Taco Bell Arena

Taco Bell Arena

Southeast entrance in July 2009
Former names BSU Pavilion
(May 1982–June 2004)
Location Boise State University
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho
Owner Boise State University
Operator Boise State University
Capacity 12,644 (basketball)
13,090 (concerts)
12,644 (tennis)
6,795 (half-house concerts)
Construction
Broke ground February 1980
Opened May 16, 1982
35 years ago[1]
Construction cost $17.5 million
($43.4 million in 2017[2])
Architect CSHQA
Tenants
Boise State Broncos (NCAA) (1982–present)

Taco Bell Arena (originally BSU Pavilion) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the western United States, on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. The arena is located on the east end of campus, between West Campus Lane and César Chávez Circle, immediately northwest of Albertsons Stadium.

It is home to the Broncos basketball, wrestling, and gymnastics teams, with a current seating capacity of 12,644 for basketball. The elevation of its floor is approximately 2,700 feet (825 m) above sea level.

The venue is also used for concerts (capacity 13,390), community events, and trade shows (17,000 square feet (1,580 m2) of arena floor space plus 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) in the auxiliary gym). It hosted a Davis Cup tennis match in April 2013, a second-round tie between the U.S. and Serbia.

History

Long in the planning stages,[3][4] ground was broken for the arena in February 1980, directly north of the Bronco Gymnasium (capacity 3,000). Construction displaced the tennis courts and the right field area of the baseball field, currently the site of the auxiliary gym on the west side of the arena. (photo - 1971)(photo - late 1970s)

Eight tennis courts were rebuilt on the former baseball infield, (photo - mid 1980s) west of the arena. The baseball field was not rebuilt as BSU dropped baseball as a varsity sport following the 1980 season.[5] During their final season, the Broncos played home games at Borah Field (now Wigle Field) at Borah High School, four miles (6 km) west of campus.

The arena opened 35 years ago in 1982 as the BSU Pavilion; its first event was BSU's commencement on May 16,[1] followed by graduation ceremonies for the city's public high schools. That August, it hosted an eight-day Billy Graham Crusade,[6][7] and its first significant sporting event was the NCAA Basketball Tournament in March 1983.[8]

The BSU Pavilion was renamed twelve years ago in June 2004, after Taco Bell signed a 15-year naming rights agreement with the university for $4 million.[9]

Basketball tournaments

Interior during a BSU game in 2013

The venue hosted four Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournaments: 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1994.

Taco Bell Arena has been a familiar site for early-round NCAA Tournament games, hosting first and second round competition eight times (1983, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2009). The NCAA tournament is scheduled to return in 2018 and 2021.

The tournament games played at the arena have resulted in some of the most memorable moments in NCAA history. In 1995, UCLA's Tyus Edney dashed the length of the 94-foot (29 m) court in just over four seconds to make a layup that gave the Bruins a 75–74 win over Missouri,[10] which sustained UCLA's run to a national title.[11] In 2001, it was the site of the closest first-round day at a single host location ever, with the four games played on March 15 decided by a combined total of seven points.[12] One was #15 seed Hampton's upset of #2 seed Iowa State — Hampton was only the fourth #15 seed to beat a #2 seed since the tournament expanded from 53 to 64 teams in 1985.[12]

Concerts

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Youngest college graduate". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 17, 1982. p. 2C.
  2. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Pavilion issue near for unit". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 3, 1978. p. 5.
  4. ↑ "Boise State pavilion plan hits big snag". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 20, 1979. p. 35.
  5. ↑ Goodwin, Dale (May 13, 1980). "Baseball's 'out' at Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 19.
  6. ↑ "Standing-room only crowd attends Boise crusade". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 9, 1982. p. 3.
  7. ↑ "Graham ends crusade in Boise". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 16, 1982. p. 10.
  8. ↑ "Big-time sports hit Boise". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). UPI. March 16, 1983. p. 14.
  9. ↑ "ESPN.com - Taco Bell pays $4 million for naming rights". sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  10. ↑ "Edney sinks game-saver for Bruins". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 20, 1995. p. C1.
  11. ↑ Friend, Tom - N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: WEST; U.C.L.A. Dash Knocks Wind Out of Missouri. New York Times, March 20, 1995. Quote: U.C.L.A.'s Tyus Edney ran a 94-foot (29 m) dash in 4.7 seconds today. That he also managed to toss in a swooping layup left Missouri with its hands over its face. The No. 1-seeded Bruins trailed the No. 8-seeded Tigers by 1 point with 4.8 seconds remaining when Edney, a turbo point guard, started his cross-country journey. He took the inbounds pass under his own basket, was neck-and-neck with defender Jason Sutherland at midcourt, freed himself with a behind-the-back dribble, made a hairpin turn to the lane and banked in a shot over 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Derek Grimm at the buzzer.
  12. 1 2 "Hampton stuns Cyclones, 58-57". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 16, 2001. p. 2D.

Coordinates: 43°36′13″N 116°11′56″W / 43.6035°N 116.199°W / 43.6035; -116.199

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