Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Carver-Hawkeye Arena| nickname =


location = 1 Elliot Dr
Iowa City, Iowa, 52242
broke_ground = 1980
opened = January 3, 1983
closed =
demolished =
owner = University of Iowa
operator = University of Iowa
surface =
construction_cost= $18.4 million
architect =
former_names = | tenants = Iowa Hawkeyes men's and women's basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling
seating_capacity = 15,500 Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a 15,500-seat multi-purpose indoor arena located in Iowa City, Iowa. Opened in 1983, it is the home court for the Iowa Hawkeyes men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's wrestling, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. It was named for the late industrialist Roy J. Carver, a prominent statewide booster, who donated $9.2 million to the University of Iowa before his death in 1981."Carver-Hawkeye Arena: Celebrating 25 Years." University of Iowa, 2008.] Prior to the arena's opening, Iowa's athletic teams played at the Iowa Field House.

Entirely funded by private contributions, the arena was expected to be open for the 1982–83 school year, but weather slowed construction to the point where the first event was held on January 3, 1983. Iowa's wrestling team defeated Oklahoma and two days later, the men's basketball team played their first game – a loss to Michigan State – in the new arena.

Outside of Hawkeye athletic events, the arena has also served as the host for Big Ten and National Collegiate Athletic Association wrestling championships, as well as the 1984 U.S. Olympic wrestling trials and 1984 U.S. Olympic men's and women's basketball exhibitions. The National Duals wrestling tournament was also held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 1998 and 1999.

History

Predecessors

Iowa basketball and wrestling teams initially competed at a building named the "Armory," which was located on the east bank of the Iowa River. With a capacity of 3,000, the Armory was easily large enough, considering that the fan support Iowa's teams received in that era was much less than it is today. Later, in 1927, the Iowa Field House was opened during Paul Belding's tenure as athletic director. Considered as a "magnificent structure for its day," the Field House was home to Iowa's basketball and wrestling teams, and included an indoor track and a swimming pool.

The Field House, however, was known for its steel balconies and sub-par acoustics, along with columns that obstructed views. When demand was high for Hawkeye basketball, bleachers were placed behind the baskets, allowing some 15,000 to attend games. Season ticket sales were very successful under head coaches Ralph Miller and Lute Olsen, and support for a new arena gradually increased. Following approval from the board of regents, construction of Carver-Hawkeye Arena began.

Notes

External links

* [http://hawkeyesports.collegesports.com/facilities/iowa-carver-hawkeye.html HawkeyeSports.com Athletics Facilities page]