Smith Spectrum
Encyclopedia
The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum is a 10,270-seat multi-purpose arena
on the campus of Utah State University
in Logan, Utah
. It is best known for being the home of the Utah State Aggies men's basketball
team. It also hosts the women's team as well as gymnastics, volleyball, and other sporting events.
In addition to sporting events, the Smith Spectrum is utilized for concerts, commencement ceremonies, the Festival of the American West, and other special events central to the Cache Valley
community. It also houses the USU Athletics Department Offices and the USU Ticket Office.
The arena, originally known as the Assembly Center, opened for its first basketball game on December 1, 1970. It became known as the Spectrum within the next year, and was named for Dee Glen Smith, founder of Smith's Food and Drug
.
The team's most recent successes are even more impressive. Over the last 11 years since Stew Morrill
has been head coach, Utah State has amassed a record of 159-12 (.930) overall. In that same time period, the Aggies are 84-8 (.913) against league opponents and 75-4 (.949) in non-conference games. A frenzied student section and loyal fan base from the Cache Valley
region create a level of noise that is widely credited in the team's incredible home court advantage. Boasting one of the greatest organized efforts in College Basketball, the Spectrum repeatedly draws comments as one of the toughest venues in the west. At the end of the 2008-09 season, Utah State held the second-longest home winning streak in the NCAA, having won 34 straight home games. The Aggies finished the 2007-08 season as well as the 2008-09 season with undefeated marks at home.
Large crowds are another characteristic of the arena, as the Aggies have averaged better than 7,000 fans per game in 35 of their 39 seasons in the Smith Spectrum, and have averaged better than 8,500 fans per game over the past two seasons (2007–09).
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...
on the campus of Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
. It is best known for being the home of the Utah State Aggies men's basketball
Utah State Aggies men's basketball
The Utah State Aggies are a Division I men's college basketball team that plays in the Western Athletic Conference, representing Utah State University. The Aggies have enjoyed an extremely high amount of success in recent years under head coach Stew Morrill...
team. It also hosts the women's team as well as gymnastics, volleyball, and other sporting events.
In addition to sporting events, the Smith Spectrum is utilized for concerts, commencement ceremonies, the Festival of the American West, and other special events central to the Cache Valley
Cache Valley
The Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.-History:...
community. It also houses the USU Athletics Department Offices and the USU Ticket Office.
The arena, originally known as the Assembly Center, opened for its first basketball game on December 1, 1970. It became known as the Spectrum within the next year, and was named for Dee Glen Smith, founder of Smith's Food and Drug
Smith's Food and Drug
Smith's Food and Drug, commonly known as Smith's, is a chain of supermarkets in the Intermountain West and Southwest regions of the United States. Smith's operates 132 stores in Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Smith's utilizes a combination food and drug center...
.
USU men's basketball
The Smith Spectrum has gained a reputation as one of the nation's toughest venues for visiting men's basketball teams. In December 2005, the Utah State Aggies played their 500th game in the Spectrum. In those games, USU amassed a dominating record of 398 wins and 102 losses versus its competition.The team's most recent successes are even more impressive. Over the last 11 years since Stew Morrill
Stew Morrill
Stew Morrill is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the Utah State University men's basketball team. Morrill was an All-American at Ricks College and a two-time All-Big Sky selection for Gonzaga University...
has been head coach, Utah State has amassed a record of 159-12 (.930) overall. In that same time period, the Aggies are 84-8 (.913) against league opponents and 75-4 (.949) in non-conference games. A frenzied student section and loyal fan base from the Cache Valley
Cache Valley
The Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.-History:...
region create a level of noise that is widely credited in the team's incredible home court advantage. Boasting one of the greatest organized efforts in College Basketball, the Spectrum repeatedly draws comments as one of the toughest venues in the west. At the end of the 2008-09 season, Utah State held the second-longest home winning streak in the NCAA, having won 34 straight home games. The Aggies finished the 2007-08 season as well as the 2008-09 season with undefeated marks at home.
Large crowds are another characteristic of the arena, as the Aggies have averaged better than 7,000 fans per game in 35 of their 39 seasons in the Smith Spectrum, and have averaged better than 8,500 fans per game over the past two seasons (2007–09).