Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Encyclopedia
Carver–Hawkeye Arena is a 15,500-seat multi-purpose indoor arena
located in Iowa City
, Iowa
. Opened in 1983, it is the home court for The University of Iowa Hawkeyes
men's
and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's wrestling
, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. It was named for the late industrialist Roy J. Carver of Muscatine, Iowa, a prominent statewide booster, who donated $
9.2 million to The University of Iowa
before his death in 1981. Prior to the arena's opening, Iowa's athletic teams played at the Iowa Field House.
Entirely funded by private contributions, the arena was expected to be open for the 1982–83 school year, but weather slowed construction to the point where the first event was held on January 3, 1983. Iowa's wrestling team defeated Oklahoma and two days later, the men's basketball team played their first game – a loss to Michigan State
– in the new arena.
Outside of Hawkeye athletic events, the arena has also served as the host for Big Ten
and National Collegiate Athletic Association
wrestling championships, as well as the 1984 U.S.
Olympic
wrestling trials and 1984 U.S. Olympic men's and women's basketball exhibitions. The National Duals wrestling tournament was also held at Carver–Hawkeye Arena in 1998 and 1999.
. With a capacity of 3,000, the Armory was easily large enough, considering that the fan support Iowa's teams received in that era was much less than it is today. Later, in 1927, the Iowa Field House was opened during Paul Belding's tenure as athletic director
. Considered as a "magnificent structure for its day," the Field House was home to Iowa's basketball and wrestling teams, and included an indoor track and a swimming pool.
The Field House, however, was known for its steel balconies and sub-par acoustics
, along with columns that obstructed views. When demand was high for Hawkeye basketball, bleachers were placed behind the baskets, allowing some 15,000 to attend games. Season ticket sales skyrocketed during the highly successful tenures head coach
es Ralph Miller
and Lute Olsen, and support for a new arena gradually increased. Following approval from the Iowa board of regents
, construction of Carver–Hawkeye Arena began.
Four of the 64 teams invited to participate in the 2009 national championship will play three games in Iowa City with the winner of two games advancing to regional competition. The Iowa Hawkeyes will be assigned to play in Iowa City if Coach Lisa Bluder's squad is one of the 64 teams in the championship field.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
located in Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Opened in 1983, it is the home court for The University of Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are the athletics teams that represent the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The Hawkeyes have varsity teams in 24 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are members of the...
men's
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's wrestling
Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. It was named for the late industrialist Roy J. Carver of Muscatine, Iowa, a prominent statewide booster, who donated $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
9.2 million to The University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
before his death in 1981. Prior to the arena's opening, Iowa's athletic teams played at the Iowa Field House.
Entirely funded by private contributions, the arena was expected to be open for the 1982–83 school year, but weather slowed construction to the point where the first event was held on January 3, 1983. Iowa's wrestling team defeated Oklahoma and two days later, the men's basketball team played their first game – a loss to Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
– in the new arena.
Outside of Hawkeye athletic events, the arena has also served as the host for Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
wrestling championships, as well as the 1984 U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
wrestling trials and 1984 U.S. Olympic men's and women's basketball exhibitions. The National Duals wrestling tournament was also held at Carver–Hawkeye Arena in 1998 and 1999.
Predecessors
Iowa basketball and wrestling teams initially competed at a building named the "Armory," which was located on the east bank of the Iowa RiverIowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
. With a capacity of 3,000, the Armory was easily large enough, considering that the fan support Iowa's teams received in that era was much less than it is today. Later, in 1927, the Iowa Field House was opened during Paul Belding's tenure as athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
. Considered as a "magnificent structure for its day," the Field House was home to Iowa's basketball and wrestling teams, and included an indoor track and a swimming pool.
The Field House, however, was known for its steel balconies and sub-par acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
, along with columns that obstructed views. When demand was high for Hawkeye basketball, bleachers were placed behind the baskets, allowing some 15,000 to attend games. Season ticket sales skyrocketed during the highly successful tenures head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
es Ralph Miller
Ralph Miller
Ralph H. Miller was an American basketball coach. A native of Chanute, Kansas, Miller coached at the University of Wichita , the University of Iowa and Oregon State University , compiling a 657-382 overall record in 38 seasons combined...
and Lute Olsen, and support for a new arena gradually increased. Following approval from the Iowa board of regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
, construction of Carver–Hawkeye Arena began.
Record Attendance
On Dec. 6, 2008, Iowa set the national collegiate wrestling dual meet attendance record as 15,955 fans packed the arena for Iowa-Iowa State match. The previous record of 15,646 was set Feb. 1, 2002, when Minnesota hosted Iowa at the Target Center in Minneapolis.2009 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship
The University of Iowa has been selected as a host institution for first and second round games of the 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship on March 22 and 24 in Carver–Hawkeye Arena.Four of the 64 teams invited to participate in the 2009 national championship will play three games in Iowa City with the winner of two games advancing to regional competition. The Iowa Hawkeyes will be assigned to play in Iowa City if Coach Lisa Bluder's squad is one of the 64 teams in the championship field.
External links
- Carver-Hawkeye Arena: The Home of the Hawkeyes webpage (HawkeyeSports.com: Facilities)