The arena was built to host a variety of events, including agricultural expositions and NC State basketball games.

NC State alumnus David Clark originally petitioned for the construction of the arena in 1940 after rain had ruined a North Carolina Farmers' Week meeting held in an outdoor facility.

The foundation work and structural steel support system was completed by 1943 but construction was stopped due to US involvement in World War II.

After the war the university was preoccupied with the building of housing and classroom facilities and the unfinished coliseum was left untouched until construction resumed in 1948.

Reynolds was configured much the same way as Cameron Indoor Stadium, but the end zones were much deeper and the sides were right on top of you.

The Wolfpack under Jim Valvano were a tough out and the games were always fistfights, but the thing I remember most is coming back to a huddle and seeing lips move, but not being able to hear what was said.

Of course, having to guard guys like Thurl Bailey, Lorenzo Charles, Cozell McQueen and Chris Washburn probably had something to do with my head spinning."

Hubert Davis: "The toughest place I ever played was Reynolds Coliseum, former home of the NC State Wolfpack.

[7] Renovations were completed in 2005 that added new lighting, a new sound system, and new separate floors for basketball and volleyball.

During basketball games temporary bleachers were rolled out over the volleyball floor, as well as over the open area on the south end of the court.

The project moved the competition floor to the south end of the arena while lowering the seating capacity to 5,500 (it can be a bit higher for festival events).

[8] NC State's volleyball team was the first to play at home in the newly renovated Reynolds on September 9, 2016, defeating Delaware 3–0.

During the years in which Norm Sloan was the Wolfpack's head coach, his wife Joan sang the National Anthem before tip-offs.

Alabama, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Louis Armstrong, Loverboy, Logan Paul, The Kingston Trio and Huey Lewis & The News have all performed in Reynolds.

Additionally, former presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have addressed students, faculty, and campus visitors in the coliseum.

[14] The game saw the Cox Mill Chargers men's basketball team take home their second straight State Championship.