Kohl Center

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Kohl Center
nickname =


location = 601 W Dayton St
Madison, WI 53715-1206
broke_ground =
opened = January 17, 1998
closed =
demolished =
owner = University of Wisconsin-Madison
operator = University of Wisconsin-Madison
surface =
construction_cost= $76.4 Million
architect = HOK Sport
tenants = Wisconsin Badgers
(Men's & Women's Basketball and Hockey)| seating_capacity = 17,190 (Basketball)
15,237 (Hockey)

The Kohl Center opened in 1998 in Madison, Wisconsin. It is the home of the UW-Madison men's and women's basketball teams and the men's and women's ice hockey teams. Seating capacity is variable, as the center can be rearranged to accommodate a basketball court, a hockey rink, or a concert. The maximum capacity is 17,190 in its basketball configuration, and 15,237 for ice hockey. The center has three levels, with the floor holding about 7,500 people, and the two upper balconies holding about 4,500 each. It is the third largest indoor venue in Wisconsin and the largest outside of Milwaukee. The arena is located on the southeast corner of the UW-Madison campus, at the intersection of West Dayton and North Frances Streets.

Naming

The sporting arena is named after United States Senator Herb Kohl, who donated $25 million of his Kohl's grocery and department store fortune to the building project. It is the largest single donation in University of Wisconsin System history. Former Wisconsin Badgers basketball player, Albert Nicholas, and his wife donated $10 million towards the project, causing the adjoining practice pavilion to be named the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion and Plaza. Jack F. Kellner and his sons donated an additional $2.5 million to the project.

Home court advantage

The arena has become exceptionally difficult for opposing teams to play in, especially in men's basketball, helped in part by the student section known as the Grateful Red. At the end of the 2006–2007 season, the men's basketball team had achieved a record of 125–11 at the Kohl Center, with only 5 losses between 2001 and 2007. The arena gained much fame thanks to the men's basketball team's 38-game home win streak, which came to end during the 2004–2005 season at the hands of the No. 1 ranked University of Illinois. Under current coach Bo Ryan the men's basketball team has achieved a record of 102–7 at the Kohl Center. The Arena also boasts the highest attendance in NCAA Men's Hockey.

Before the Kohl Center

Prior to the Kohl Center, the basketball team played at the Wisconsin Field House, while the ice hockey team played at the Dane County Coliseum. The hockey team still plays there if there is an event conflict since basketball has scheduling priority. Originally the overhead scoreboard from the UW Fieldhouse was brought over and installed in the Kohl Center because the cost of a new scoreboard unit wasn't included within the figure for the new arena. The old scoreboard remained in the Kohl Center for seven years, and after the money was raised, a new and modern circular unit was bought and installed in time for the 2004-2005 winter sports season. Also installed in the arena at the same time was a matrix board that surrounds the arena below the second balcony, displaying advertising, messages, and scores. The design of the Kohl Center is modeled somewhat after that of the Field House with overhanging balconies instead of a setback style. This was done to intimidate opponents and bring all fans close to the action.

Other events at the Kohl Center

Along with basketball and ice hockey, many other events are held within the Kohl Center during the school year and summertime; among these are commencement ceremonies for both the UW as well as Madison high schools. Other events have included concerts, ice skating shows, career fairs, political gatherings, and other conventions. The Kohl Center is also the site of the high school WIAA (Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association) boys' basketball and individual wrestling championships. The Kohl Center has also hosted an NCAA women's volleyball national championship and an NCAA men's basketball regional championship.

The Kohl Center also hosts the annual Varsity Band Spring Concert, an event which began one night in March 1975. Today the concert has grown into a three-night extravaganza complete with professional staging, lighting, sound and pyrotechnics in which 25,000 attendees are able to see some of the majesty of the University.

On February 12, 2008, Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama spoke before a crowd of over 17,000 prior to the Wisconsin Primary the same night of winning primaries in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.cite web
url=http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/breaking_news/272168
title=Derby, Samara Kalk (12 February, 2008). Obama energizes 17,000+ at Kohl Center. "The Capital Times"'.
accessdate=2008-02-12]

The 2008 Jeopardy! College Championship was taped on April 11 and 12, 2008, at the Kohl Center.

Courtside seating

Prior to the 2006 men's basketball season, the UW Athletic Department sold 48 courtside seats, at a price of $10,000 to $12,500 each. The available seats not only sold out, but a waiting list was created for the sale of seats in the future, should they become available. [http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=104146&ntpid=2] Space for the seats was created by eliminating a portion of the courtside seating for media. The addition of these seats has increased maximum capacity for men's basketball from 17,142 to 17,190.

Since opening

A bar/restaurant was added to the second level in 2005. The area is for pre-game gatherings of boosters who have made donations to the athletic department.

In 2006 a second student-athlete academic center was built on the lower level of the Kohl Center. Basketball and hockey coaches have noted that having an academic center closer to their sports' facilities allows student-athletes easier access to academic services.

The athletic department has indicated that they would like to add a practice rink for ice hockey within the next decade. One configuration under consideration would place the rink next to the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion and it would serve as an alternative practice facility for the Men's Hockey Team, as well as a game and practice facility for the women's hockey team. It is currently part of the Athletic Department's master plan.

ee also

*Arena
*Wisconsin Badgers
*Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball

References

External links

* [http://www.uwbadgers.com/facilities/kohl_center/index_47.html Official Site]