The CU Events Center is an 11,064-seat multi-purpose arena in the Western United States, on the main campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Opened 45 years ago in 1979, it is home to the Colorado Buffaloes men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball of the Big 12 Conference. The playing surface is named the Sox Walseth Court in honor of the former Buffaloes men's and women's basketball head coach.[5]
"The Keg" | |
 | |
  CU Events Center Location in Colorado  CU Events Center Location in the United States | |
| Former names | Coors Events Center (2008–2018); Coors Events/Conference Center (1990–2008); CU Events/Conference Center (1979–1990) |
|---|---|
| Location | 950 Regent Drive[1] Boulder, Colorado, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°00′17″N 105°15′38″W / 40.0047°N 105.2606°W |
| Owner | University of Colorado |
| Operator | University of Colorado |
| Capacity | 11,064 |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 1977 |
| Opened | November 8, 1979 45 years ago |
| Construction cost | $7,579,756[2] ($31.8 million in 2023[3]) |
| Architect | Sink Combs Dethlefs |
| Structural engineer | John A. Martin & Associates[4] |
| Tenants | |
| Colorado Buffaloes (Basketball & Volleyball) | |
The building is an eight-sided concrete structure, with three levels: arena floor, service level, and the concourse level.[6] Single-tiered inside, it replaced Balch Fieldhouse, the current home of the indoor track and field team located directly adjacent to Folsom Field. The approximate elevation at street level is 5,400 feet (1,600 m) above sea level making it the college basketball arena with the 5th highest elevation in the country.[7]
History
editThe venue was initially called the CU Events/Conference Center and was renamed to the Coors Events/Conference Center in September 1990 after the Coors family, in recognition of a $5 million gift from the Adolph Coors Foundation.[6] In 2008 with the addition of the basketball offices to the building on the service level, the "Conference" was removed from the name as there were no longer conference rooms in the building. Although the naming agreement with the Coors Foundation had long expired, the Coors name remained on the building until 2018, when it was renamed the CU Events Center. At the time, the CU athletic department announced it was actively seeking a new naming rights partner.[8]
On December 9, 1981, the Grateful Dead played their last Boulder show at the then-named "CUC."
It is the highest indoor arena in the Big XII Conference, approximately 600 feet (180 m) above the Huntsman Center at Utah. It is one of only two basketball arenas in a major conference that uses roof-mounted retractable goals: the other arena that also is equipped with this style of basket is Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke.
Improvements
editThe most dramatic changes since the building was opened have come since 2008. After the 2007-08 basketball seasons, the CEC underwent a $200,000 "Floor Lift", in which a permanent maple surface with technology to reduce injuries and fatigue was installed.[6]
In April 2008, the men's and women's basketball offices were relocated to the CEC from Folsom Field second level where the conference rooms were previously located.
In the summer of 2010, two new video boards were installed in the southwest and northeast corners. Along with the new video boards and as part of the new practice facility, a new production suite was built for the department's BuffVision office. The production room controls the video boards at both the Coors Events Center and Folsom Field.
A new 44,000-square-foot (4,100 m2) practice facility was opened in August 2011 for volleyball and basketball. The building was just the second athletic facility in the nation and third on CU's campus to earn LEED Platinum Certification, the highest possible by the internationally recognized system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.[6]
In August 2013, a video room for the men's and women's basketball teams was opened for the first time, giving both teams additional meeting space and the ability to watch film more efficiently.
In February 2014, a new weight room was finished in the remaining space on the second level where the conference rooms were once located, adjacent to the basketball offices that were relocated in 2008.
In August 2017, a new high-definition video and scoreboard was installed at the center of the ceiling of the CEC. The scoreboard has shown a live feed of games as well as statistics and replays.[9][10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Facilities".
- ^ "2011-2012 Colorado Buffaloes Women's Basketball Info Guide" (PDF). Colorado Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-13. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Entertainment". John A. Martin & Associates. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
- ^ Rogers, Max (June 4, 2012). "Pac-12 Basketball: Colorado Buffaloes Auctioning off Walseth Basketball Court". Bleacher Report.
- ^ a b c d "Coors Events Center History"
- ^ "Against Colorado, Vols ready to 'see what we're about' in first road game". 247sports.com.
- ^ Howell, Brian (April 18, 2018). "CU Buffs nearing removal of Coors name from events center". Boulder Daily Camera. Boulder, CO. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ Snyder, Curtis (May 15, 2017). "Coors Events Center To Get Center-Hung Scoreboard". University of Colorado Athletics.
- ^ Rooney, Pat (August 19, 2017). "New central video screens unveiled at Coors Events Center". BuffZone. MediaNews Group.