Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose
arena
An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...
in
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
, in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
. It is home to the
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a Public university#United States, public List of research universities in the United States, research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Developed from an academic extension center established i ...
(UAB)
Blazers men's and women's
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
teams as well as the women's
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
team. The arena is named after
Gene Bartow
Bobby Gene Bartow (August 18, 1930 January 3, 2012) was an American men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years. In 1972 Bartow coac ...
, the coach who built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the
Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex (formerly known as Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center) is a sports, convention and entertainment complex located in Birmingham, Alabama. The Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham are located on t ...
Arena, now known as
Legacy Arena
Legacy Arena (formerly known as the BJCC Coliseum and the BJCC Arena) is an arena located at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama. The arena seats 17,654 for sporting events, 19,000 for concerts and 8,000 in a the ...
, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.
History
Between 1978 and 1988, the Blazers played their home games at the off-campus
Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex (formerly known as Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center) is a sports, convention and entertainment complex located in Birmingham, Alabama. The Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham are located on t ...
Arena, located just north of downtown Birmingham.
On December 3, 1988, the men's team defeated
Vanderbilt 76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena.
Following the retirement of
Gene Bartow
Bobby Gene Bartow (August 18, 1930 January 3, 2012) was an American men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years. In 1972 Bartow coac ...
in December 1996, the
University of Alabama Board of Trustees voted to officially change the name of UAB Arena to Bartow Arena.
Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rival
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
51–48.
Currently playing as a member of
Conference USA, UAB has won more than 80 percent of its games played there.
[ The record attendance for Bartow Arena was set on February 16, 2008, against Memphis with an announced crowd of 9,392.][
]
Attendance records
Venue Events
Bartow Arena serves as primary home to the UAB men's and women's basketball teams as well as women's volleyball. In addition, Bartow Arena has served as home to UAB graduation ceremonies and a number of other UAB sponsored concerts and activities.
In 1996, Bartow Arena served as host to the CUSA Women's Basketball Tournament. Additionally, the arena has been host to the early rounds of the CUSA Women's Basketball Tournament in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
In 2015, Bartow Arena hosted the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between Deontay Wilder and Eric Molina
The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization).
The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...
.
Gallery
See also
* List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby uni ...
References
{{Conference USA basketball venue navbox
College basketball venues in the United States
Sports venues in Birmingham, Alabama
Basketball venues in Alabama
UAB Blazers basketball venues
1988 establishments in Alabama
Sports venues completed in 1988
College volleyball venues in the United States