Cassell Coliseum

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Cassell Coliseum| nickname =


location = Stadium & Sprind Road
Blacksburg, VA 24061
broke_ground = 1961
opened = January 3, 1962
closed =
demolished =
owner Virginia Tech operator Virginia Tech surface =
construction_cost= $2.7 million
architect =
former_names = VPI Coliseum (1961-1977)| tenants = Virginia Tech Hokies
(Men's & Women's Basketball)
seating_capacity = 10,052

Cassell Coliseum is a 10,052-seat multi-purpose arena in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. The arena opened in 1961. It is home to the Virginia Tech Hokies basketball teams (men's and women's).

History

Built as a replacement for the much smaller War Memorial Gymnasium, the Coliseum's construction began in 1961. It was completed in December 1964 at a cost of $2.7 million. It was designed by Carneal and Johnston,(now Ballou Justice Upton Architects, Richmond, Va) and built by T.C. Brittain and Company of Decatur, Georgia. Originally just referred to as "the Coliseum," it was dedicated on September 17, 1977 to the late Stuart K. Cassell, former school business manager, first Vice President of Administration, and major supporter of the building of the arena.

The first game, however, was on January 3, 1962. The Hokies played Alabama. The Hokies won 91-67. Unfortunately, the crowd sat on the concrete floor to watch the game because the seats had not arrived.

In the early years of the Coliseum, the Hokies frequently saw capacity crowds pack the venue. In recent years, however, this has not been the case. Student and alumni interest in basketball decreased in the 1990s due to the Hokies' lack of a stable basketball conference home and due to the success of the football team. Fan support has begun to gain momentum under the new coaching staff and the school's recent move to the ACC, which includes archrival Virginia.

On April 17, 2007, a memorial convocation was held there in response to the shootings of 32 students and faculty on the Virginia Tech campus the previous day.

Major Games

Arguably the best game that took place at Cassell Coliseum occurred on February 17, 2005, during Virginia Tech's first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In their first meeting at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 30, the Duke Blue Devils beat the Hokies by 35 points. Coming into Blacksburg, the Blue Devils were ranked 7th nationally. By the end of the night, the Blue Devils were handed a 67-65 loss to the Hokies in front of 9,847 fans. It was the first time that Virginia Tech had beaten Duke since 1966. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33701-2005Feb17.html] However, there is one recent game that might challenge for this prominency. On January 13, 2007, Virginia Tech defeated the number one ranked North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 94-88. At one point in the game, the Hokies led by 29 points. They were able to hold off a strong surge by the Tar Heels to seal the victory.

The largest crowd ever at the Cassell was 11,500 for Purdue on December 3, 1966.

ee also

* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
* Virginia Tech campus
* Virginia Tech Hokies

External links

* [http://www.unirel.vt.edu/buildings/maps/cassell-map.html Cassell's Location]
* [http://www.hokietickets.com/cassell.html Cassell Seating Chart]