Crisler Center

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Crisler Center
"The House that Cazzie Built"
Former names University Events Building (1967-1969)
Crisler Arena (1970–2011)
Location 333 E Stadium Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Broke ground September 18, 1965
Opened December 6, 1967
Renovated 1998, 2001, 2011-2012[1]
Owner University of Michigan
Operator University of Michigan
Surface Hardwood
Construction cost $7.2 million
($50.4 million in 2014 dollars[ 1])

$52 million renovation[2]
Architect Daniel L. Dworsky Associates
Kenneth C. Black Associates, Inc.[3]

Sink Combs Dethlefs (renovations)
General contractor Spence Brothers Company[3]
Capacity 13,684 (1967)
13,609 (1968–1991)
13,562 (1991–2001)
13,751 (2001–2011)
12,721 (2011-2012)
12,693 (2012-2013)
12,707 (2013-present)[1]
Tenants

Michigan Men's Basketball (NCAA) (1967-present)
Michigan Women's Basketball (NCAA) (1974-present)
Michigan Women's Gymnastics (NCAA) (2004-present)


Former tenants
Michigan Men's Gymnastics (1978–1989)
Michigan Wrestling (1967–1989)

The Crisler Center (formerly known as Crisler Arena) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, is the home arena for the University of Michigan's men's and women's basketball teams as well as its women's gymnastics team.[1] Constructed in 1967, the arena seats 12,707 spectators. It is named for Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler, head football coach at Michigan from 1938 to 1947 and athletic director thereafter until his retirement in 1968. Crisler Center was designed by Dan Dworsky (B'Arch. 1950), a member of the 1948 Rose Bowl team. Among other structures that he has designed is the Federal Reserve Bank of Los Angeles.

The arena is often called "The House that Cazzie Built," a reference to legendary player Cazzie Russell who starred on Michigan teams that won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles from 1964 to 1966. Russell's popularity caused the team's fanbase to outgrow Yost Fieldhouse (now Yost Ice Arena) and prompted the construction of the current facility.

At Michigan men's basketball games, the recently added bleacher seats behind the benches are home to the Maize Rage student section.

Tenants

Crisler Center has been the home of Michigan Wolverines men's basketball since its opening in 1967. The women's basketball team has been at Crisler Center since 1974. It has also been the home of Michigan's wrestling and men's gymnastics teams. The gymnastics team hosted events at Crisler Center from 1978-1989. The wrestling team called Crisler Center its home from 1967-1989. The women's gymnastics team has been at Crisler Center since 2004.

Other Events

Despite being on a Big Ten Conference campus, the facility hosted the 19801982 Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament. It has also hosted Big Ten and NCAA gymnastics championships, the 1999 Big Ten wrestling championship, and other events. Prior to the opening of Cliff Keen Arena, the arena was the full-time home to the men's and women's gymnastics teams and the wrestling team. As of 2007, women's gymnastics continues to hold significant meets in the arena.[1]

The arena has also hosted concerts, perhaps most famously, the opening show of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's The River Tour, in which Springsteen began the show by completely forgetting the words to "Born to Run", but was rescued by the Michigan audience.

Crisler Center was also the site of the famous "ten-for-two" John Sinclair Freedom Rally, featuring John Lennon & Yoko Ono in 1971.

Renovation

The University recently completed a massive renovation to the Crisler Center. In 2011, the seats were replaced and capacity was reduced. A new scoreboard was added along with the construction of an athletic facility in between the arena and Michigan Stadium called the Junge Family Champions Center. Along with the Junge Center, the University added the Mortenson Family Plaza on the roof of the Junge Center. The outside walls were torn down and the concourse was expanded. A new grand entrance along with new boxes were expected to be ready by January of 2013, but were completed just before the start of the 2012-13 Basketball season, much earlier than originally planned. The renovations also included renovations to the control room, updating the controllers for game stats and content for the University of Michigan football stadium and the Crisler Center.[4]

Part of the Crisler renovation also included the construction of the William Davidson Player Development Center (WDPDC). The $23.2 million facility boasts 2 full courts with 10 baskets, weight room, sports medicine training room, and two identical wings for Men's and Women's basketball offices.[5]

Gallery

Panorama of the interior during a 2008 graduation ceremony.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Crisler Center, Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  2. Jesse, David. "U-M Regents approve $52 million renovation of Crisler Arena". Annarbor.com. Retrieved January 20, 2011. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "University Events Building - Crisler Arena". University of Michigan. Retrieved November 9, 2013. 
  4. Michigan unveils planned scoreboards Crisler Arena
  5. Ablauf, Dave. "Player Development Center Named in Honor of William Davidson". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 

External links

Coordinates: 42°15′54″N 83°44′48″W / 42.265037°N 83.746768°W / 42.265037; -83.746768

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