MacKenzie Arena
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The MacKenzie Arena | |
|---|---|
| The Roundhouse | |
| Location | 720 E 4th St Chattanooga, TN 37403 |
| Opened | December 1, 1982 |
| Owner | University of Tennessee, Chattanooga |
| Operator | University of Tennessee, Chattanooga |
| Construction cost | $15.5 million |
| Former names | |
| UTC Arena (1982-2000) | |
| Tenants | |
| University of Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs (Men's and Women's Basketball) |
|
| Capacity | |
| 11,218 (basketball) | |
The MacKenzie Arena (also called The Roundhouse) is the main basketball arena for the the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. It replaced Maclellan Gymnasium, a 4,177-seat gymnasium now used for women's volleyball and wrestling. Originally called UTC Arena, it was renamed The MacKenzie Arena on February 21, 2000 in honor of athletic supporters Toby and Brenda McKenzie of Cleveland, Tennessee. Its nickname, "The Roundhouse," comes not only from its round shape, but the city's association with the railroad industry ("roundhouses" house the mechanisms for turning trains around at train stations).
The 11,218-seat arena was opened on December 1, 1982, with a 56-49 loss to the Tennessee Vols. Its first season also included a visit by the then-defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels, a team which included Michael Jordan, Brad Daugherty, and Sam Perkins. Since its opening, the men's team has won over 80% of its games in the arena.
In addition to the men's basketball team, the arena is home to the Lady Mocs women's basketball team and the school's department of intercollegiate athletics. The arena hosted both the 2005 men's Southern Conference basketball tournament and the 2005 women's tournament championship game (the lower rounds were held at Maclellan Gym), with the men's team winning and the top-seeded women's team being upset in the quarterfinals. In addition to basketball, the arena has hosted many ice shows, rodeos, circuses, truck rallies, wrestling events and concerts.
