The Convocation Center is a 13,000-seat
multi-purpose arena that is home to the
Ohio Bobcats basketball,
volleyball, and
wrestling teams.
It is one of the largest collegiate basketball venues in the U.S.
History
The Convocation Center, also known locally as "The Convo," was designed by architecture firm
Brubaker/Brandt
Brubaker/Brandt was an architecture firm based in Columbus, Ohio. The firm completed some of the tallest buildings affecting the city's skyline including the 42-story Rhodes State Office Tower and the Continental Center, along with other notable b ...
of
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...
and built by Knowlton Construction Company of
Bellefontaine, Ohio. The first men's basketball game in the arena featured an 80–70 Ohio victory over the
Indiana Hoosiers on December 3, 1968. The arena houses offices for the Ohio Athletics Department, numerous coaches' offices, team locker rooms, and athletic training rooms. Additionally it houses offices and classrooms for the computer science branch of the Russ College of Engineering. Over the years, there have been numerous renovations, some of the most recent being in 1997, where improved lighting, an expanded press row, and a wider camera deck were added to the arena. Also, The Vern and Marion Alden Basketball Suite which houses offices and meeting rooms for Ohio men's and women's basketball was completed. A few years later, the locker rooms for both basketball teams were expanded and given new furniture, carpeting, and individual wooden lockers. Following the 2004 season, more renovations occurred as a new playing surface was installed and two large
Daktronics video boards were added to the venue.
The Convocation Center's atmosphere has helped the Bobcats to win over 75% of their home games since the opening of The Convo in 1968. At the beginning of the 2001–2002 season, a new
student cheering section
A student section or student cheering section is a group of student fans that supports its school's athletic teams at sporting events; they are known for being one of the most visible and vocal sections of a sports crowd as well as for their occ ...
, dubbed the "O Zone," was started for men's basketball games.
The Convocation Center brought in its largest crowd on February 28, 1970, when 14,102 fans were in attendance to watch the Bobcats men's basketball team defeat the
Bowling Green Falcons 77–76.
That year Ohio finished 20–5, winning the Mid-American Conference title and advancing to the
NCAA Tournament.
In addition to Ohio basketball,
volleyball, and
wrestling contests, the Convo hosts numerous other events annually. The facility has held local high school basketball games as well as high school state tournament games as well as a variety of concerts, including a May 17, 1969 concert by
Led Zeppelin,
professional wrestling events, and special university events, most notably Ohio University's graduation ceremonies.
The Convocation Center was used for Thursday night rehearsals for
The Ohio University Marching 110
Ohio University Marching 110 is the official marching band of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, founded in 1923. The nickname ''Marching 110'' is a reference to the band's original number of members. The 2017 band consists of 240 members. It repre ...
when the weather caused temperatures to drop far too low for these late-night sessions. The band used these rehearsals to learn/polish dance routines for their home football games on the basketball court. The building was also used for several of the Marching 110's LP recording sessions in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Ohio University Athletics Director
Jim Schaus
Jim Schaus is the Commissioner of the Southern Conference. Formerly, he served as athletic director at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.
Early years
Jim Schaus is originally from Morgantown, West Vir ...
announced plans to renovate the Convocation Center athletic training center by 2012 as part of the Bobcat Renaissance, an initiative geared toward improving OHIO's athletic programs.
Largest attendance
Source
Ohio History and Records 2013-14
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Gallery
File:OU Athletics HOF.JPG, Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame within the Convocation Center.
File:OHIOConvoCenter2.jpg, Interior of the Convocation Center in 2008.
File:OUConvoCenter2012.jpg, The Convocation Center prior to the men's basketball game against Hampton in 2012.
File:OhioConvoCourt.jpg, alt=A new court was installed in 2021 as seen in November 2022, A new court was installed in 2021 as seen in November 2022
See also
*
List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
References
External links
*
Official Ohio University Athletics WebsiteUnofficial Ohio Bobcats Fan WebsiteOfficial Website of the Mid-American Conference
{{Authority control
Ohio Bobcats men's basketball
College basketball venues in the United States
College volleyball venues in the United States
Basketball venues in Ohio
Wrestling venues in Ohio
Buildings and structures of Ohio University
Tourist attractions in Athens County, Ohio
Buildings and structures completed in 1968
1968 establishments in Ohio