- Reed Arena
-
Reed Arena 
Location Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843Opened November 22, 1998 Owner Texas A&M University Operator Texas A&M University Surface Parquet Construction cost $36 Million Architect Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc. Capacity 12,989[1] Tenants Texas A&M Aggies basketball
(Men's & Women's)
Texas A&M Aggies volleyball
(Women)Reed Arena is a sports arena and entertainment venue located at the corner of Olsen Boulevard and Kimbrough Boulevard in College Station, Texas. This facility is used for Texas A&M University basketball games and commencement ceremonies, concerts, trade shows, family entertainment, and Texas A&M student programs, including the on-campus Aggie Muster. The building replaced the G. Rollie White Coliseum, and is named for Dr. & Mrs. Chester J. Reed, a 1947 A&M graduate whose donations made the new arena possible.[2]
In 2005, Reed Arena served as the site of men's and women's first round NIT games, as the men played Clemson and the women played Tulsa.[3]
In recent years, Reed Arena has gained a reputation as one of the most hostile arenas in the nation, coinciding with the men's and women's Aggie basketball teams rise to national prominence. This is partly due to a group of students calling themselves the Reed Rowdies, which have been instrumental in helping to create an energetic fan atmosphere during basketball games similar to that of football games at Kyle Field.
- Location: College Station, Texas
- Current owner: Texas A&M University System
- Area: 236,000 ft² (21,900 m²)
- Portable stage: 80 by 40 feet (12 m)
Contents
Facilities
The $36 million Reed Arena was designed by the Houston firm Lockwood, Andrews, and Newman, Inc. and built in 1998 by Dallas-based Huber, Hunt and Nichols, Inc.[4] The arena has seats for 12,989 fans, while an additional 2,000 people can be accommodated on the 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) main floor for concerts. The building has eight meeting rooms, including a 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) multipurpose room overlooking the Arena floor, which sits 32 feet (9.8 m) below ground level.[5]
The arena is surrounded by four parking lots, which hold a combined 1500 cars, and is also within walking distance of a 3,750 capacity parking garage and numerous other parking lots. Generally event parking costs between $3 and $5.
Basketball games are played on a parquet wood floor which made its debut on August 12, 1998. The floor contains 210 sections, each weighing 190 pounds, and generally takes six adults five hours to assemble. Both the men's and women's basketball team make use of a full size practice gym on the bottom floor of the arena, conveniently located near the Aggie locker rooms.[4]
Exterior of Reed Arena with the Cox-McFerrin Center
Cox-McFerrin Center
In February 2006, the 12th Man Foundation, a fund raising organization associated with Texas A&M Athletics, announced plans for an effort to build the Cox-McFerrin Center, a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) addition to Reed Arena, providing new men's and women's basketball locker rooms, practice gyms, and player lounges. On February 2, 2007, the A&M System Board of Regents approved a revised plan, increasing the size of the facility to 69,400 square feet (6,450 m2) and a total cost of $21.5 million.[1]
Hurricane relief
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Texas A&M opened Reed Arena as a temporary shelter to house over 200 evacuees from New Orleans. Although school was barely in session and there was minimal notice, the students and staff of A&M prepared the facility, setting up several hundred beds on the arena floor and making arrangements for the evacuees to get new clothes and have medical checks. Aggie students organized a child care facility, and Aggie athletes escorted many of the teenagers to the Aggie Rec Center to play basketball.[6] Less than three years later, Reed Arena was again opened as a temporary shelter for people fleeing Hurricane Rita, and again for those seeking shelter from Hurricane Ike in 2008.[7] It also became temporary home to Tulane University's basketball team for the 2005-2006 season.
Attendance records
2007 Lone Star Showdown game at Reed Arena12 largest men's basketball crowds:
Attendance Opponent Date 1 13,717 Texas Feb. 27, 2010 2 13,657 Kansas Feb. 15, 2010 3 13,648 Texas Tech Jan. 30, 2010 4 13,584 Oklahoma State Feb. 16, 2008 5 13,555 Texas Jan. 30, 2008 6 13,300 Texas Jan. 31, 2011 7 13,203 Missouri Mar. 3, 2007 8 13,196 Texas Feb. 5, 2007 9 13,187 Oklahoma State Jan. 20, 2007 10 13,176 Texas Mar. 1, 2006 11 13,158 Oklahoma Feb. 2, 2008 12 13,151 St. Joseph's Mar. 24, 2005 References
- ^ Texas A&M Athletics Athletic Facilities
- ^ "Aggies Insider: Reed Arena's short history only colorful as of late". http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/aggies/35516749.html.
- ^ "Aggies to Host Clemson on Wednesday in First Round of NIT". Texas A&M University. March 13, 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-12-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20061211204536/http://www.aggieathletics.com/pressRelease.php?PRID=9554. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
- ^ a b "Reed Arena". Texas A&M University Athletic Department. http://www.aggieathletics.com/facilities/reedarena.html. Retrieved 2007-02-27.[dead link]
- ^ "Arena Information". Texas A&M University. http://reed.tamu.edu/arenainfo.asp. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
- ^ Gates, Robert M. (September 6, 2005). "Relief Efforts at Texas A&M". Texas A&M University. Archived from the original on 2007-02-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20070214111536/http://giving.tamu.edu/content/content.php?KatrinaLetter. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
- ^ Watkins, Matthew (September 22, 2005). "A&M to host coastal evacuees, hospital transfers". The Battalion. http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2005/09/22/News/Am.To.Host.Coastal.Evacuees.Hospital.Transfers-994365.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
External links
Preceded by
G. Rollie White ColiseumHome of the
Texas A&M Aggies
1998 – presentSucceeded by
CurrentBasketball arenas of the Big 12 Conference Ferrell Center (Baylor) • Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State) • Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas) • Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) • Mizzou Arena (Missouri) • Lloyd Noble Center (Oklahoma) • Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State) • Frank Erwin Center (Texas) • Reed Arena (Texas A&M) • United Spirit Arena (Texas Tech)
Coordinates: 30°36′21″N 96°20′46″W / 30.60578°N 96.34619°W
Categories:- Indoor arenas in the United States
- Basketball venues in the United States
- College basketball venues in the United States
- Texas A&M Aggies basketball
- Convention centers in Texas
- Sports venues in College Station, Texas
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