The Convocation Center is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena that is home to the

Ohio Bobcats The Ohio Bobcats are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I Intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio, United States. Ohio University is a charter member (1946 ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

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. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

, and

wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...

teams.

History

The Convocation Center, also known locally as "The Convo," was designed by architecture firm Brubaker/Brandt of

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

and built by Knowlton Construction Company of

Bellefontaine, Ohio Bellefontaine ( ) is a city in Logan County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located 48 miles (77 km) northwest of Columbus, the population was 14,115 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Bellefontaine micropolit ...

. The first men's basketball game in the arena featured an 80–70 Ohio victory over the

Indiana Hoosiers The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the demonym for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in NCAA Division I, Division I of the National Coll ...

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 Daktronics, Inc. is an American company based in Brookings, South Dakota, that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, dynamic message signs, sound systems, and related products. It was found ...

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, 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 The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Bowling Green State University (BGSU), in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The Falcons compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Divi ...

77–76. That year Ohio finished 20–5, winning the Mid-American Conference title and advancing to the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

Tournament A tournament is a competition involving at least three competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses: # One or more competitions held at a single venue and concen ...

. In addition to Ohio basketball,

, and

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 Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

, 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 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 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

Gallery

File:OU Athletics HOF.JPG,

Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for Ohio Bobcats athletes and athletic personnel. Since 1965, selectees to the Hall are inducted during annual ceremonies, including recognition at halftime of a home college footb ...

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:Ohio vs NIU men's basketball February 6, 2016.jpg, Ohio vs NIU men's basketball game February 6, 2016 at the Convocation Center in Athens, OH 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

References

External links

*
Official Ohio University Athletics WebsiteUnofficial Ohio Bobcats Fan WebsiteOfficial Website of the Mid-American Conference
{{Authority control Ohio Bobcats basketball College basketball venues in Ohio College volleyball venues in the United States 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

History

Largest attendance

Gallery

See also

References

External links