Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...

, 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 so ...

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

. It is home to the

University of Alabama at Birmingham The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1969 and part of the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state's largest employer, with more than ...

(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 (appro ...

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, 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 an entertainment, sports, and convention complex located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama's Uptown Entertainment District. The Sheraton Birm ...

Arena, now known as Legacy Arena, 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

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 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 51–48. Currently playing as a member of the

American Athletic Conference The American Athletic Conference (AAC), also known as The American, is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States, featuring 13 full member universities and 6 affiliate member universities that compete in t ...

, 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. At the conclusion of the 2010–11 season, the UAB men's team has an all-time record of 277 victories and 59 losses at Bartow, giving the program an all-time winning percentage of .

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.

Gallery

References

{{American Athletic Conference basketball venue navbox Sports venues in Birmingham, Alabama UAB Blazers basketball venues 1988 establishments in Alabama Sports venues completed in 1988 College volleyball venues in the United States

History

Attendance records

Venue Events

Gallery

See also

References