Completed in 1949, the building with seating for 14,000 people is named after William Neal Reynolds, president of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company founded by his brother. Construction of Reynolds Coliseum... Completed in 1949, the building with seating for 14,000 people is named after William Neal Reynolds, president of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company founded by his brother. Construction of Reynolds Coliseum was originally proposed by David Clark (David Clark Labs) after 5,000 people from all over North Carolina were rained out of a Farmers' Week meeting in 1940. Allegedly, Clark insisted that some of the building's doors be tall enough for elephants to walk through during circus performances.