Blue Eagle Gym
Interior of the Blue Eagle Gym | |
Former names |
Ateneo Gym Loyola Center |
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Location | Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines |
Owner | Ateneo de Manila University |
Operator | Ateneo de Manila University |
Capacity | 7,500 |
Field size | 281 feet long X 213 feet wide |
Construction | |
Opened | December 3, 1949 |
Construction cost | Php 650,000.00 |
Tenants | |
Ateneo Blue Eagles Manila Metrostars (1998-2000) |
The Blue Eagle Gym is a gymnasium located in the main campus of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines. Unlike most gymnasiums, the basketball court is oriented perpendicular to the orientation of the building.
The stadium was built in 1949, three years before the Ateneo de Manila moved from its Manila campus to its current main campus in Loyola Heights, Quezon City in 1952. At inauguration in 1949, it was called the Ateneo Gym. From late 1960s to mid-1970s, it was officially known as the Loyola Center. It was in the year 2000 that it was renamed the Blue Eagle Gym.
According to historical records, the gym was constructed under the direction of Ateneo Rector William F. Masterson, S.J., to be an alternative venue to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum for the National Collegiate Athletic Association games.
It is frequently a venue for sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (pre-1978). Ateneo's games, however, were played at the Rizal Coliseum to prevent any home-court advantage during the NCAA years.
It was also a venue for Philippine Basketball Association games in the league's early years. The Manila Metrostars of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association also used the Blue Eagle Gym as a temporary home court before moving to the Mail and More Arena in San Andres, Manila.
The stadium played host to the sepak takraw tournament of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games. It was scheduled to be the venue for women's basketball in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, but since the Basketball Association of the Philippines was suspended by FIBA, the gymnasium was not able to host the event. The gymnasium is the home of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Ateneo de Manila University's varsity team.
Image Gallery
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The giant eagle
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Ateneo's Ignatian logo
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Right facade
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Right side facade
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Right-rear facade
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Rear facade, left side
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Rear frontage facade
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Right rear facade
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The right side pedestrian road to the gym's interior
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The glorious interior
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Subject of historic games and rivalry
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The venue of Physical education subject of the Ateneo
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The Blue Eagle Gym stands prominently at 213 feet wide and 281 feet long at the western end of the campus.
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Inaugurated on 3 December 1949, it was the first building to stand on the Loyola Heights campus—
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...even before the transfer in 1952 of the College and High School units.
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The special place where school spirit thrives, where Ateneans converge to cheer their team to victory.
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All sides of the gym are open to allow neutral ventilation.
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The gym can seat a total of 7,500 people with 800 box seats, 1,400 reserve seats, and 5,300 bleachers.
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Its facilities:locker rooms for players, six bowling alleys, billiard room, air-conditioned radio and press box, and 4 snack bars.
External links
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Coordinates: 14°38′6″N 121°4′31″E / 14.63500°N 121.07528°E