Bryce Jordan Center

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Bryce Jordan Center| nickname = The Big Joint


location = North University Drive & Curtin Drive
State College, PA 16802
broke_ground = April 7, 1993
opened = January 11, 1996
closed =
demolished =
owner = Penn State University
operator = Penn State University
surface =
construction_cost= $55 million
architect = Rosser Int'l. Inc., Atlanta, GA
former_names = | tenants = Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball
Penn State Lady Lion's Women's Basketball| seating_capacity = 15,261 Bryce Jordan Center is a 15,261-seat multi-purpose arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. The arena opened in 1995 and is the largest such venue between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is home to the Penn State University Nittany Lions men's and women's basketball team and for the men, their student section, Nittany Nation. It also plays host to a number of events such as music concerts, circuses, and commencement ceremonies for colleges within the university. The arena is located across the street from Beaver Stadium on Curtin Road, on the eastern part of the campus. This part of campus is home to many of the school's athletic facilities, including the newly-built Medlar Field at Lubrano Park baseball facility and Jeffrey Field soccer stadium. There is a large electronic display outside the arena which provides advertisements for future events. The university also recently contracted with ANC Sports to install over 900 feet of LED ribbon board signage to be used for sponsor advertisements and game prompts. [cite web |url=http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2008/07/new_message_ribbons_at_beav_jo.html |title=New message ribbons at Beav, Jordan Center |author=David Jones |date=2007-07-23 |publisher=The Patriot News |language=English ]

In March 2006, the arena hosted first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship. The arena will also host the upcoming 2007 and 2008 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Basketball Championships. [http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=10335] Along with sporting events, the arena hosts concerts. Bands that have performed at the arena include Phish, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Toby Keith, Death Cab for Cutie, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, and many others. Parts of Aerosmith's 1998 live album A Little South of Sanity were recorded at the Bryce Jordan Center. Lead singer Steven Tyler can be heard yelling "State College" out to the audience in order to rile them up during "Love in an Elevator". The arena also hosts numerous World Wrestling Entertainment events, including "RAW".

The arena is named after former Penn State University president Bryce Jordan who was instrumental in acquiring the funding needed to build it. The arena is associated with the Arena Network, a marketing and scheduling group of 38 arenas. [http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2004/04/04-23-04tdc/04-23-04dnews-09.asp]

In 2007, the Penn State Dance Marathon, commonly known as Thon, was moved to the Bryce Jordan Center. [- cite news | url = http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2007/02/02-16-07tdc/02-16-07dnews-12.asp | title = BJC to see first Thon | work = The Daily Collegian| date = 2007-02-22 | accessdate = 2007-02-17] The event, designed to raise money to fight pediatric cancer, raises millions of dollars every year.

On October 13th, 2008, Bryce Jordan Center will be hosting Change Rocks: A Concert to Benefit Obama. Among guests playing include The Allman Brothers Band and Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, all four of whom were members of The Grateful Dead

References

External links

* [http://www.bjc.psu.edu Official Website]
[http://www.gopsusports.com/basketballMfacilities/brycejordancenter.cfm Bryce Jordan Center at GoPSUSports.com]