Ector County Coliseum

Built in 1954, the Ector County Coliseum has served as a cornerstone of community life in Odessa and the Permian Basin for more than 70 years, hosting rodeos, fairs, trade shows, sporting events, and the Permian Basin International Oil Show. The venue's stage has also carried some of the biggest names in music history — Elvis Presley played two sold-out shows here in 1976, Def Leppard launched their first headlining tour after rehearsing at the Coliseum in 1983, and Deep Purple opened their U.S. comeback tour on its stage in 1985. Spanning 42 acres at the intersection of Highways 191 and 385 in Odessa, Texas, the complex features an 8,000-seat coliseum and more than 145,000 square feet of exhibit space, with more than 2,000 hotel rooms within a 10-minute drive. The venue draws an estimated 400,000 attendees annually and serves as the premier gathering place for the more than 350,000 residents of the Permian Basin, hosting everything from concerts and trade shows to rodeos and community events.