Own a piece of Colorado Springs history as original 1923 City Auditorium seats go on sale
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- An operating partner with Colorado Springs is giving the community a chance to own a piece of local history by putting the original chairs from the City Auditorium, which opened in 1923, on sale.
According to city officials, the proceeds will go towards the City Auditorium Gift Trust Fund.
The auditorium is currently undergoing renovations to preserve its historic character while transforming the location into a modern destination for concerts, community events, and plays, according to the city.
“What artists expect and what the needs are for modern touring are a lot greater than what they were in 1923, so we have to modernize everything from top to bottom,” said Jesse Morreale, principal for AVA Presents.
Morreale says they are working to keep the historic parts of the building to the best of their ability.
“All of the historic nature of the building is going to be preserved to the extent that we can," Morreale said. "We’re not reconfiguring the building, we’re not cutting the area in half, and we’re not taking out the balcony or the mezzanine.”
Officials say the historic chairs have been a part of decades of legendary performances, including Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Motley Crue, Willie Nelson, Tina Turner, Def Leppard, Foo Fighters, Primus, Weezer, and Ozzy Osbourne.
"The building is the last remaining building that has the concert history equivalent to that of Red Rocks in the Front Range,” Morreale said.
Each chair has a wrought-iron hat rack beneath the seat designed to hold cowboy and top hats during performances, the city confirms.
“As a preservationist, I couldn’t stomach the idea of just taking them out and throwing them away,” Morreale said.
The chairs went on sale at 10 a.m. and can be purchased through the City Auditorium website.
The chairs will be offered in the following four categories:
P1: Excellent (100-year-old condition) – These chairs are in exceptional condition for their age, with some still retaining their original upholstery. $150
P2: Good – These chairs show expected wear for their age but remain in good overall condition. Condition varies slightly from chair to chair. $100
P3: Fair – These chairs have more significant wear, including torn or taped upholstery. Some may have minor damage or missing pieces but remain structurally intact and can be repaired or restored. $50
P4: Salvage – These chairs are best suited for parts or restoration. They may be missing the seat, have broken components, or require substantial repair. Free
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