University of Dayton Arena(commonly known asUD Arena) is a 13,409-seat multi-purposearenalocated inDayton, Ohio.The arena opened in 1969. It is home to theUniversity of Dayton Flyers basketball teams.From 2001 to 2010, the facility hosted the annual"play-in" gamein the NCAA men's basketball tournament (officially the "opening round" game) which featured the teams rated 64th and 65th in the tournament field. Beginning in 2011, when the tournament expanded to four opening-round games, the arena continued to host all "first four" games.[2]Overall, the arena has hosted more men's NCAA Division I basketball tournament games than any other venue.
UD Arena | |
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| Location | 1801 Edwin C Moses Blvd. Dayton, OH 45417 |
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| Owner | University of Dayton |
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| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 7, 1968 |
| Opened | December 6, 1969 |
| Renovated |
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| Construction cost | approximately$4.5 million ($39.4 million in 2023 dollars)[1] |
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The playing court is known as Blackburn Court, named after historic UD coachTom Blackburn.The Donoher Center expansion on the southwest corner of the arena was completed in 1998. Named for formerFlyersbasketball coachDon Donoher,the Center provides anNBA-caliber facility for conditioning and game preparation. The arena was extensively renovated during the summer of 2002. The additions include concession areas, luxury boxes, disabled access improvements, and a restaurant/bar. The venue was awarded the 2003 and 2004Atlantic 10 Conferencemen's basketball tournaments. In 2010, four new video screens were installed, one in each of the arena's corners. Following the 2016–17 basketball season, a 3-year renovation project began at UD Arena. The renovations were completed by the 2020-2021 season, albeit no fans were permitted in the arena due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[3]
Since its opening in 1969, over 14 million visitors have attended events at the arena. In 2002, the arena was the site of the first ever high-definition television (HDTV) broadcast forESPN.[2]
Construction
editUD Arena was designed byPretzinger & PretzingerArchitects and Engineers.[citation needed]Construction commenced on November 7, 1968.[2]
The arena was opened on December 6, 1969.[2]
Arena attendance
editAs of 2017, the University of Dayton has ranked in the top 25 in the nation for attendance at the arena 21 times.[4]
For the 2021-22 Men's basketball season, the team accounted that every game was sold out prior to the season beginning.[5]
NCAA basketball tournament hosting
editThe arena has hosted NCAA Tournament games 24 times since it opened. Along with its hosting duties for theNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Opening Round game( "play-in" game), it also served as the host of theMidwestern Collegiate Conference(now Horizon League) men's basketball conference tournament from 1989 to 1991 and was the host of the Atlantic Ten Basketball tournament in 2003 and 2004. The arena hosted the Opening Round game through 2010, when it was also a regional venue for the women's tournament. It then became the first location for the revised opening round of four games for the men's tournament in March 2011.
The University of Dayton Arena hosted the Round of 64 and Round of 32 games of the2001,2009,and2013 NCAA men's basketball tournaments.UD Arena hosted the First Four games every year since 2011, with the exceptions of 2020 (in which the entire tournament was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United States) and 2021 (in which the entire tournament was moved to within the state of Indiana due to logistical concerns amid the pandemic). The arena hosted the final game of legendary Kentucky head coachAdolph Rupp's career in 1972 as Kentucky fell to Florida State.[6]Through the2024 tournament,it has hosted 135 games in the NCAA men's basketball tournament over its history, making it the most used venue to host NCAA Men's Tournament games ahead of Kansas City'sMunicipal Auditoriumwhich has hosted 83.[7]
Other events
editAs the largest indoor arena betweenCincinnatiandColumbus,UD Arena is a regular stop for concert tours.Elton John,Elvis Presley,Aerosmith,Rush,Bob Seger,Mötley Crüe,George Strait,Kenny Chesney,Usher,Lupe Fiasco,Jay-Zand others have performed there. It has been host to theWinter Guard Internationalcolor guard, indoor percussion and winds World Championships since 2005. It hosted theRoyal Hanneford Circusfor most of the 1990s.WWEhas hosted matches at the UD Arena since the 1980s. The Flyer Pep Band, UD's basketball pep band, plays at every UD basketball game at the arena. The University of Dayton holds its graduation ceremonies at the arena.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^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–".RetrievedFebruary 29,2024.
- ^abcd"University of Dayton Arena".University of Dayton Athletics. Archived fromthe originalon June 12, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 19,2009.
- ^"Transform UD Arena".transformudarena.com.RetrievedMarch 12,2018.
- ^"NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Attendance Leaders Year-by-Year (1970–2010)"(PDF).NCAA.RetrievedOctober 19,2012.
- ^"Men's Basketball Sells Out Season & Single-Game Tickets Before 2021-22 Opener".Dayton Flyers.RetrievedDecember 1,2012.
- ^"NCAA Tournament Returns To UD Arena - UD Men's Basketball News Story - WHIO Dayton".www.whiotv.com.Archived fromthe originalon November 26, 2009.
- ^Harris, Doug (February 13, 2012)."UD pushing toward First Four sellout".Dayton Daily News.RetrievedFebruary 14,2012.