Iowa's premier entertainment venue.

"Hilton Magic", the power of the Coliseum faithful to produce unexpected victories, was first recognized by Des Moines Register sportswriter Buck Turnbull.

On cue, “Hilton Magic” displayed its powers, as the Cyclones defeated the Cowboys, 90–81, marking a 37-point reversal from the season’s prior meeting.

Hilton Coliseum was specifically built to hold in sound with a solid concrete structure, steel doors, and a crowd that sits just a few feet from the court.

In 2003-04, Iowa State went 17–1 in Hilton, recording the second-best single-season home win total in school history.

Hilton Magic has been ever-present recently, helping the Cyclones tally a school-record 39 consecutive wins in the facility.

Cyclone fans are getting their money’s worth, as ISU recorded its third undefeated home slate (15–0) in Hilton Coliseum in 2004-05.

The Cyclones recorded the first women’s basketball sellout crowd when 14,092 attended the WNIT double-header in Hilton Coliseum on March 25, 2004.

Iowa State and its enthusiastic crowds earned the Cyclones a homecourt advantage for all four WNIT postseason games.

On January 17, 2015, Hilton Coliseum hosted ESPN's College Gameday in front of roughly 7,000 fans.

Through the 2023-24 season, the Iowa State men's basketball team boasts a 614–207 record at Hilton Coliseum.

One year after opening, Hilton Coliseum started hosting the Iowa State Cyclones Men's Hockey Team up until the mid-1980s.

[3] Although the arena officially opened on December 2, 1971, the Cyclones' first Hockey game there didn't take place until March of 1972 due to ongoing construction issues.

Dr. Murdoch and Vic Heyliger, a six-time NCAA National Champion head coach and member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, arranged for a weekend series that included the first game for ISU.

Fans in Hilton on January 9, 1981, also had the privilege of seeing Dave Osenbaugh’s pin of national heavyweight champion Lou Banach of Iowa.

The Iowa State wrestling program has hosted five NCAA Championship events in 1974, 1979, 1982, 1988 and 1993 and Hilton has been home to eight conference meets in 1976, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1994, 1999, 2004, and most recently in 2006.

James H. Hilton Coliseum is recognized as one of the finest facilities in the nation and provides a top-notch home for the Iowa State gymnastics team, playing host to the 2000 Big 12 Championship and the 2006 NCAA Regional Meet.

[5] As part of a larger partnership with Daktronics, in 2024 Hilton Coliseum upgraded its video capabilities featuring a new centerhung display to enhance the fan experience.