University Arena (Western Michigan University)

University Arena
Construction

Former names	Read Fieldhouse (1957–1994)
Location	Kalamazoo, Michigan
Coordinates	42°17′00″N 85°36′30″W / 42.283372°N 85.60845°W / 42.283372; -85.60845
Owner	Western Michigan University
Operator	Western Michigan University
Capacity	5,421
Opened	1957
Renovated	1994
Tenants
Western Michigan Broncos (NCAA) Men's basketball (1957–present) Women's basketball (1973–present) Women's gymnastics (1975–present) Women's indoor track and field (1978–present) Women's volleyball (1977–present)
Website
Official site

University Arena is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Located in Read Fieldhouse, the arena opened in 1957 and is home to multiple Western Michigan Broncos athletic teams, including men's and women's basketball, women's gymnastics, women's indoor track and field, and women's volleyball. The facility seats 5,421 people. Read Fieldhouse was named for Buck Read, WMU head men's basketball coach from 1922 to 1949.^[1]

In 1994, University Arena went through a major renovation, adding 20,900 square feet (1,940 m²) to bring the total to 114,900 square feet (10,670 m²). The renovation included rotating the playing surface 90 degrees and reducing the seating capacity from over 10,000 to 5,421.

Before the basketball team moved into Read Fieldhouse, WMU played at Oakland Gymnasium from the 1938–39 season through the 1956–57 season.^[2]

In addition to hosting WMU basketball games, the arena also hosts high school basketball games between Kalamazoo Central and Kalamazoo Loy Norrix high schools twice a year as a neutral site.

The Zoo

[edit]

University Arena is home to The Zoo, Western Michigan's student section for basketball games. Formerly known as the Bronco Brigade, The Zoo was formed in 2003 and officially named in 2004.

References

[edit]

^ "Official Site of Western Michigan Athletics". www.wmubroncos.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
^ "Men's Basketball Records - Home Records". Western Michigan University. October 8, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2014.

v t e Western Michigan University
Located in: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Academics	Haworth College of Business International Congress on Medieval Studies New Issues Poetry & Prose Paper engineering Stryker School of Medicine Sunseeker
Athletics	Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Broncos Buster Bronco Central Collegiate Hockey Association Ebert Field Football Hyames Field Ice hockey Kanley Track Lawson Arena Michigan MAC Trophy Mid-American Conference Seelye Athletic Center Men's soccer University Arena Waldo Stadium WMU Soccer Complex CMU–WMU Rivalry Trophy
Campus	East Campus Miller Auditorium Oakland Drive Campus Western State Normal Railroad
People	Alumni Faculty Head basketball coaches Head football coaches University presidents
Student life	Western Herald WIDR WKDS WMUK
Founded: 1903 Students: 23,914 Endowment: 330 million

v t e Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball
Venues	East Hall gymnasium (1913–1938) Oakland Gymnasium (1938–1957) Read Fieldhouse (1957–1992) Lawson Arena (1992–1994) University Arena (1994–present)
Rivalries	In-state MAC schools
Culture & lore	Buster Bronco The Zoo
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Western Michigan Broncos women's basketball
Venues	Read Fieldhouse (1967–1992) Lawson Arena (1992–1994) University Arena (1994–present)
Rivalries	In-state MAC schools
Culture and lore	Buster Bronco The Zoo
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

Basketball arenas of the Mid-American Conference

Rhodes Arena (Akron)
Worthen Arena (Ball State)
Stroh Center (Bowling Green)
Alumni Arena (Buffalo)
McGuirk Arena (Central Michigan)
George Gervin GameAbove Center (Eastern Michigan)
Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (Kent State)
Millett Hall (Miami)
Convocation Center (Northern Illinois)
Convocation Center (Ohio)
Savage Arena (Toledo)
University Arena (Western Michigan)

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The Zoo

See also

References