Home of
the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Mens and Womens basketball team,
Williams Arena is affectionately referred to
as “The Barn.”
Construction
of the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1928, when it was dedicated
as the University of Minnesota Field House. It cost 650,000 dollars and
initially had a seating capacity of 14,100 with bleacher and standing room
expansion to 16,000. The building features a barrel-vaulted roof, maximizing
the number of seats in the arena. The original building housed basketball and
winter football practice facilities.
The building
was remodeled in 1950 and renamed in honor of Dr. Henry L. Williams, U of M
football coach from 1900 to 1921; it was divided into a hockey arena on one end
and a basketball arena with a seating capacity of 18,025 on the other. From
1950 until 1971, it had the largest capacity of any collegiate basketball arena
in the country. The capacity has been reduced to 14,625 in recent years due to
renovation, fire-code restrictions and handicapped-seating construction.
Following
the 1991-92 season, the renovation of Williams Arena began as part of a 41
million dollar project for on-campus sports facilities. The first phase was
completed in time for the 1992-93 season opener. The Golden Gophers' locker
room, training room and weight facilities, not to mention spacious offices and
team meeting rooms are now state-of-the-art. The locker room was named in honor
of former Golden Gopher coach Ozzie Cowles through the more than $100,000 in
gifts from many of his former players.
The east
end addition is highlighted by the new Williams Arena Club on the third floor.
The Club overlooks the floor and can hold parties of up to 200 fans, adding
another touch of class to an already classy arena. The second phase of the
renovation project was completed during the summer of 1993. It included the
installation of theater-style seats, a new state-of-the-art, computerized
scoreboard system, the widening of concourse areas and the addition of both
concession areas and women's restrooms.
In the
summer of 1997, 21 barn lofts above the second deck were built. The lofts offer
a spectacular birds-eye view of the court with luxury amenities. The $2.3
million project added 304 seats to the capacity raising it to 14,625.
“The
Barn” is ranked in the top five of College Basketball Arenas in the country by
Inside Sports writers and it is one of just six 1920's era collegiate
basketball arenas still in use. The site of the 1951 NCAA Finals, "The
Barn" can be a frightening venue for opponents. The raised floor, one of
only a handful in the country, and the deafening roar of 14,000-plus fans
unquestionably has something to do with it.
A long
and illustrious list of college basketball’s greatest players have run the
Williams Arena hardwood through the years, and many memorable games have been
contested within its hallowed walls. The Gopher Mens Basketball team has a
winning percentage record in “The Barn” which makes this a hot ticket on the
University campus. The renovation project will keep the historic arena among
the finest in college basketball and enable that mystique to live on for many
years to come. Williams Arena is truly what college basketball is all about.
More competitive than the men?s team in recent years, the Minnesota Gophers women?s basketball team has been an enjoyable draw to Williams Arena. However, the men?s team is on the road to rebound, as they have brought in Tubby Smith as head coach of a team floundering near the bottom of the Big Ten. The Gophers hope Smith can make the team competitive again. Regardless, the Golden Gophers men?s basketball team always put on a good show in Williams Arena, as they often use the home-court advantage to its fullest extent to repress ranked opponents. Tickets for the Gophers always go fast because their student faithful enjoy watching them, so get your seats in Williams Arena now!
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