St. John Arena
Encyclopedia
St. John Arena is a multi-purpose arena
on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio
, USA. The arena was named for Lynn St. John
, who served as Ohio State's men's basketball coach and athletic director until 1947.
Located on north campus between Woody Hayes Drive and Lane Avenue, the 13,276-seat arena was built in 1956. When it housed the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
team from its completion until 1998, it saw the Buckeyes win the 1960 National Championship and five straight Big Ten titles from 1960 to 1964 under coach Fred Taylor
. The men's and women's basketball teams moved to their current home, Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, in 1998. The arena now houses the school's men's and women's volleyball
teams, men's and women's gymnastics
teams, and wrestling
squad. It also hosts the annual Buckeye Classic women's basketball tournament. Concerts by popular musical artists were held at the arena from 1971 - 1981.
In 2004, St. John Arena hosted its first men's basketball game in six years due to a scheduling conflict at the Schottenstein Center. St. John Arena was again used for men's basketball on March 24, 2008, when the Buckeyes hosted an NIT game
against the California Golden Bears
. The Buckeyes eventually took the 2008 NIT title.
The most popular event still held at the arena is the Skull Session, the pep rally before football games. Two hours prior to kickoff The Ohio State University Marching Band
performs Buckeye favorites, and the players and coaches speak to the crowd. With roots back to 1932, the Skull Session also sometimes features the visiting team's marching band, and even local high school bands. Many Buckeye fans arrive hours early to get a good seat for this classic Ohio State tradition.
St. John Arena is used for Freshmen Convocation. All freshmen students are in the same building for the first time. Many important University leaders speak and inspire the freshmen students.
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...
on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, USA. The arena was named for Lynn St. John
Lynn St. John
Lynn Wilbur "The Saint" St. John was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and college athletics administrator. The Union City, Pennsylvania native was the head basketball coach at Ohio State University from 1911 to 1919, and served as the school's second athletic director, a...
, who served as Ohio State's men's basketball coach and athletic director until 1947.
Located on north campus between Woody Hayes Drive and Lane Avenue, the 13,276-seat arena was built in 1956. When it housed the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
team from its completion until 1998, it saw the Buckeyes win the 1960 National Championship and five straight Big Ten titles from 1960 to 1964 under coach Fred Taylor
Fred Taylor (basketball coach)
Frederick Rankin Taylor was a college men's basketball coach for The Ohio State University from 1959 to 1976.-College career:...
. The men's and women's basketball teams moved to their current home, Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, in 1998. The arena now houses the school's men's and women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
teams, men's and women's gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
teams, and wrestling
Collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...
squad. It also hosts the annual Buckeye Classic women's basketball tournament. Concerts by popular musical artists were held at the arena from 1971 - 1981.
In 2004, St. John Arena hosted its first men's basketball game in six years due to a scheduling conflict at the Schottenstein Center. St. John Arena was again used for men's basketball on March 24, 2008, when the Buckeyes hosted an NIT game
2008 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals and Final:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1 and 3* - Overtime game.-External links:*...
against the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
. The Buckeyes eventually took the 2008 NIT title.
The most popular event still held at the arena is the Skull Session, the pep rally before football games. Two hours prior to kickoff The Ohio State University Marching Band
The Ohio State University Marching Band
The Ohio State University Marching Band performs at Ohio State football games and other events during the fall quarter...
performs Buckeye favorites, and the players and coaches speak to the crowd. With roots back to 1932, the Skull Session also sometimes features the visiting team's marching band, and even local high school bands. Many Buckeye fans arrive hours early to get a good seat for this classic Ohio State tradition.
St. John Arena is used for Freshmen Convocation. All freshmen students are in the same building for the first time. Many important University leaders speak and inspire the freshmen students.