Petersen Events Center

Petersen Events Center
"The Pete"
Location	3719 Terrace Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Broke ground	June 15, 2000
Opened	April 27, 2002
Owner	University of Pittsburgh
Operator	SMG Facility Management
Surface	Hardwood Basketball Court
Construction cost	USD $ 119 million ($148 million in 2012 dollars)
Architect	Apostolou Associates Rosser International of Atlanta
General Contractor	Pitt-Center Partners (joint venture between Mizerak Towers and Associates, P.J. Dick Inc. and O'Brien Construction)
Capacity	12,508
Tenants
Pittsburgh Panthers (NCAA) (2002–present) Pittsburgh Xplosion (CBA) (2006–2008)

Not to be confused with Petersen Sports Complex.

The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center (more commonly known as the Petersen Events Center or "The Pete") is a 12,508-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers basketball teams. The arena is named for philanthropists John Petersen and his wife Gertrude, who donated $10 million for its construction.[1] John Petersen, a Pitt alumnus, is a native of nearby Erie, Pennsylvania and is the retired President and CEO of Erie Insurance Group.

History

The arena opened in 2002 on part of the former site of Pitt Stadium, which housed the university's football team from 1925–1999. The Pitt men's and women's basketball programs make their home here, previously residing in Fitzgerald Field House. The new building, due to its larger capacity, also meant that Pitt no longer had to play certain games or hold graduation ceremonies at the Civic Arena.

The Petersen Events Center's plaza is also the site of one of the campus' Panther statues and the former site of Pitt Stadium. The University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine, Scaife Hall, and the Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower can be seen reflected in the Pete's glass facade.

Its first event was a Counting Crows concert. For concerts the Center seats 9,000 for end-stage shows, 14,763 for center-stage shows. The first official women's basketball game at the Pete was 90-51 win over Robert Morris University on November 22, 2002. The first official men's basketball game at the Pete was an 82-67 win over Duquesne University on November 23, 2002. Since its creation through the end of the 2009-10 season, the Pitt men's basketball team has compiled a record of 149–12 (.925) at the Pete, including a 9-0 record against teams ranked in the top five. Pitt broke the 100 win mark on November 22, 2008 with a 86-60 win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

In 2006, the Pittsburgh Xplosion, a professional basketball team in the Continental Basketball Association, played its first game at the arena. The team folded just prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.

In October, 2011, a new high definition video board was installed in the Pedersen Events Center.

Amenities

With 430,000 total square feet, the Pete seats 12,508 for basketball and 9,000 for end stage concerts. The arena features 16,000 square feet (1,500 m²) of lobby space with 90-foot (27 m) high ceilings, 18 luxury suites, including five courtside luxury suites (the only college arena with courtside suites) and a 193-seat SuperSuite.[2]

Student section

Main article: Oakland Zoo (cheering section)

The early minutes of a game against number one ranked UConn in 2009. A portion of the Oakland Zoo can be seen at the bottom. Pitt won the nationally televised game 70–60.

The section known as the Oakland Zoo is composed of the sections across from the team benches and next to the court. The name comes from Oakland, the neighborhood where Pitt's campus resides. The students in the Zoo wear gold T-shirts with the words "Oakland Zoo" in some way, shape or form across the front. This layout and unity is a large factor in why the Pete is such a tough place to play for opposing teams. In fact, Pitt has lost only two home non-conference game since the Panthers moved into the Pete in 2002.

In 2006, Sports Illustrated surveyed the Big East Conference's basketball players, and the Pete was named the "Toughest Place to Play," with specific players mentioning the Oakland Zoo and the fans' creativity. In 2007 and 2010, "The Pete" hosted first and second round games of the NCAA Women's Division I Tournament.

Other uses

An inside view of the arena

The Petersen Events Center serves as more than just the home court of the Panthers basketball teams. Located within the facility is a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) Baierl Student Recreation Center featuring four racquetball courts, two squash courts, Cybex weight machines, a free weight area, aerobics practice room, martial arts room, health assessment area, and aerobic area with treadmills, exercise bikes, elliptical and Stairmaster machines and four plasma TVs.

In addition, the McCarl Panthers Hall of Champions, which pays homage to and displays memorabilia from past Pitt athletics achievements, and the official Pittsburgh Panthers Team Store are located in the main lobby of the Pete. [3]

The arena was also one of the home courts for the Pittsburgh Xplosion Continental Basketball Association team, the city's only professional basketball squad at the time, before it folded prior to the 2008-09 season.

Also, a food court is located within the Pete and is available to students and others during the weekdays in addition to when events are being hosted within the arena.[4]

The arena also features and auxiliary practice basketball facility, athletic training, office and media facilities.

The Pete also hosts the University's commencement ceremony.

With the closing of Mellon Arena in 2010, the Pete is now the Pittsburgh home of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice and Champions on Ice.

Notable events

• 2004 Jeopardy! College Championship
• 2005 Senior Olympics (headquarters, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, table tennis)
• 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship - first and second round games
• 2008 Presidential campaign rally for Senator Barack Obama on April 21
• 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games (closing ceremonies) PG: Schedule for the 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games
• 2009 Funeral for victims of the Pittsburgh Police shootings
• 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship - first and second round games

Fictional portrayals

• In the 2011 movie Warrior, the arena plays host to ultimate fighting with Jennifer Morrison and Nick Nolte in attendance.

Incidents

In March 2011, a 19-year old man ran through a window at the arena and fell four stories. He died shortly afterwards.

References

The Pete also hosts Pitt's graduation ceremonies.

External links

• Petersen Events Center
• Pitt Magazine feature on the Pete: Center of Attention
• Point Park University teams up with Pittsburgh Xplosion

Gallery

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  Floor level luxury suite

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  Panther outside the Pete

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  Panther outside the Pete

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  Main court with floor seats folded up

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  Looking down on the Pete lawn from Sutherland Drive. The lower level of the Pete shows the outside of the Baierl Rec Center.

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  Inside the main lobby looking out to Scaife Hall

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  Interior main lobby escalators

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  Men's basketball trophy display

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  Women's basketball trophy display

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  The Pete set up for the April 2009 Commencement

Preceded by Sennott Square	University of Pittsburgh Buildings Petersen Events Center Constructed: 2002	Succeeded by Pennsylvania Hall
Preceded by Fitzgerald Field House	Home of the University of Pittsburgh Basketball Petersen Events Center 2002 – present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Payne Whitney Gymnasium	Host of the Jeopardy! College Championship 2004	Succeeded by RBC Center