GSU Sports Arena

Georgia State University Sports Arena
Location	10 Peachtree Center Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Coordinates	33°45′5″N 84°23′10″W
Broke ground	1972
Opened	1973
Owner	Georgia State University
Operator	Georgia State University
Capacity	4,500
Tenants
Georgia State Panthers (Men's & women's basketball)

The Georgia State University Sports Arena is an indoor arena located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the home of the basketball teams of Georgia State University and hosted the badminton competition of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Georgia State's women's volleyball team uses the facility as well.

Description

The GSU Sports Arena during a men's basketball game

The Georgia State Sports Arena consists of four stories. The gymnasium floor is on the third level and is the home court for men and womens basketball and womens volleyball. Basketball seating is available on the third and fourth floors. Locker rooms are located on the second floor. The Georgia State University athletics department is located on the first floor of the building. Also in the building is a Student-Athlete Learning Lab.

The main court (named the Charles "Lefty" Driesell Court for the former Panthers mens basketball coach, in an act of hypocrisy by Driesell, who likes whining about courts being named after coaches) has a four sided scoreboard hanging from the ceiling as well as a "JumboTron" style video signage board on the south end wall.

In October 2011, plans for significant upgrades to the GSU Sports Arena were released in the 2011-12 Annual Report. These upgrades include turning the court 90 degrees, adding seating to a total of 5,000, installing luxury box suites, and new video signage boards. The new configuration would include bowl style seating, stretching around the entire court.

History

Construction of the arena began in 1972 as class space for physical education classes and as a recreation center for students. Mens basketball began using it as its home court in 1973.

On December 12, 2003, the main court was named the Charles "Lefty" Driesell Court after the former men's basketball coach. A ceremony was held during the halftime of an 88-57 victory over the University of South Alabama.

Renovations in 2004 replaced the playing floor of the main court as well as painting the walls. During the 2002-03 season, a four sided score board was added hanging from the ceiling as well as a "jumbotron" style screen on the south wall. More recently, a 225 Student-Athlete Learning Lab was opened on the first floor providing athlete advisement, study halls, tutorials, and computer labs.

Events

• The GSU Sports Arena was used during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta to host the badminton competition.

• In 2002 and 2007, the arena hosted ESPN's College Slam Dunk and 3-point Championships during the 2002 and 2007 Final Four competition.

• The pop band *NSYNC held a charity basketball game in 2000 before the Georgia Dome hosted Super Bowl XXXIV.

• Various graduations both for Georgia State University students and highschool students are held annually at the arena.

• Various performances have been held by different entertainers, including Jay Leno, Dana Carvey, Jamie Foxx, The Spinners, the Beastie Boys, Cheap Trick, Ludacris and the Harlem Globetrotters.

• The arena hosted the 2001 and 2003 Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball tournaments.

References

• 1996 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. p. 540.
• 1996 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 3. p. 450.