Roberts Municipal Stadium
Encyclopedia
Roberts Municipal Stadium is a multi-use arena in Evansville, Indiana
for sports, public events, and concerts. The arena was built in 1956. It seats up to 12,732 spectators and features four locker rooms and a press room.
The arena received a $16 million dollar upgrade in 1990. In 2007 the city of Evansville hired a professional consultant to examine whether the stadium should be renovated or replaced with a new downtown arena. In December 2008, the Evansville city council approved plans to construct the new arena, which is set to open in fall of 2011 as the Ford Center.
It is co-managed with Mesker Amphitheatre
, The Centre
, and Victory Theatre
.
's Purple Aces basketball program from its opening in 1956 until the Aces moved downtown into the new Ford Center in 2011.
From 1957 to 1977, Roberts Stadium served as the host site for the NCAA College Division (now referred to as Division II) Men's Basketball National Championship. It again hosted the "Elite 8" in 2002. In addition, it regularly hosts a variety of other sporting events, most notably the Great Lakes Valley Conference
(NCAA
Division II) men's and women's basketball tournaments in early March of every year. It also hosted the 1980 and 1983 Midwestern City Conference
(now Horizon League) men's basketball conference tournament.
of the Continental Basketball Association
, who were coached in 1984 by Utah Jazz
Coach, and University of Evansville
alumni Jerry Sloan
.
From 2003 to 2007 Roberts was also home to the Evansville BlueCats
of the National Indoor Football League
from 2003–2005 and the United Indoor Football
league from 2005-2007.
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
for sports, public events, and concerts. The arena was built in 1956. It seats up to 12,732 spectators and features four locker rooms and a press room.
The arena received a $16 million dollar upgrade in 1990. In 2007 the city of Evansville hired a professional consultant to examine whether the stadium should be renovated or replaced with a new downtown arena. In December 2008, the Evansville city council approved plans to construct the new arena, which is set to open in fall of 2011 as the Ford Center.
It is co-managed with Mesker Amphitheatre
Mesker Amphitheatre
Mesker Amphitheatre is a historic 8,500-seat amphitheater, located in Evansville, Indiana, United States. It contains 5,500 chairback seats and 3,000 lawn seats and is located at Mesker Park, near the Mesker Park Zoo....
, The Centre
The Centre (Evansville)
The Centre is a convention center and auditorium in Evansville, Indiana that consists of a 2,500-seat auditorium, a exhibit hall, ballroom, and 12 flexible meeting rooms....
, and Victory Theatre
Victory Theatre
The Victory Theatre is a 1,950 seat venue in Evansville, Indiana. It is home to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and also hosts local ballet and modern dance companies, theatre companies, and touring productions....
.
Sporting events
The sports arena seats 12,500 for basketball. It was the home of the University of EvansvilleUniversity of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
's Purple Aces basketball program from its opening in 1956 until the Aces moved downtown into the new Ford Center in 2011.
From 1957 to 1977, Roberts Stadium served as the host site for the NCAA College Division (now referred to as Division II) Men's Basketball National Championship. It again hosted the "Elite 8" in 2002. In addition, it regularly hosts a variety of other sporting events, most notably the Great Lakes Valley Conference
Great Lakes Valley Conference
The Great Lakes Valley Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes at the NCAA's Division II level. Member institutions are located in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin....
(NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division II) men's and women's basketball tournaments in early March of every year. It also hosted the 1980 and 1983 Midwestern City Conference
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
(now Horizon League) men's basketball conference tournament.
Defunct professional teams
From 1984 to 1986, Roberts Stadium was home to the Evansville ThunderEvansville Thunder
The Evansville Thunder were a professional basketball team who played in Evansville, Indiana from 1984 to 1986. The team was a member of the Continental Basketball Association and played at Roberts Municipal Stadium...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, who were coached in 1984 by Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Coach, and University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
alumni Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
.
From 2003 to 2007 Roberts was also home to the Evansville BlueCats
Evansville BlueCats
The Evansville BlueCats were a professional indoor football team. They were a member of the United Indoor Football Association . 2007 was the 5th and final season for the Evansville BlueCats, based in Evansville, Indiana.-Location:...
of the National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, af2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL...
from 2003–2005 and the United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football was a United States indoor football league that started in 2005. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion and two from arenafootball2 took their franchises and formed their own league...
league from 2005-2007.