- Welsh-Ryan Arena
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Welsh-Ryan Arena 
Former names McGaw Memorial Hall (1952–1983) Location 2705 Ashland Avenue[1]
Evanston, IL 60201Opened December 6, 1952 Renovated 1983 Owner Northwestern University Operator Northwestern University Surface Hardwood Construction cost $1.25 million Architect Holabird & Root & Burgee Capacity 8,117 (1983-present)
7,070 (1981-1983)
7,013 (1973-1981)
8,800 (1960-1973)
9,500 (1952-1960)Tenants Northwestern Wildcats
(Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling)
1956 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentWelsh-Ryan Arena is an 8,117-seat multi-purpose arena in Evanston, Illinois. The arena opened in 1952 as McGaw Memorial Hall. It is home to the Northwestern University Wildcats basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams. It is located to the north of Ryan Field on the athletic campus, and also contains the stadium's field house. The arena hosted the NCAA Final Four in 1956. Patten Gymnasium, formerly located on the main campus at Northwestern, hosted the first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in 1939 and was later torn down in order to build the Technological Institute in its place, which was completed in 1942. A smaller Patten Gymnasium was built to the north of the original site, which still stands and is mostly used for student recreation, intramural sports, and club sports.
McGaw Memorial Hall was named in memory of the Rev Francis McGaw, a Presbyterian minister whose son, Foster McGaw donated the necessary funds. The arena itself was renamed following the 1982-83 renovations in honor of the principal donor, Patrick G. Ryan, president of the board of trustees, and his wife's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Welsh, Sr.
References
External links
Preceded by
Municipal AuditoriumNCAA Men's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
1956Succeeded by
Municipal AuditoriumNorthwestern University Academics Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences • School of Communication • Bienen School of Music • Kellogg School of Management • McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science • Medill School of Journalism • School of Education and Social Policy • Feinberg School of Medicine • Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary • School of Law • The Graduate School • School of Continuing StudiesResearch Argonne/Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center • Infrastructure Technology Institute • Journal of Criminal Law & CriminologyCampus Athletics Northwestern Wildcats • Big Ten • Football • Men's Basketball • NUMB • Women's Lacrosse • Softball • Patten Gymnasium • Rocky Miller Park • Ryan Field • Sweet Sioux Tomahawk • Land of Lincoln Trophy • Welsh-Ryan Arena • Willie the WildcatMedia Traditions People Basketball arenas of the Big Ten Conference Assembly Hall (Illinois) • Assembly Hall (Indiana) • Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa) • Crisler Arena (Michigan) • Breslin Student Events Center (Michigan State) • Williams Arena (Minnesota) • Bob Devaney Sports Center (Nebraska) • Welsh-Ryan Arena (Northwestern) • Value City Arena (Ohio State) • Bryce Jordan Center (Penn State) • Mackey Arena (Purdue) • Kohl Center (Wisconsin)
Basketball student sections of the Big Ten Conference Orange Krush (Illinois) • Crimson Guard (Indiana) • The Hawks Nest (Iowa) • Maize Rage (Michigan) • Izzone (Michigan State) • The Barnyard (Minnesota) • Red Zone (Nebraska) • Wildside (Northwestern) • Buckeye NutHouse (Ohio State) • Nittany Nation (Penn State) • Paint Crew (Purdue) • Grateful Red (Wisconsin)
Coordinates: 42°4′1″N 87°41′34″W / 42.06694°N 87.69278°WCategories:- College basketball venues in the United States
- Basketball venues in Illinois
- Northwestern Wildcats basketball
- Sports venues in Illinois
- Buildings and structures in Evanston, Illinois
- Sports venues in Cook County, Illinois
- Illinois sports venue stubs
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