Premier America Credit Union Arena, formerly Matador Gymnasium, and formerly known by its nickname the Matadome, is a 2,500 seat, indoor
multi-purpose stadium
A multi-purpose stadium is a type of stadium designed to be easily used by multiple types of events. While any stadium could potentially host more than one type of sport or event, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy tha ...
on the campus of
California State University, Northridge in
Northridge,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
. The Matadome was renovated in 2014. With the renovation, the arena now has a capacity of 2,500.
History and renovations
The Matadome, unlike many other traditional stadia, is located within
Redwood Hall, which hosts many
kinesiology
Kinesiology () is the scientific study of human body movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, anatomical, biomechanical, pathological, neuropsychological principles and mechanisms of movement. Applications of kinesiology to human healt ...
classes for Cal State Northridge. Contrary to the name, Redwood Hall, and by default the Matadome, is not a
dome at all – the roof is flat. The Matadome was completed in 1962 and was officially opened on 30 November of the same year. It got its name in the early 1980s, when Lisa Nehus Saxon, a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News, playfully used the term in a game story.
The capacity of the Matadome has changed throughout the years. Before the
1994 Northridge earthquake
The 1994 Northridge earthquake was a moment 6.7 (), blind thrust earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 4:30:55 a.m. PST in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles.
The quake had a duration of approximately 1 ...
, the Matadome had a capacity of over 3,000. The record attendance was 3,106 for a
United States men's national volleyball team
The United States men's national volleyball team represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches. The team is governed by USA Volleyball.
The team has won five Olympic medals, including three gold.
History
As the birth ...
exhibition against
Japan men's national volleyball team
The Japan men's national volleyball team ( ja, 男子バレーボール日本代表) represents Japan in international volleyball competitions and friendly matches, governed by Japan Volleyball Association. Their nickname is "''RYUJIN NIPPON ( ...
set on 2 November 1990, which was prior to the earthquake. After the earthquake, the upper section seats were removed to create more classroom space for Redwood Hall, and walls were put up to separate the Matadome from these new classrooms.
Other renovations include the installation of a completely new floor in 1996 (with a redesigning in 2001), a drop-down scoreboard above half court in 1997, and chair-backed bleacher seats in 1998.
In 2014, the Matadome was renovated and seating capacity was increased to 2,400-seats. The seats were previously lost due to the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Pre-2014 renovation negative views
Despite all of these recent additions and renovations, the Matadome is still seen as a sub-standard arena. Players and coaches alike have spoken out about the gym, citing:
In an editorial for the
Los Angeles Daily News, Jill Painter described the Matadome as "...the Kinesiology building with a basketball court inside...". Not surprisingly, the head coach for the men's basketball team believes the Matadome may hinder Northridge's athletic programs.
On March 23, 2022, the school announced a new partnership with
Premier America Credit Union, with the arena being renamed the Premier America Credit Union Arena.
Tenants
Before the Matadome opened, the
Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball
The Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball team is the men's college basketball program representing California State University, Northridge. The team currently competes in the Big West Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The Matadors' ...
team played their home games at nearby
Granada Hills Charter High School
Granada Hills Charter (often abbreviated to GHCHS/GHC or simply Granada) is an independent charter school consisting of over 4,600 students in grades K–12, located in the Granada Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It i ...
. They've played at the Matadome since its opening in 1962 and has been joined by the women's basketball team, as well as the men's and women's volleyball teams.
In addition to Northridge athletics, the Matadome has also hosted the 2001
Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament
The Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big Sky Conference. The event has been held annually since 1976, the conference's thirteenth year.
The tournament winner earn ...
.
For non-athletic events, the Matadome has been used as a setting for
The Karate Kid
''The Karate Kid'' is a 1984 American martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen. It is the first installment in the ''Karate Kid'' franchise, and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue an ...
(1984) and
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
''National Lampoon's Van Wilder'' (released internationally as ''Van Wilder: Party Liaison'' and ''Party Animals'') is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Walt Becker and written by Brent Goldberg and David T. Wagner.
The film stars Ryan R ...
(2002).
Gallery
File:Matadome (CSUN).jpg, Matadome entrance
File:Matadomein.JPG, Matadome interior
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
{{Big West Conference basketball venue navbox
College basketball venues in the United States
College volleyball venues in the United States
Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball
Cal State Northridge Matadors women's basketball
Cal State Northridge Matadors men's volleyball
Basketball venues in Los Angeles
Indoor arenas in Los Angeles
Volleyball venues in Los Angeles
Northridge, Los Angeles
Sports venues completed in 1962
1962 establishments in California