[8] The Big Dome is also used for other sports and events such as boxing, cockfighting, local and international concerts, circuses, religious gatherings, and beauty pageants.

During this time, Araneta envisioned a multi-events venue inspired by the Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Roman Colosseum in Rome, Italy, which drew criticisms from his business advisers and even Amado's personal friends.

[14][15] The coliseum opened on March 16, 1960, with Gabriel "Flash" Elorde boxing for the World Junior Lightweight crown against Harold Gomes.

[16] On the evening of November 16, 1963, a few days after the nationwide elections, defeated Quezon provincial governor Claro Robles attempted to shoot his campaign manager Eladio Caliwara, congressman of Quezon's 2nd district, at the arena, reportedly due to Caliwara calling him a "turncoat".

[18] Aside from boxing matches, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has played most of their games at the Araneta Coliseum since its creation in 1975.

[20] Prior to the Ultimate All-Star Weekend in July 2011, it was announced that the Aranetas entered into a naming rights deal with mobile network operator Smart Communications, Inc. (a subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company), renaming the arena into "Smart Araneta Coliseum".

The 5-year naming rights deal includes improvements and renovations to the arena such as the installation of curved escalators to improve access in the upper box and general admission areas, which was subsequently cancelled due to undisclosed reasons, and the construction of a parking lot that can accommodate up to 2,000 cars.

[21] Additional improvements for the renovation of the coliseum were made in 2012, including the renovation of the Red Gate entrance and the Green Gate side facade, landscaped surroundings, and the replacement of Upper Box level seats, thus increasing its seating capacity.

The newer clocks were first used in Game 3 of the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Quarterfinals match between the TNT Katropa and Meralco Bolts.

New entrances were opened on the upper box, lower box and general admission levels, with direct connections to the Gateway Mall 2, which is also connected to the mall's "Coliseum Plaza" area, a food hall located along the Red Gate entrance.

Steam-treated wood from a variety of Philippine hardwood such as apitong, tanguile and narra fitted using tongue and groove was also used as support.

The arena, which was temporarily renamed to "Philippine Coliseum" for the event, was the venue of the infamous Thrilla in Manila, the 1975 World Heavyweight Championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

Ali won by corner retirement (RTD) after Frazier's chief second asked the referee to stop the fight after the 14th round.

Quezon City was one of the host cities for the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League preliminary round, with the arena hosting the pool 4 matches of the tournament from June 14 to 19, and the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League preliminary round pool 3 matches from June 21 to 26.

The coliseum also hosts other type of events including concerts, graduation ceremonies, seminars, ice shows, circuses, and beauty pageants.

[31] During its early years in the 1960s, international acts who have performed at the coliseum included Holiday on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Neil Sedaka, Jo Ann Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Paul Anka, The Ventures, The Everly Brothers and The Dave Clark Five.

Tour 2012 five months prior, Filipino-American American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez had her first sold-out solo concert at the coliseum on February 14, 2013.

Additionally, Lauv also premiered his new single, "Sad Forever", and filmed its music video during the concert.

On April 14, 2018, Sarah Geronimo held her 15th showbiz anniversary concert called "This Is Me" stylized as "This 15 Me" at the Araneta Coliseum.

[57] The Big Dome is also the venue of religious gatherings like the anniversary celebration of Ang Dating Daan (English: The Old Path, the flagship program of the Members Church of God International), Christ's Commission Fellowship, Iglesia ni Cristo, International Convention of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines, Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, Jesus Miracle Crusade, Kingdom of Jesus Christ: The Name Above Every Name (during early years), Shalom CCFI (Every Holy Week), the Special Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses and Victory Christian Fellowship.

[67] Later that year and after renovations, the third game of the UAAP Season 77 Men's Basketball Tournament Finals Series between the FEU Tamaraws and NU Bulldogs on October 15, 2014, pushed the basketball attendance record above the 25,000 mark for the first time for any local sporting event in the Philippines, with 25,138 spectators.

[68] The current all-time record attendance for any non-boxing Philippine entertainment event, sports or non-sports, held at the Araneta Coliseum was set during the final game of the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Tournament Finals Series between the UP Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers, which was watched live by 25,248 people on December 15, 2024.