Gangelhoff Center is a 3,200-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

on the campus of

Concordia University Concordia University () is a Public university, public English-language research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College (Montreal), Loyola College and Sir George Williams Universit ...

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

that opened in 1993. It is the home to Concordia University Golden Bears volleyball and basketball teams and was home to the Minnesota Ripknees during their one season in the

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The upstart ABA operated in direct competition with the more established National Basketball Association thr ...

. It also serves as the indoor home to Concordia University Golden Bears track & field, featuring a 200-meter track with a 4-lane oval and 6-lane straightaway, separate runways for horizontal jumps and pole vault, an integrated throws ring, and space for high jump. The facility's surface is Mondo Super X. The Gangelhoff Center is one of the busiest venues in the

Twin Cities Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in stat ...

. Gangelhoff has 1,200 permanent seats but can expand its capacity to handle 4,000 fans for an event. One of those times was in March 2001 when Concordia hosted the Slam Dunk/Three Point competition that was televised nationally by

ESPN ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...

, with a capacity crowd watching from the stands. In December 2008, the Gangelhoff Center hosted the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championships. The Tournament featured eight teams including host and defending National Champion Concordia University Saint Paul. The tournament was won in dramatic fashion as the #1 Concordia University Golden Bears beat #2 Cal State San Bernardino 3–2. The Gangelhoff Center has served as the venue of several

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. ...

Regional tournaments and the semifinals and finals of the NSIC basketball and volleyball tournaments over the last three years. In addition to college volleyball and basketball, the Gangelhoff has hosted high school basketball regular season and sectional games, the Minnesota State High School Badminton Tournament, concerts, and school graduation ceremonies. Several of Concordia's athletic teams practice here when the weather is inclement. In addition, intramural volleyball and basketball is also played here. The 70,000 square foot Gangelhoff Center is named after benefactors Ronald and Doris Gangelhoff.

References

External links

Concordia Golden Bears website
{{coord, 44, 56, 52.87, N, 93, 9, 28.38, W, display=title College basketball venues in Minnesota Concordia University, St. Paul 1993 establishments in Minnesota Sports venues in Saint Paul, Minnesota Sports venues completed in 1993