- McDonough Gymnasium
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McDonough Memorial Gymnasium Location Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20057Broke ground May 20, 1950 Opened December 8, 1951 Owner Georgetown University Operator Georgetown University Construction cost $1,250,000 Capacity 2,500 (2009) Tenants Georgetown Hoyas
(Women's basketball & volleyball)
Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA) (1951–1980 and occasional games to present)Coordinates: 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″W / 38.9075°N 77.0775°W McDonough Gymnasium is a multi-purpose arena in Washington, D.C. The arena opened in 1951 and holds 2,500 people.
Ground was broken for construction of the gymnasium on May 20, 1950; the cornerstone was laid on October 14, 1950; the official ribbon cutting and opening was held December 8, 1951. When it opened, capacity was 4,000 for basketball and 5,500 for general events.[1]
It was home to the Georgetown University Hoyas men's basketball team before they moved to Capital Centre. The team continues to play a handful of preseason and non-conference games at the gym against lesser-known opponents each year. Excepting NIT games in 1993 and 2005, no games against well-known opponents have been held at McDonough since 1983. Under the old sanction of the NIT, schools in the tournament were to play games on campus or at campus-owned facilities. Georgetown's men usually play at the Verizon Center, which is neither on campus nor owned by the school, so they would play such "mandated" games at the facility. Currently, the arena hosts the women's basketball and volleyball teams.
The building is named for Rev. Vincent J. McDonough, S.J., athletic director from 1916 to 1928. Legend has it that three days before his death on September 3, 1939, he was asked what he wanted for the twenty-fifth anniversary of his priesthood, to which he replied, "You give the boys a new gym and I'll be happy." Though he did not live to see it, the gym eventually was built after World War II.
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External links
Preceded by
Uline ArenaHome of the Georgetown Hoyas
1951 – 1981Succeeded by
Capital CentreBasketball arenas of the Big East Conference Alumni Hall (Providence women) • Allstate Arena (DePaul men) • Bradley Center (Marquette men) • Carnesecca Arena (St. John's) • Carrier Dome (Syracuse) • Dunkin' Donuts Center (Providence men) • Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati) • Gampel Pavilion (Connecticut) • Joyce Center (Notre Dame) • KFC Yum! Center (Louisville) • Louis Brown Athletic Center (Rutgers) • Madison Square Garden (St. John's men) • McDonough Gymnasium (Georgetown women) • McGuire Center (Marquette women) • The Pavilion (Villanova) • Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh) • Prudential Center (Seton Hall men) • Sullivan Athletic Center (DePaul women) • USF Sun Dome (South Florida) • Verizon Center (Georgetown men) • Wells Fargo Center (Villanova) • Walsh Gymnasium (Seton Hall women) • WVU Coliseum (West Virginia) • XL Center (Connecticut)
Georgetown University Undergraduate Graduate Research History Campuses Buildings Healy Hall • Lauinger Library • Housing • McDonough Gymnasium • Observatory • Multi-Sport Field • Hospital • Intercultural CenterAthletics Big East • Men's basketball • Football • Rugby • Women's lacrosse • Verizon Center • Hoya Saxa • There Goes Old Georgetown • Jack the BulldogStudent life GUSA • The Corp • Lecture Fund • GUASFCU • GERMS • HOYA Clinic • ΔΦΕ • Philodemic • Improv • Mask & Bauble • Nomadic Theatre • Chimes • GUSIF • SolidarityMedia The Hoya • The Georgetown Voice • Georgetown Law Weekly • The Georgetown Heckler • WGTB • GUTV • University PressCategories:- College basketball venues in the United States
- Sports venues in Washington, D.C.
- Georgetown Hoyas basketball venues
- Georgetown University buildings
- Southern United States university stubs
- Southern United States sports venue stubs
- Washington, D.C. stubs
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