The building was named for William A. Alexander in 1956. Alexander was the Tech football coach from 1920-1944 and the third athletic director
(after John W. Heisman); his tenure as coach included the 1928 Rose Bowl team. The facility was known as the Alexander Memorial Coliseum at
McDonald's Center for 10 seasons from 1996 to 2005 in conjunction with a $5.5 million donation to help pay for the mid-1990's renovation.
Today, the arena seats 9,191. A McDonald's restaurant was added during the last renovation but has since closed. The "golden arches" on the
signs remain pursuant to their corporate donation.

During the 1996 Summer Olympics, the arena hosted the Olympic boxing tournament.

The Coliseum played host to the Atlanta Hawks after they moved from St. Louis while The Omni was under construction, and again between
1997 and 1999, after the Omni was demolished and while Philips Arena was being built on its site. During the latter period, the Hawks played
most of their home games at the Georgia Dome with the remainder at the Coliseum.

For most of its life, the Coliseum has hosted many rounds of the Georgia High School Association men's and women's state tournament games.
The first integrated high school state tournament in Georgia history was played there before record overflow crowds in 1967.

The arena received its nickname, "The Thrillerdome," from former Tech color radio announcer and current ESPN broadcaster Brad Nessler, for
the many close games it witnessed during the 1983-84 season.