The Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center (formerly Half Acre Gym) is currently the recreation center for the

University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming (UW) is a public land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, and opened in September 1887. The University of Wyoming ...

. It was originally a 4,000-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 Laramie, 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 ...

Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the s ...

. It opened in 1928.

History

It was home to the

Cowboys A cowboy is a professional pastoralist or mounted livestock herder, usually from the Americas or Australia. Cowboy(s) or The Cowboy(s) may also refer to: Film and television * ''Cowboy'' (1958 film), starring Glenn Ford * ''Cowboy'' (1966 film), ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

team from 1928 until 1951 when it was replaced by the

War Memorial Fieldhouse War Memorial Fieldhouse is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Laramie, Wyoming. It opened in 1951 along with War Memorial Stadium. It currently hosts the school's wrestling and indoor track and field programs. It was home to the University of ...

. The size of the arena was about a half acre, hence its name. When it opened, it was one of the nation's largest indoor arenas. The venue is currently a recreation center on the campus of the

. In 2012, the university announced a $27 million renovation to begin in the Spring of 2013, and be completed by the Fall of 2014. The project was completed in two phases. Phase One would consist of the demolition and recreation of the east portion of the building, and Phase Two would include the reopening of the east portion, and the closure and construction of the west portion which is the historical section of the building. Throughout the renovation, the university hoped to keep and incorporate as much of the historical structure and facade as possible. The improvements, according to the University of Wyoming's web site, included elevators, added classrooms, a space for athletic training, new racquetball courts, a climbing wall for

bouldering Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help se ...

, a dance studio, athletics track, and new locker rooms with access to the pool.

Amenities

Aquatics

* Pool area

Corbett gym and pool

* Corbett gym – basketball/volleyball courts and badminton courts * Corbett pool – 25 yard by 25 meter L-shaped pool with a diving well

Historic gym

* basketball/volleyball courts * badminton courts

MAC gym

* basketball/volleyball courts * badminton courts * Indoor soccer/Futsal * racquetball courts with convertible squash court

Miscellaneous

*1/8 mile, four-lane track

References

External links

Arena informationVenue history
Basketball venues in Wyoming Buildings and structures in Laramie, Wyoming Defunct college basketball venues in the United States Indoor soccer venues in the United States Indoor track and field venues in Wyoming Soccer venues in Wyoming Sports venues completed in 1928 Swimming venues in Wyoming University and college student recreation centers in the United States Volleyball venues in Wyoming Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls basketball venues 1928 establishments in Wyoming {{Wyoming-sports-venue-stub