9 7 1 ▁and ▁the ▁region ▁is ▁looking ▁to ▁replace ▁the ▁ag ing ▁facility ▁with ▁a ▁larger ▁one . ▁The ▁ar ena ▁was ▁quietly ▁sh utter ed ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁while ▁new ▁proposed ▁rep lac ements ▁are ▁in ▁development . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Until ▁John ▁Paul ▁Jones ▁Arena ▁opened ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁the ▁Richmond ▁Col ise um ▁was ▁the ▁largest ▁sports ▁ar ena ▁in ▁Virginia . ▁The ▁Virginia ▁Commonwealth ▁University ▁R ams ▁men ' s ▁basketball ▁team ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁ar ena ▁until ▁the ▁ 7 , 5 0 0 - se at ▁Sie gel ▁Center ▁opened ▁on ▁the ▁V C U ▁campus ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁ ▁El vis ▁Pres ley ▁performed ▁a ▁concert ▁at ▁the ▁col ise um ▁on ▁April ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁with ▁( most ly ▁back stage ) ▁foot age ▁being ▁used ▁in ▁the ▁film ▁El vis ▁on ▁Tour ▁which ▁documented ▁Pres ley ' s ▁spring ▁tour ▁of ▁that ▁year . ▁ ▁The ▁Richmond ▁Col ise um ▁was ▁the ▁former ▁part - time ▁home ▁of ▁the ▁Virginia ▁S qu ires ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Basketball ▁Association . ▁The ▁S qu ires ▁played ▁there ▁in ▁addition ▁to ▁Ro ano ke ▁C iv ic ▁Center , ▁Nor folk ▁S cope ▁and ▁Ham pton ▁Col ise um ▁( all ▁within ▁the ▁Commonwealth ▁of ▁Virginia ) ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁until ▁just ▁before ▁the ▁A BA – N BA ▁mer ger ▁in ▁ 1