Bartow Arena
Encyclopedia
Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose arena
in Birmingham
, Alabama
. It is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) Blazers
men's
and women's basketball
teams as well as the women's volleyball
team. The arena is named after Gene Bartow
, the coach who largely built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.
76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena. Following the retirement of Gene Bartow
in December 1996, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees voted to officially change the name of UAB Arena to Bartow Arena. Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rival Memphis 51–48.
Currently playing as a member of Conference USA
, UAB has won more than 80 percent of its games played there. The record attendance for Bartow Arena was set on February 16, 2008, against Memphis with an announced crowd of 9,392. At the conclusion of the 2010–11 season
, the UAB men's team has an all-time record of 277 victories and 59 losses at Bartow in giving the program an all-time winning percentage of .
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
(UAB) Blazers
UAB Blazers
The UAB Blazers are the forest green and old gold-swathed athletic teams at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The school is one of the twelve member institutions of Conference USA and participates in Division I of the NCAA...
men's
UAB Blazers men's basketball
The UAB Blazers men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I men's college basketball, and have competed in Conference USA since 1995...
and women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams as well as the women's volleyball
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.The complete rules are extensive...
team. The arena is named after Gene Bartow
Gene Bartow
Gene Bartow is a former men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years.-High school:...
, the coach who largely built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.
History
Between 1978 and 1988, the Blazers played their home games at the off-campus Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, located just north of downtown Birmingham. On December 3, 1988, the men's team defeated VanderbiltVanderbilt Commodores men's basketball
The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...
76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena. Following the retirement of Gene Bartow
Gene Bartow
Gene Bartow is a former men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years.-High school:...
in December 1996, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees voted to officially change the name of UAB Arena to Bartow Arena. Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rival Memphis 51–48.
Currently playing as a member of Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
, UAB has won more than 80 percent of its games played there. The record attendance for Bartow Arena was set on February 16, 2008, against Memphis with an announced crowd of 9,392. At the conclusion of the 2010–11 season
2010–11 UAB Blazers men's basketball team
The 2010–11 UAB Blazers men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the 2010–11 college basketball season. The Blazers' head coach, Mike Davis, was in his fifth season at UAB...
, the UAB men's team has an all-time record of 277 victories and 59 losses at Bartow in giving the program an all-time winning percentage of .
Attendance Records
| Opponent | | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis (2008) | 9,392 |
| 2 | Louisville (2005) | 9,354 |
| 3 | Cincinnati (2004) | 9,312 |
| 4 | Cincinnati (2000) | 9,279 |
| 5 | Cincinnati (1996) | 9,213 |
| 6 | Memphis (2009) | 9,153 |
| 7 | Memphis (2011) | 9,119 |
| 8 | Alcorn State (1989) | 9,010 |
| 9 | Arkansas (1990) | 8,951 |
| 10 | Cincinnati (1994) | 8,907 |