The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum sits in the heart of the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Back in its heyday it was nicknamed the "Madhouse" and the "Purple Palace." For 24 years it was home to the NBA's Phoenix Suns.
"It was home," said Alvan Adams, a Phoenix Suns great. "It was loud. I remember it always being really loud. Sometimes we had to lean in to listen to the coach."
Adams was the Suns' center from 1975 to 1988. He played all 13 years of his career in the Coliseum. He gets nostalgic talking about the old arena.
"I love those orange seats," he said. "It's not the Phoenix Suns orange but it was the Coliseum, state fair orange. It was our orange for years."
The 1975 rookie of the year was part of some of the biggest wins in team history. Including a trip to the NBA Finals in 1976, only to lose to the Boston Celtics.
"I remember Gar Heard making a big block on Keith Wilkes' corner jumper to preserve a victory in the Western Conference Finals," said Adams. "I remember a shot I made here on the baseline in front of the visitors bench against Golden State."
The Phoenix Suns are going old school Saturday with Fan Fest. The event starts at 3 p.m. and the team will hold a scrimmage in the Coliseum at 6 p.m. It's open to the public and free. It'll give fans a chance to relive those glory days in the Coliseum.
"Jerry Colangelo is scheduled to be here. ‘The Hawk' (Connie Hawkins) is supposed to be here. I haven't seen the Hawk in a while," said Adams. "Gar Heard and Walter Davis are supposed to be in town for this."
Adams, who is a member of the Suns Ring of Honor, says there is no chance of him taking the court during the scrimmage.
"I'm not going to put on the old short, shorts," he said. "I could make a free throw but I'm not going to be out here to play. I might be peddling popcorn in the stands, I don't know."
Either way, fans will get to relive an experience that doesn't come along too often.
"You know what, you don't get a lot of good chances to see basketball in this building anymore," said Adams. "This is a chance to see not only basketball but your Phoenix Suns. Come on down."
The Fan Fest is Saturday at 3 p.m. on the west side of the Coliseum. The scrimmage is free and starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m.
