Williams Arena

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Williams Arena is on the Twin Cities main campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Initially known as the Minnesota Field House (another building has that name today), it was constructed in the 1920s and opened in 1928. The arena was remodeled in the 1950s, and renamed Williams Arena after Dr. Henry L. Williams, the football coach from 1900 to 1921. The building is known affectionately as "The Barn," and its student section is known as The Barnyard.

Williams Arena
"The Barn"
Location	1925 University Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
Broke ground	1927
Opened	1928
Owner	Univ. of Minnesota
Operator	Univ. of Minnesota
Construction cost	$650,000
Former names
Minnesota Field House (1928-1950)
Tenants
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Gymnastics, Volleyball and Wrestling)
Seats
14,625 (Arena proper) 5,700 (Sports Pavilion)

During a 1950s renovation, it was divided into two separate arenas within one building. The larger one for basketball and the smaller one for hockey were called Williams Arena until March 2, 1985, when the hockey section was renamed Mariucci Arena after John Mariucci. The hockey team moved into a new building across the street from Williams in the early 1990s. This building was also named Mariucci Arena. The old Mariucci Arena within Williams was remodeled into the Sports Pavilion and now houses the volleyball, wrestling and gymnastic teams.

[edit] Seating Capacity

From 1950 until the opening of Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in 1971, it had the largest capacity of any collegiate basketball arena in the country. Also, it is one of only a few basketball stadiums that still has a raised floor. Memorial Gymnasium at Vanderbilt University and Robertson Memorial Field House at Bradley University are two other arenas with raised floors. The Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University was also constructed in 1928, and held the honor of being the highest capacity arena until the remodeling of Williams Arena in 1950.

[edit] Trivia

The venue hosted the 1951 men's NCAA basketball championship and the Frozen Four in 1958 and 1966.

The Twin Cities Campus of the University of Minnesota  v • d • e

Carlson School of Management • Coffman Memorial Union • Dinkytown • Eastcliff • GAPSA • The Gopher Way • Law School • Mariucci Arena • McNamara Alumni Center • Memorial Stadium (demolished) • Metrodome • Northrop Auditorium • Northrop Mall • Ridder Arena • School of Social Work • Siebert Field • Stadium Village • Superblock • TCF Bank Stadium (planned) • Washington Ave. Bridge • Weisman Art Museum • Williams Arena

Current Basketball Arenas in the Big Ten
Assembly Hall (Illinois) • Assembly Hall (Indiana) • Breslin Student Events Center (Michigan State) • Bryce Jordan Center (Penn State) • Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa) • Crisler Arena (Michigan) • Kohl Center (Wisconsin) • Mackey Arena (Purdue) • Value City Arena (Ohio State) • Welsh-Ryan Arena (Northwestern) • Williams Arena (Minnesota)

Basketball Student Sections of the Big Ten
Barnyard, The (Minnesota) • Buckeye NutHouse (Ohio State) • Crimson Crew (Indiana) • Grateful Red (Wisconsin) • Hawk's Nest (Iowa) • Izzone (Michigan State) • Maize Rage (Michigan) • Nittwits (Penn State) • Orange Krush (Illinois) • Paint Crew (Purdue) • Wildside (Northwestern)