A Look Inside The Armory

You’ve all seen this building before, passed by it many times, but few know not only how rich in history but how alive and busy this old, smokey-brick building is.

This is the Armory.

The Armory was first used in 1936 as a military training ground. It was constructed the year before by architect Louis S. Kaplan for a cost of $1 Million.

For the next 30 years, soldiers practiced daily here. To this day, a wall of fame untouched by history contains the photos of those who served here.

Recently I went down to the Armory to meet up with the Co-League Director of Soccer, Ed Seavers. He runs many activities at the arena and remembers when it was once a basketball court. He took me on a tour through doors I had never noticed before to see classrooms that soldiers still use today.

He explained to me that after the troops’ morning practice on the red turf, they study in these classrooms. “They will train in the morning and sometimes watch the soccer games after,” said Seavers.

Seavers pointed out that the stairs near the stands were less-than-ideal in size because they were initially created for soldiers to run up and down. They call the main level “Drill Floor,” and under it is a garage that I would have otherwise never have known existed.

The hallways looked just like a school, but instead of posters telling you about famous writers, scientists, and mathematicians, the walls were filled with framed images of soldiers, presidents, and proud military moments.

I was able to see a soldier dressed in a uniform from a distance, but I didn’t get the opportunity to speak with him.

The Armory boasts a vast grass field maintained by the owners and enjoyed by the eyes of everyone.

Every memorial day, the Armory hosts a carnival on this front lawn. Included are more than 20 rides as well as an iconic Ferris wheel. The carnival is welcoming to guests of all ages with rides for the young and elderly, though I recommend staying off the adrenaline-filled “Spin-Off” coaster.

Other things that families can enjoy are classic carnival games and a bustling food truck. With all the dazzling colored lights, the carnival is indeed a spectacle to see.

Teaneck teenager Asher Jacobson commented on the carnival, “Every time I leave I can’t wait to come back the next year.” Jacobson continued by saying that it always looks so fun and he would never want to miss out on that.

Outside the building, the Armory’s property features two rusty tanks - an M42 Duster anti-aircraft vehicle and the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle. Both tanks were once used at the Armory but now are permanently parked adjacent to Teaneck Road.

Indoors, an American flag waves proudly ever since the day it was raised in 2010. This sizable Garrison-style wool flag was first hung on Wall Street in reverence for those who perished on 9/11.

In 1966, the troops rented the facility to a local basketball team called the New Jersey Americans of the American Basketball League. This team later became known as the Brooklyn Nets.

The army was still able to train while the team wasn’t using it. The Americans played one season there, from 1967-1968. That year, they made it to the playoffs but were forced to forfeit because of a scheduling conflict with a circus troupe that performed in the Armory.

This factoid did not come as a surprise to Seavers. Seavers remembered the Americans being in town as a 15-year-old, but never remembered the games being a big deal. “I couldn’t tell you whether a ticket was worth 8 cents or 80 dollars, I just didn’t care at the time,” Seavers said.

The Americans moved out the next year, leaving the Armory for the sole use of the New Jersey National Guard.

The Armory was repurposed in 1997 for arena sports events. New renters saw a future in soccer and decided to rename the building the Teaneck Coliseum.

Construction workers tore out the court and many seats to make room turf. They raised the ceiling space and expanded the floor. This large space has proven to be very attractive to film producers who have used it for shots in the movies Sweet and Lowdown, You've Got Mail, Bogus and Stonewall.

However, its primary use to this day has been an indoor soccer arena. The Teaneck Coliseum runs games every day from 4 -10 P.M. Fans enjoy watching from up to 200 seats that have been in the arena since the days of the New Jersey Americans.

Younger players use one of four small fields separated by netting. Older players combine two fields into a larger area. Veteran soccer player Uri Gulich noted the disadvantage that comes with teams playing so close to one another: “When a ref blows a whistle you are sometimes confused as to which field the sound is coming from.”

I discussed the unusual choice to paint the turf red with Tournament and Co-league Director Orce Kozeski; he seemed to think it was for “no specific reason.” Kozeski has worked at the Coliseum for the past 15 years. It’s his job to make sure all the games run on time and make sure everyone knows where to be and when to be there.

My own team, F.C. Teaneck, plays once a week and competes against teams from around the state in this famed stadium. Our team uses these fields as preseason practice grounds before spring’s outdoor season hits.

My teammate Gulich commented on some of the best and worst parts of playing in the Coliseum. “It’s faster pace and more physical,” Gulich said. “I don’t like the weighted ones [indoor soccer balls]. It gets stuck underneath feet because of the difference in feel.” Many who play can relate to that sentiment.

Gulich ended on a more nostalgic note: “I use to go there every Sunday in the winters, so it was like what are doing this Sunday? I’m going to the armory. It brings back memories of childhood.”

One of Gulich’s favorite post-game activities is going to the arcade with his teammates, which is next to the fields.

Kozeski believes that “the Coliseum is a great venue for both boys and girls to enjoy themselves and play soccer.” He hopes that teams will “play soccer [at the Armory] for many many more years to come.”

I always enjoyed playing on the field, but more than ever I see it as a treasure ground of historical significance. It represents Teaneck’s long-standing commitment to a balance between country, community and people. The army training, annual carnival, and soccer games are all things that benefit us all to some extent. For all that, we are all grateful for this landmark and hope to see it in use for many years to come.