University Hall was an 8,457-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 ...

on the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...

Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia.The arena sat on the boundary between the City of Charlottesville and

Albemarle County Albemarle County is a county located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is Charlottesville, which is an independent city and enclave entirely surrounded by the county. Albemarle County is part of the Char ...

, which encloses but does not include the city. For more details, see UVa's "Building Category Map", which clearly shows the city-county boundary and University Hall on the boundary, downloadabl
here
The arena opened in 1965 as a replacement for Memorial Gym; it was demolished on May 25, 2019, with

Ralph Sampson Ralph Lee Sampson Jr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A phenom, three-time college national player of the year, and first overall selec ...

leading the demolition. Like many arenas built at the time, the arena was circular, with a ribbed concrete roof and blue and orange seats (the orange seats arranged in a "V" near the top of each section) that surrounded the arena. Unlike many other facilities, however, the floor was never lowered for additional seating around the court, which left large areas behind press row, the team benches, and the announcer's table empty during games. University Hall was replaced by the

John Paul Jones Arena John Paul Jones Arena, or JPJ, is a multi-purpose arena owned by the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Since November 2006, it serves as the home to the Virginia Cavaliers men's and women's basketball teams, as well as for con ...

as the home to the men's and women's basketball teams in 2006. UVa's athletic department held "final game" ceremonies for University Hall in connection with the men's basketball game against the

Maryland Terrapins The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 19 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divis ...

on March 5, 2006, which Maryland won 71–70. UVA legend

sank ceremonial "last baskets" at U-Hall, dunking twice during postgame festivities

However, the women's basketball team made the Women's National Invitational Tournament and played and won two WNIT games in University Hall.

Records

References

External links

"JPJ rocks: But what about ol UHall?"
article in The Hook weekly Buildings of the University of Virginia College volleyball venues in the United States College wrestling venues in the United States Basketball venues in Virginia Virginia Cavaliers basketball venues Defunct college basketball venues in the United States 1965 establishments in Virginia 2006 disestablishments in Virginia Sports venues demolished in 2019 Buildings and structures demolished by controlled implosion {{Virginia-university-stub