Allen Fieldhouse

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:Infobox Arena Allen Fieldhouse is an indoor arena at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The arena was named in honour of Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, who coached the university's men's basketball team for 39 years. The actual playing surface is the James Naismith Court, honoring the inventor of basketball who later established Kansas' basketball program and served as its first coach from 1898 to 1907.

The "Fieldhouse" is also the home of the chant, "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, K-U".

1 Facilities
2 History
3 Capacity
4 Records vs Other Big 12 Teams
- 4.1 South
- 4.2 North
5 External links
6 Other References

[edit]

Facilities

Allen Fieldhouse was dedicated on March 1, 1955 when the Jayhawks defeated Kansas State 77-66. Since then renovations have included minor seating expansions in 1986 and 1994, as well as accessibility upgrades in 1999 to modernize concession stands and restroom facilities, and to install an elevator in the south end. Handicapped seating was moved courtside behind both baskets in 2001.

Renovations completed in 2005 include a thorough cleaning of the exterior, and the creation of a new Booth Family Hall of Fame facility on the east side of the Fieldhouse. Interior renovations include a new hardwood court, and a multi-million dollar video board and sound system.

Banners hang in the south rafters to honor such Jayhawk greats as Wilt Chamberlain, Clyde Lovellette, Jo Jo White, Danny Manning, Paul Pierce, Lynette Woodard, and Nick Collison. The east and west sides are devoted to KU's conference championships as members of the Missouri Valley Conference, Big Six, Big Seven, Big Eight, and Big 12 Conference, as well as the Jayhawks' trips to the Final Four and national championships in 1922, 1923 (Helms Foundation championships), 1952, and 1988.

[edit]

History

The concourse was originally an indoor track, and at times the Fieldhouse has been home to men's and women's basketball, indoor track and field, volleyball, and practice facilities for the football and softball teams. It has since specialized as facilities were constructed around campus to accommodate these needs, and now serves exclusively as the home for Jayhawk basketball.

Allen Fieldhouse has also hosted to several NCAA tournament regionals, NBA exhibition games, and occasional speakers and concerts.

Kansas won 62 consecutive games at the Fieldhouse between January 30, 1994 and November 21, 1998. This mark exceeded the previous school record of 55 games, which lasted from February 22, 1984 through January 30, 1988.

[edit]

Capacity

Allen Fieldhouse was originally built with a capacity of 15,200, and its current official capacity is 16,300. Of these seats, 4000 are dedicated to current KU students, with most of the remainder taken by season-ticket-holding members of the Williams Fund, the fundraising arm of KU Athletics.

The largest crowd in Allen Fieldhouse for a basketball game was 17,228 on March 1, 1955 when the building was dedicated. Barring another expansion of seating, it is unlikely that this record will ever be broken as fire codes have forced KU to strictly enforce the building's capacity since the mid-1980s.

[edit]