The Covelli Center is a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Ohio State University in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

. The 3,700-seat facility is situated at 2640 Fred Taylor Drive, the area provides a home to seven varsity sports teams. The building is attached the Jennings Wrestling Practice Facility.

About

The facility was opened on June 4, 2019, and serves as the home to the fencing, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and

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 ...

, and wrestling programs. The site also occasionally serves as a venue for the

women's basketball Women's basketball is the team sport of basketball played by women. It began being played in 1892, one year after men's basketball, at Smith College in Massachusetts. It spread across the United States, in large part via women's college compet ...

team. This state-of-the-art arena is able to be configured to accommodate several athletic events and includes 10 locker rooms, seven coach's offices as well as athletic training and meeting spaces. Construction of the arena began in September 2017 and was originally slated to open in 2018, but was delayed until June 2019. According to Ohio State, the facility hosted 158 student-athletes, 58 competitions and around 1,500 youth campers in its first year.

Plans

The building was originally intended to replace the aging St. John Arena, which was built in 1956. After a public outcry, university officials changed the plan and built it in its current location. However, with the new location, 50 graduate-student apartments were torn down in Buckeye Village. Additionally, it raised the cost from an estimated $30 million to nearly $50 million.

Naming

The facility was named after Sam Covelli after he and his wife Caryn donated $10 million towards the project. Covelli is the founder and president of Covelli Enterprises, which is the largest Panera Bread franchisee. The remaining costs for the project were raised through private donors.

Tenants

Women's basketball Women's basketball is the team sport of basketball played by women. It began being played in 1892, one year after men's basketball, at Smith College in Massachusetts. It spread across the United States, in large part via women's college compet ...

– Hosting select games at the Covelli Center * Fencing * Men's and women's volleyball – Practice and match facility for both teams * Men's and women's gymnastics – Meet facility * Wrestling – Meet facility

References

External links

* * http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/nov/25/covelli-enters-osu-donation-record-book/?newswatch * http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/genrel/112112aaa.html Ohio State University College gymnastics venues in the United States College volleyball venues in the United States College wrestling venues in the United States Basketball venues in Columbus, Ohio Ohio State Buckeyes basketball venues Ohio State Buckeyes men's gymnastics venues Ohio State Buckeyes women's gymnastics venues Ohio State Buckeyes men's volleyball venues Ohio State Buckeyes women's volleyball venues Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling venues Sports venues in Columbus, Ohio Indoor arenas in Columbus, Ohio University District (Columbus, Ohio) {{ColumbusOH-sports-venue-stub