Things That Have Vanished from Lubbock Since the Last ESPN’s GameDay

It's been 17 years of big changes in Lubbock since the last time ESPN's GameDay was in town, and while there have been many new things pop up, some long-running businesses, amenities, and cultural buildings have bit the dust.

Read More: How Lubbock Transformed Since ESPN's Last Visit In 2008

Lubbock Lost A BIG Venue

The biggest loss to the Lubbock skyline was the demolition of the Lubbock Coliseum in 2019. It was replaced with parking, which I'm sure people attending the event will appreciate, even if we do still mourn the loss of the rodeo in Lubbock, along with all those concert and comedy memories.

Lubbock Lost A Lot Of Joy

Joyland, a long-running, adorably retro amusement park, shuttered permanently in 2023. It was a massive kick to the heart of Lubbock's collective childhood, and many of us still miss it deeply. The worst part? Nothing has replaced it, and it will be a long time (if ever) that anything does. If you want to be on a rollercoaster, you have to drive at least to Amarillo, or wait for the fair to roll back around.

Read More: Raiderpocalypse: Fans Prepare For Lubbock's Big Football Showdown

Lubbock: No Swimming Here

Lubbock lost ALL of its municipal pools during this time, meaning that any swimming has to be at a private residence or at a venue like Sun 'N Fun. This has created a cost (and space) barrier for many kids who now may not learn to swim- a very important safety skill. Instead, we have splash pads, which are fine for little bitties, but it won't teach anyone to swim.

Very Long Running Local Businesses

Lubbock lost some businesses that had been around for decades, including Maloufs (75 years in business), Tom & Bingo's (70 years in business), Holland Gardens (60 years in business), the Outdoorsman (50 years in business), The Ranch House (45 years) and Copper Caboose (24 years). I'm probably failing to mention more, but we simply lost a ton of these in recent years do to a toxic combination of factors like increased costs, the pandemic, online shopping, and just the unrelenting passing of time.

Chain Change

We said goodbye to several chains (both locally and nationwide), including On The Border, Party City, World of Beer, El Chico and (try not to get too emotional about this one) Furr's.

Since the last time College GameDay visited Lubbock in 2008, the city has changed a lot. Some big names are gone, and beloved traditions have ended. But each of those losses also tells a story of change and resilience. As new places and new customs take root, it’s worth remembering what once was, so we can appreciate the journey.