Lloyd Noble Center
Encyclopedia
The Lloyd Noble Center is an 11,528-seat multi-purpose arena
, in Norman, Oklahoma
, United States
, some 19 miles (30.6 km) south of downtown Oklahoma City
. It opened in 1975 and is home to the University of Oklahoma
Sooners
men's and women's basketball
teams.
, located on campus near Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
. With the success of Sooner basketball in the 1970s and star forward Alvan Adams
, demand became sufficient to upgrade to the modern and spacious Lloyd Noble Center, named after an alumnus
and former member of the OU Board of Regents who gave OU's first ever $1 million gift to finance the center. The Sooners frequently sold out the arena during the Billy Tubbs
era, with All-America
n forward Wayman Tisdale
leading the high-scoring team to several Big Eight Conference
titles and NCAA Tournament
appearances. This led to the popular colloquialism around Norman that Lloyd Noble Center is "the house that Alvan built and Wayman filled."
In January 2006, after the NBA's New Orleans Hornets decided to move two games from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
in Baton Rouge because of low attendance, the Ford Center in Oklahoma City was unavailable for one of the games against the Sacramento Kings
, so it was moved to the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Fieldhouse is still home to the university's volleyball and wrestling teams, and hosts a number of other on-campus gatherings.
Amy Grant
recorded half of her live albums, In Concert and In Concert Volume Two, here.
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...
, in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, some 19 miles (30.6 km) south of downtown Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. It opened in 1975 and is home to the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
men's and women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams.
History
Before the construction of the facility, the teams played in the much smaller OU Field HouseMcCasland Field House
The McCasland Field House is a multi-purpose indoor arena on the University of Oklahoma main campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Home of the basketball Sooners until 1975, the Field House currently hosts the men's wrestling, women's volleyball, and men's and women's gymnastics teams. The Field House is...
, located on campus near Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
The Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the on-campus football facility for the University of Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. The official capacity of the stadium, following recent renovations, is 82,112, making it the 16th largest college stadium in the United States and the third...
. With the success of Sooner basketball in the 1970s and star forward Alvan Adams
Alvan Adams
Alvan Leigh Adams is a retired American professional basketball player. After starring at the University of Oklahoma, the 6'9" power forward/center was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 4th pick of the 1975 NBA Draft...
, demand became sufficient to upgrade to the modern and spacious Lloyd Noble Center, named after an alumnus
Samuel Lloyd Noble
Samuel Lloyd Noble, known as Lloyd Noble , was an oilman and philanthropist, founder of the Noble Corporation and the The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation...
and former member of the OU Board of Regents who gave OU's first ever $1 million gift to finance the center. The Sooners frequently sold out the arena during the Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
era, with All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n forward Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was an American professional basketball player in the NBA and a smooth jazz bass guitarist. A three-time All American at the University of Oklahoma, he was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.-Early life:Tisdale was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
leading the high-scoring team to several Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
titles and NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances. This led to the popular colloquialism around Norman that Lloyd Noble Center is "the house that Alvan built and Wayman filled."
In January 2006, after the NBA's New Orleans Hornets decided to move two games from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Pete Maravich Assembly Center is a 13,472-seat multi-purpose arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The arena opened in 1972. It is home to the Louisiana State University Tigers and Lady Tigers basketball teams. It was originally known as the LSU Assembly Center, but was renamed in memory of Pete...
in Baton Rouge because of low attendance, the Ford Center in Oklahoma City was unavailable for one of the games against the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, so it was moved to the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Fieldhouse is still home to the university's volleyball and wrestling teams, and hosts a number of other on-campus gatherings.
Concerts
As a concert venue, the Lloyd Noble Center can hold between 2,848 and 4,516 in a theater set-up, 6,165 for end-stage concerts, and 11,238 for center-stage concerts. The arena contains 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) of arena floor space as well as 22534 square feet (2,093.5 m²) of concourse space, allowing for trade shows to be held at the arena. The arena stands only 51 feet (15.5 m) tall since the majority of the structure is under ground (including the entire lower arena level), and contains a 40-by-60-foot portable stage and a state-of-the-art scoreboard and video system. There are 12 concession stands at the concourse.Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
recorded half of her live albums, In Concert and In Concert Volume Two, here.