Alumni Coliseum is a multi-use sports arena located on the campus of
Eastern Kentucky University in
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States
* Richmond, London, a part of London
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, ...
,
Kentucky.
History
Built in 1963, the Paul S. McBrayer Arena located inside Alumni Coliseum, is capable of seating around 6,500 people in both chairback seats and on wooden benches (8,000 for concerts) arranged in a horseshoe shape, facing a wall at the right side of the arena where staging is usually set up for events. The arena's ceiling is made completely of wooden beams and is believed to be the largest of its kind in existence. It was named for the former EKU Men's Basketball Coach Paul McBrayer who compiled a record of 219-144. The floor graphics were updated for the 2005-06 seasons and the banners were redone to be more unified. The building replaced
Weaver Gymnasium, which had been home to the Colonels since 1930.
Usage
The arena is home to the
Eastern Kentucky Colonels men's and women's basketball team, and the women's volleyball team. In addition to university sponsored athletics Alumni Coliseum has also played host to a variety of other sporting events, including the All "A" Classic High School basketball tournament,
KHSAA
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) has been the governing body of the U.S. state of Kentucky high-school athletics since 1917. It is located in Lexington.
Sports
The organization sanctions competition in the following sports ...
Region 5 Swimming and Diving Championships, and continues to host the
Special Olympics Kentucky Summer Games.
The arena has also hosted numerous musical performers over the years, more recently including
3 Doors Down, O.A.R. (
Of A Revolution),
Diamond Rio,
They Might be Giants,
Nappy Roots
Nappy Roots is an American alternative Southern rap group. The group met in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1995 while attending Western Kentucky University. They are best known for their hit singles " Po' Folks", "Awnaw", " Roun' The Globe" and "Go ...
and
The Black Eyed Peas. It also hosted the
Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament in 1979.
The Donald Combs Natatorium, located behind the basketball arena, is the former home of the university's swimming and diving team and is now used predominantly for EKU recreation and the
Model Laboratory School Swim team. The natatorium houses a 6 lane 25 yard swimming pool as well as one and three meter diving boards.
The Alumni Coliseum also houses four other basketball courts in an auxiliary gymnasium, an outdoor swimming pool, eight classrooms, the
Chad Bratzke Student Academic Athletic Success Center, and 20 additional offices.
See also
*
List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
References
{{Kentucky college basketball venues
College basketball venues in the United States
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Basketball venues in Kentucky
Buildings and structures in Madison County, Kentucky
1963 establishments in Kentucky
Sports venues completed in 1963