WVU Coliseum

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = West Virginia University Coliseum
nickname =


location = Monongahela Blvd
Morgantown, WV 26506
broke_ground =
opened = 1970
closed =
demolished =
owner = West Virginia Univ.
operator = West Virginia Univ.
surface =
construction_cost= $10.4 million
architect = C. E. Silling
former_names =
tenants = West Virginia Mountaineers
(Basketball, volleyball & gymnastics)| seating_capacity = 14,000

The WVU Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena which is located in the Evansdale campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The circular arena features a poured concrete roof.

The arena, which opened in 1970, is home to the WVU Mountaineers men's and women's basketball teams, men's wrestling, as well as WVU's women's teams in volleyball and gymnastics. The arena has nearly 100 offices, 13 lecture and seminar rooms, a dance studio, safety lab, racquetball and squash courts, Jerry West Mountaineer Room (holds nearly 150 people for meetings). Comprises more than convert|10.5|Mcuft|m3 of space. The arena also has more than 1,000 individual locker units in various dressing rooms available for students and staff. There is also a convert|3000|sqft|m2|sing=on weight room located in the lower level of the Coliseum. The arena has been used for concerts but the concrete roof has poor sound distribution properties, so other venues in town are more appropriate for this purpose. The poor sound quality was purposeful, as it was the intention of the designers to cup the ceiling so that crowd noise generated at basketball games would be directed back to the floor. The first event held at the Coliseum in 1970 was a Grand Funk Railroad concert. The arena hosted the 1984 and 1988 Atlantic Ten Conference men's basketball tournaments.

The arena was built with state funds and replaced the WVU Fieldhouse, which seated 6,000.

During the 1998-99 season, the Jerry West Lounge was formally dedicated, flanking the entrance to lounge is a display showcasing the highlights of the Mountaineer great. In November 2005, the University announced that a life size bronzed statue of West would adorn the Blue Gate entrance of the Coliseum.

In 1999 the school was forced to play a year of games split between Wheeling, Charleston, and the gym at nearby Fairmont State University due to asbestos removal.

In 2004 the Coliseum underwent an upgrade which included renovations to the men's and women's locker rooms, construction of a player's lounge and team video theater, expansion of the equipment and training rooms, refurbishment of the Coliseum roof, construction of a club seating area in the main arena, complete with a private space for concessions hospitality area and rest rooms under the lower level seats.

WVU and NBA Hall-of-Famer, Jerry West, has his number retired and a sign hangs over Seating Section 44 with "Jerry West 44" written on it. Also, standing outside of the main entrance of the Coliseum is a large bronze statue dedicated to Jerry West.

According to WVU Department of Athletics, in 2008, the Coliseum will receive a new NBA Style Video Scoreboard, a new Public Address System, as well as a new lighting system, and a new floor design. Also, WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong announced that construction on a new $20-$22 million dollar practice facility to be built adjacent to the Coliseum.

Top 10 Crowds

* 16,704 - Pitt - February 24, 1982
* 15,638 - #1 UNLV - February 27, 1983
* 15,409 - Marshall - December 4, 1982
* 15,299 - Pitt - January 31, 1981
* 15,193 - #6 Georgetown - December 2, 1995
* 15,167 - #6 UCONN - February 11, 1998
* 15,118 - #3 Notre Dame - February 17, 1979
* 14,853 - George Washington - February 20, 1982
* 14,805 - #8 Pitt - February 27, 2006
* 14,683 - #1 UCONN - February 18, 2006

Year by Year Results

*Men's Basketball

External links

* [http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?section=7925 MSNsportsNET on the WVU Coliseum]
* [http://www.wvmountaineersports.com WVUMountaineerSports.com] WVU's #1 Sports Fan Site

[Category:West Virginia University