University Center is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hammond, Louisiana, United States, on the campus Southeastern Louisiana University.[1] Often called "the UC" within the University, it was built in 1982 at a cost of $16.3 million.
It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University's Lions and Lady Lions basketball teams and hosts many other functions including Southeastern’s commencement, a variety of concerts and community events, circuses, and rodeos as well as the Hammond Heroes indoor football team.
From 2001 through 2008, the arena hosted the girls basketball state championships tournament of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association; after a 1-year hiatus at a location on another campus, the tournament returned to Southeastern and to its University Center in 2010. The tournament is well received and supported in Hammond and Tangipahoa Parish, where girls basketball has been popular for many decades. Baylor University coach Kim Mulkey starred at Hammond High School before a standout career at Louisiana Tech and as a member of the U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The arena floor measures 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2); the arena seats up to 8,961 for concerts. Access to the University is via multilane LA 3234 (University Avenue) from I-55.