Mackey Arena

Mackey Arena
Former names Purdue Arena (1967-72)
Location 900 John R. Wooden Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Owner Purdue University
Operator Purdue University
Capacity 14,123 (1967-2011)
14,240 (2011-2012)[1]
14,846 (2012-2016)[2]
14,804 (2016-present)[3]
Surface Hardwood
Construction
Broke ground July 1965
Opened December 2, 1967
Renovated 2007-2012
Construction cost $6 Million (1967)
($42.7 million in 2016 dollars[4])
$99.5 Million (2007-2011 Renovation)
Architect Walter Scholer and Associates Inc. (Original)[5]
HNTB (2007-2011 Renovation)
General contractor S.N. Nielsen Co.[5]
Tenants
Purdue Boilermakers
(Men's Basketball)
(Women's Basketball)

Mackey Arena is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Part of the Purdue University campus, it is home to the university's basketball teams, and occasionally hosts home games for the volleyball and wrestling teams. The arena opened in 1967 as a replacement for Lambert Fieldhouse.

Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to honor Purdue alumnus and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. On December 12, 1997, the floor was renamed Keady Court in honor of longtime men's coach Gene Keady. The circular arena, similar to several built in the 1960s, seats 14,846, and is considered by many as one of the loudest arenas in the nation due to its domed aluminum roof.[6]

In recent years, Mackey Arena has experienced numerous upgrades and improvements, including:

Mackey Arena Complex Project

Guy Mackey c. 1963

On May 18, 2007, the university's board of trustees voted to award a contract to HNTB Architecture of Kansas City, Mo., for a $99.5 million project that extends from the outer edges of the arena north along Northwestern Avenue to Cherry Lane. A three-level structure is planned north of Mackey and currently is being referred to as the Student-Athlete Development Center. Its highlights include:


The concourse width will be approximately doubled, concessions will increase four times (from 12 to 48 points of sale) and restrooms will increase three times for women and by 35% for men. In addition, the lower seating sections on the east side will be modified to allow for some premium seats, with club seats (fixed padded stadium chairs) and loge seats (office-style chairs on casters) provided. A limited number of premium courtside seats will be available in the west pit area. Accessible seating will increase approximately six times. Two club spaces will be created, one for general fans on the west side and a premium club to the east.

References

  1. Purdue Basketball Information Guide
  2. "Boilermakers Tip Off 116th Season of Play Against Northern Kentucky" (Press release). Purdue Athletics. November 6, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  3. Purdue Men's Basketball SID tweet
  4. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Mackey Arena timeline
  6. "10 great places to get pumped for NCAA action". USA Today. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  7. 1 2 "Profile: Mackey Arena". Lafayette Journal and Courier. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  8. "New Seats Latest Improvement For Mackey Arena".
  9. "Mackey Arena New Video System".
  10. Basketball court in Purdue’s Mackey Arena will be replaced following water main break
  11. Tanya Brown (2008-01-28). "Donors push Mackey Arena complex toward tip-off time". Purdue University News Service. Retrieved 2008-07-03.

Coordinates: 40°25′59.96″N 86°54′58.12″W / 40.4333222°N 86.9161444°W / 40.4333222; -86.9161444

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