University of Dayton Arena
Encyclopedia
University of Dayton Arena is a 13,455-seat multi-purpose arena
in Dayton, Ohio
. The arena opened in 1969. It is home to the University of Dayton Flyers basketball teams.
Since 2001, the facility has hosted the annual "play-in" game
in the NCAA men's basketball tournament (officially the "opening round" game) which features the teams rated 64th and 65th in the tournament field. The playing court is known as Blackburn Court, named after historic UD coach Tom Blackburn. The Donoher Center expansion on the southwest corner of the Arena was completed in 1998. Named for former Flyers
basketball coach Don Donoher
, the Center provides an NBA-caliber facility for conditioning and game preparation. The arena was extensively renovated during the summer of 2002. The additions include new and expanded concession areas, luxury boxes, disabled access improvements, and a restaurant/bar named the Time-Warner Flight Deck. Because of this, the venue was awarded the 2003 and 2004 Atlantic Ten Conference
men's basketball tournaments. In 2010, four new videoscreens by Daktronics
were installed, one in each of the arena's four corners.
The Arena has been hailed by sportscasters and opponent coaches alike as one of the greatest venues in college basketball. Since its opening in 1969, over 14 million visitors have witnessed events at the Arena. In 2002, the Arena was the site of the first ever high-definition television (HDTV
) broadcast for ESPN
.
(now Horizon League) men's basketball conference tournament from 1989-91 and was the host of the Atlantic Ten Basketball tournament in 2003 and 2004. The Arena is scheduled to host the Opening Round game through 2010, and will be a regional venue for the women's tournament in 2010.
The University of Dayton Arena will host first- and second-round games of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament as well as the opening-round game of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 tournaments. UD Arena has hosted 83 games in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament over its history, tying with Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium as the host of the most NCAA Men's Tournament games.
, and as a result it is often a regular stop for concert tours. Elton John
, Aerosmith
, Rush
, Bob Seger
, George Strait
, Kenny Chesney
, Usher
, and other performers have performed at this arena. The arena's location near downtown Dayton makes it a regular stop for WWE Wrestling.
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 Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. The arena opened in 1969. It is home to the University of Dayton Flyers basketball teams.
Since 2001, the facility has hosted the annual "play-in" game
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Play-In Game
The Opening Round game, of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship was the first official game of the tournament, played between two of the lowest-seeded teams to qualify for an automatic bid to the tournament...
in the NCAA men's basketball tournament (officially the "opening round" game) which features the teams rated 64th and 65th in the tournament field. The playing court is known as Blackburn Court, named after historic UD coach Tom Blackburn. The Donoher Center expansion on the southwest corner of the Arena was completed in 1998. Named for former Flyers
Dayton Flyers
The Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight...
basketball coach Don Donoher
Don Donoher
Donald Donoher was head basketball coach at the University of Dayton, in Dayton, Ohio, USA, from 1964 until 1989.-Early years:...
, the Center provides an NBA-caliber facility for conditioning and game preparation. The arena was extensively renovated during the summer of 2002. The additions include new and expanded concession areas, luxury boxes, disabled access improvements, and a restaurant/bar named the Time-Warner Flight Deck. Because of this, the venue was awarded the 2003 and 2004 Atlantic Ten Conference
Atlantic Ten Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference is a college athletic conference which operates mostly on the United States' eastern seaboard. It also has two member schools in Ohio: Dayton and Xavier, located in Dayton and Cincinnati, respectively. Another member, Saint Louis is located in St. Louis, Missouri...
men's basketball tournaments. In 2010, four new videoscreens by Daktronics
Daktronics
Daktronics is an American company based in Brookings, South Dakota that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video board, scoreboards, digital billboards and related products. The company is best known for its electronic LED displays...
were installed, one in each of the arena's four corners.
The Arena has been hailed by sportscasters and opponent coaches alike as one of the greatest venues in college basketball. Since its opening in 1969, over 14 million visitors have witnessed events at the Arena. In 2002, the Arena was the site of the first ever high-definition television (HDTV
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
) broadcast for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Arena Attendance
As of 2010, the University of Dayton has ranked in the top 25 in the nation for attendance at the arena 18 times. 10th during 1972, 1974. 17th during 1978. 18th during 2005. 20th during 1979, 1987. 21st during 1985, 1986. 22nd during 1980. 23rd during 2002, 2006. 24th during 1988, 2000, 2001, 2003. 25th during 1981, 1984, 2004.NCAA basketball tournament hosting
Along with its hosting duties for the NCAA Tournament "play-in" game, the UD Arena also served as the host of the Midwestern Collegiate ConferenceHorizon 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 from 1989-91 and was the host of the Atlantic Ten Basketball tournament in 2003 and 2004. The Arena is scheduled to host the Opening Round game through 2010, and will be a regional venue for the women's tournament in 2010.
The University of Dayton Arena will host first- and second-round games of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament as well as the opening-round game of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 tournaments. UD Arena has hosted 83 games in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament over its history, tying with Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium as the host of the most NCAA Men's Tournament games.
Other events
The University of Dayton Arena is the largest indoor arena between Cincinnati and Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and as a result it is often a regular stop for concert tours. Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
, George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
, Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
, and other performers have performed at this arena. The arena's location near downtown Dayton makes it a regular stop for WWE Wrestling.