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
Owner	Georgia State University
Operator	Georgia State University
Capacity	3,854
Construction
Broke ground	1972
Opened	1973
Tenants
Georgia State Panthers (Men's and 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's and women's basketball and women's 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 men's basketball coach) has a four-sided scoreboard hanging from the ceiling as well as a "Jumbotron" style video signage board on the south end wall.

History

Construction of the arena began in 1972 as class space for physical education classes and as a recreation center for students. Men's 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 scoreboard 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.

Prior to the 2013 men's and women's basketball seasons, the locker rooms were moved from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor, taking up space previously used for large functions. Renovations included the additions of a players lounge and conference hall, as well as stylized graphics lining the hallways and locker rooms.

Future Renovations

On the 31st of May, 2012, the Georgia State University athletics department released a new master plan, including renovations to the existing Sports Arena. These renovations would remove the current escalator entrance to the sports arena and replace it with a new ticket plaza. New entrances will lead to a plaza on the first floor of the arena.

The current trophy case will be replaced by a new walk of fame leading through a corridor towards the courts. Also, a new team store will replace the current administrative offices. Two new escalators and elevators will be erected at the hall of fame and team store, serving as the main entrance to the arena.

The current court will be rotated 90 degrees to allow for 700 new seats. The total seat capacity after the renovation will be 4,100, up from the current 3,400. Additional handicap, standing room only, media areas, and premium seating will set the total capacity at 5,000. Due to the rotation of the court, a full bowl will be created surrounding the court. New premium boxes will be built above the lower bowl on either side of the court, a new media area will be built, and a new PAC lounge will be included.

Lighting will be improved, while a new video board will be hung above the court. New LED message boards will surround the court. New locker rooms will be constructed, along with new restrooms and concessions facilities.

Although the NCAA requires a master facilities plan for movement to the Football Bowl Subdivision (where the Panthers moved to via the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2013), there is currently no set date for implementation of the Sports Arena renovations. Instead, the athletics department has stated that construction of these facilities will occur as soon as funding becomes available. The facilities will be funded entirely through private donations.

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 high school 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.