Mizzou Arena
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Paige Sports Arena (October–November 2004; three regular season games[2]) |
|---|---|
| Location | One Champions Drive Columbia, MO 65211 |
| Coordinates | 38°55′57″N 92°19′59″W / 38.93237°N 92.33303°W |
| Owner | University of Missouri |
| Operator | University of Missouri |
| Capacity | 15,061 (2004–present) |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 21, 2002 |
| Opened | October 13, 2004[1] |
| Construction cost | $75 million ($121 million in 2024 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | CDFM2 HOK Sport (now Populous) |
| Structural engineer | Walter P Moore[4] |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc.[5] |
| General contractor | J.E. Dunn Construction Group[6] |
| Tenants | |
| Missouri Tigers (Men's & Women's Basketball) | |
Mizzou Arena is an indoor arena located on the south side of the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. The facility, home to the school's men's and women's basketball teams, opened in November 2004 and replaced the Hearnes Center as the school's flagship indoor sports facility. The arena also serves as a concert venue or speaking venue for bigger named guests, such as Rascal Flatts, Luke Bryan and The Eagles. The arched-roof building seats 15,061, and is located just south of Hearnes and Memorial Stadium. The arena is host to Missouri State High School Activities Association championships for basketball and wrestling. The arena was briefly known as Paige Sports Arena.[7]
About the arena
Mizzou Arena also includes offices for the Men’s and Women’s basketball programs, the Athletic Administration and Mizzou Arena’s Building Operations. For the basketball programs the arena also offers locker rooms, a 24-hour practice gym,[8] weight and training facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, video classrooms with audio and video editing capabilities, and an academic study center.
Missouri basketball coach from 1967–99, Norm Stewart, is the namesake of the arena's playing court.[9]
History
After protracted negotiations,[10] a third of Mizzou Arena's $75 million cost was donated by Walmart heir Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband Bill Laurie. The stadium was initially named the Paige Sports Arena after their daughter, but the donors gave up their naming rights following a scandal concerning her.[11][12][13][14] The name of the arena's playing surface, Norm Stewart Court, was carried over from the basketball team's previous home at the Hearnes Center with the arena's opening in 2004.[9]
Reflecting an SEC-wide trend, attendance at men's basketball games has dropped. With one conference game left to play in 2014, attendance was on track to be at its lowest since the 2007–08 season.[15][16]
In September 2014, the university announced renovations to the arena including a new video board, improvements to the facility's entryway and upgrades to the team's locker room coming from a $1.5 million donation.[17]
References
- ^ "Mizzou Athletics to Hold Series of Open Houses at Paige Sports Arena". Missouri Athletics. October 8, 2004. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ "2004-05 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Mizzou Arena". Walter P Moore. Archived from the original on March 11, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "College Arenas". M-E Engineers, Inc. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Broughton, David (November 22, 2004). "Show Me Money: Missouri Arena Delivers Revenue". SportsBusiness Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Jenna Isaacson (24 November 2004). "College removes name of Wal-Mart heiress on arena". USA Today. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ Dellenger, Ross (July 24, 2012). "$200 Million Questions: MU Officials Weigh Options for Facilities". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
There are other ideas floating about, too. A second basketball practice gym is a possibility. Mizzou Arena has just one practice court.
- ^ a b "New Arena Floor Named for Norm Stewart". University of Missouri Department of Athletics. March 7, 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Sherbo, Marisa (16 September 1997). "Arena plans move forward without Lauries" donation". The Maneater. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
MU administrators say they still are committed to building a new basketball arena, even though they will have to do it without the $10 million donation from Bill and Nancy Laurie.
- ^ "Lauries Transfer Arena Naming Rights Back to Missouri U." St. Louis Business Journal. November 23, 2004. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ Simon, Stephanie (November 25, 2004). "Benefactors Find Scandal Gave New Arena a Bad Name". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ "Univ. of Missouri Board Approves New Arena Name". St. Louis Business Journal. November 26, 2004. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ Martin, Sheena (December 10, 2004). "Paige Sports Arena Signs Removed from eBay". The Maneater. University of Missouri–Columbia. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ Joens, Philip (7 March 2014). "Mizzou Arena attendance down sharply for men's basketball in 2014". KBIA Sports. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Morrison, David (1 March 2014). "Missouri basketball attendance takes a drastic dip". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
Missouri is not alone. The Tigers are one of seven SEC teams who have seen their attendance figures fall overall this season and eight who have seen a drop in conference play.
- ^ Walentik, Steve (September 19, 2014). "Mizzou Arena Getting Upgrades After 10 Years". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
External links
