Holt Arena

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Holt Arena
Location	Memorial Drive Pocatello, ID 83209
Broke ground	October 1968
Opened	September 1970
Owner	Idaho State University
Operator	Idaho State University
Surface	Artificial turf
Construction cost	$2,800,000
Former names	ASISU Mini Dome (1970-1988)
Tenants	ISU Bengals (NCAA)
Capacity	12,000 (football) 8,000 (basketball)

Holt Arena is an indoor multi-purpose athletic stadium located on the campus of Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. It is the home field of the Idaho State Bengals of the Big Sky Conference. Holt Arena sits at an elevation of 4,560 feet (1,390 m) above sea level^[1].

Completed in September 1970 at the north end of the ISU campus, Holt Arena is the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States and the second-oldest overall^[2]. Only the Houston Astrodome, completed in 1965, predates it.

Holt Arena was conceived by ISU athletic director Milton W. "Dubby" Holt in 1966. Idaho State students voted to appropriate not more than $2.8 million to the project two years later. Holt Arena replaced the outdoor "Spud Bowl" (now Davis Field) as the Bengals' home football field. The arena was originally named the ASISU Mini Dome, but was renamed in 1988 to honor Holt.

In addition to serving as the home field for the ISU football team, Holt Arena also serves as home for the ISU indoor track and field team and men's basketball team.

In addition to Bengal athletic teams Holt Arena also hosts Idaho high school football games and other sporting events, rodeos, concerts, and other activities. In addition it was the site of the NCAA basketball tournament (sub-regionals) and the 1977 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament.

After the long anticipated opening of the Mini Dome in 1970, Idaho State true freshman Mike Barnes scored the first regulation points in a basketball game.

Following the success of the Mini Dome several other colleges built enclosed stadiums, including the Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho in Moscow, in 1975.

Holt Arena is one of two enclosed stadiums currently used in the Big Sky Conference. The Walkup Skydome at Northern Arizona University is the other.

[edit] External links

• ISU Bengals.com - official athletics site - ISU Facilities
• ISU.edu - official university site - Holt Arena
• Idaho Public TV.org - Holt Arena
• World Stadiums.com - Holt Arena
• Simplot Games - annual indoor track meet at Holt Arena
• Terraserver.microsoft.com - USGS topo map (& aerial photo) of ISU campus

[edit] Notes

v • d • e Current Basketball Arenas in the Big Sky Conference Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion (Northern Colorado) • Dahlberg Arena (Montana) • Dee Events Center (Weber State) • Holt Arena/Reed Gym (Idaho State) • Hornets Nest (Sacramento State) • Reese Court (Eastern Washington) • Stott Center (Portland State) • Walkup Skydome (Northern Arizona) • Worthington Arena (Montana State)

v • d • e Football stadiums of the Big Sky Conference Bobcat Stadium (Montana State) • Holt Arena (Idaho State) • Hornet Stadium (Sacramento State) • Joe Albi Stadium (Eastern Washington) • Nottingham Field (Northern Colorado) • PGE Park (Portland State) • Stewart Stadium (Weber State) • Walkup Skydome (Northern Arizona) • Washington Grizzly Stadium (Montana) • Woodward Field (Eastern Washington)

v • d • e College football venues in Idaho Division I FBS WAC Bronco Stadium (Boise State) • Kibbie Dome (Idaho) Division I FCS Big Sky Holt Arena (Idaho State)