Belk Gymnasium
Encyclopedia
Belk Gymnasium, known informally as The Mine Shaft, is a gymnasium on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
in Charlotte
, North Carolina
. Completed in 1970, it was the first on-campus home of the Charlotte 49ers
basketball team.
) played at various high school gyms in the greater Charlotte area. As the full-time home of the 49ers from 1970 through 1976, the team enjoyed a tremendous home-court advantage, going undefeated at home in 1974, 1975, and 1976. When Charlotte joined the Sun Belt Conference
for the 1976-77 season, Belk's seating capacity
(approximately 3,000) was too small for the conference's standards; as a result, the team moved its conference home games to the old Charlotte Coliseum
.
From 1976 until the opening of Dale F. Halton Arena
in 1996, the 49ers' women's basketball team and volleyball team played in the Mine Shaft; the men's basketball team played lower-profile non-league games in the gym during that time period - at least one each season.
The gym is still an integral part of UNC Charlotte classroom usage. The second floor houses RM 229, nicknamed "The Stadium" by students because of its old school stadium style seats and elevated floor. Belk Is slated to receive a new facade and interior renovation that will turn it into a classroom building as part of UNC Charlotte's 2010 Master Plan. This will allow the Kinesiology program to expand beyond its current capabilities. Recreational Services offices as well as new recreational venues are slated to move to the new Recreational Center which will be built closer to the north side student housing as part of the planned North Quad in the 2010 Master Plan.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Completed in 1970, it was the first on-campus home of the Charlotte 49ers
Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers represent the NCAA Division I sports teams of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Charlotte joined the Atlantic 10 in 2005. The 49ers field 16 teams, 8 men and 8 women....
basketball team.
History
Before Belk Gym was built, UNC Charlotte's basketball team (then a member of the NAIANational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
) played at various high school gyms in the greater Charlotte area. As the full-time home of the 49ers from 1970 through 1976, the team enjoyed a tremendous home-court advantage, going undefeated at home in 1974, 1975, and 1976. When Charlotte joined the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
for the 1976-77 season, Belk's seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
(approximately 3,000) was too small for the conference's standards; as a result, the team moved its conference home games to the old Charlotte Coliseum
Cricket Arena
Bojangles' Coliseum is a 9,605-seat multi-purpose arena, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the Ovens Auditorium and the Charlotte Convention Center...
.
From 1976 until the opening of Dale F. Halton Arena
Dale F. Halton Arena
Dale F. Halton Arena at the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center is an indoor sports venue located on the main campus of UNC Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina...
in 1996, the 49ers' women's basketball team and volleyball team played in the Mine Shaft; the men's basketball team played lower-profile non-league games in the gym during that time period - at least one each season.
Today
With the opening of Halton Arena, Belk Gym was no longer needed as a host for intercollegiate activities. Its bleachers were removed in 2000, and the main floor was removed in 2003; at that time, the overhead scoreboard was also removed. The facility now houses the Department of Recreational Services and the Department of Kinesiology for UNC Charlotte.The gym is still an integral part of UNC Charlotte classroom usage. The second floor houses RM 229, nicknamed "The Stadium" by students because of its old school stadium style seats and elevated floor. Belk Is slated to receive a new facade and interior renovation that will turn it into a classroom building as part of UNC Charlotte's 2010 Master Plan. This will allow the Kinesiology program to expand beyond its current capabilities. Recreational Services offices as well as new recreational venues are slated to move to the new Recreational Center which will be built closer to the north side student housing as part of the planned North Quad in the 2010 Master Plan.