Harry A. Gampel Pavilion

Harry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs, Connecticut, United States, on the campus of the University of Connecticut (UConn). The arena opened on January 21, 1990,[1] and is the largest on-campus arena in New England. It was named after industrialist and 1943 UConn graduate Harry A. Gampel, a philanthropist who walked with Martin Luther King Jr., and who donated $1 million for the construction of the arena. It is about 216,000 sq ft (20,100 m2). Gampel Pavilion is the primary home to the UConn Huskies men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams.

Gampel Pavilion
"The College Basketball Capital of the World"
Location2095 Hillside Road
Storrs, Connecticut, United States 06269
Coordinates41°48′19.05″N 72°15′15.10″W
OwnerUniversity of Connecticut
OperatorUniversity of Connecticut
Capacity2002–present: 10,167
1996–2002: 10,027
1990–1996: 8,241[1]
Surface171,000 sq ft (15,900 m2)[1]
Construction
Broke groundSummer, 1987
OpenedJanuary 21, 1990[1]
ExpandedSummer 1996[1]
Construction cost$28 million[1]
($62.7 million in 2022 dollars[2])
ArchitectThe S/L/A/M Collaborative
Tenants
UConn Huskies (NCAA)
Men's basketball (1990–present)
Women's basketball (1990–present)
Women's volleyball (1990–present)

Since the late 1990s, the men's basketball team has played most of its more important games at the XL Center in Hartford. During the 201112 season, the men's basketball team played 11 home games in Hartford and only eight at Gampel.

The pavilion is the centerpiece of the UConn Sports Center, which also includes Wolff-Zackin Natatorium.

Construction

Gampel Pavilion replaced the Hugh S. Greer Field House, which still stands to the northwest of the pavilion but has a much smaller capacity (4,604). The facility has been expanded three times. As originally constructed, it seated 8,241. After the 199596 season, 1,900 seats were added around the entrances, increasing capacity to 10,027. A seating adjustment after the 200102 season added 140 more seats to result in the current capacity.

In the summer of 2017 a project began to replace the aging roof, which was completed in October 2017. During that time, the volleyball team played some of its fall home games in Greer Field House.[3]

First game

The first basketball game was played on January 27, 1990, between the then 20th-ranked Huskies and the 15th-ranked St. John's Redmen (now Red Storm). UConn won 7258.[4]

Home court advantage

Since 1990 through 2023 the Huskies men's basketball team has a 21841 record at Gampel Pavilion.[5]

YearRecord
1989–199050
1990–199172
1991–199261
1992–199352
1993–199470
1994–199551
1995–199660
1996–199762
1997–199860
1998–199961
1999–200052
2000–200181
2001–200260
2002–200352
2003–200480
2004–200561
2005–200660
2006–200772
2007–200880
2008–200970
2009–201081
2010–201152
2011–201252
2012–201361
2013–201472
2014–201544
2015–201681
2016–201743
2017–201872
2018–201981
2019–202081
2020–202173
2021–202280
2022–202381

Source: [5]

International basketball games

Date Opponent Result Home Game Type Attendance
November 5, 1995United States United States83-47UConn HuskiesExhibition8,241 [6]
November 2, 2007United States United States90-74UConn HuskiesExhibition- [7]

Banners

The banners for the men's and women's basketball teams have been taken down and in their place are now large boards on the walls listing the years the teams have made the NIT, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16, and Elite 8, along with their Big East Regular Season and Tournament Championships. The National Championship Banners and NIT Championship Banners have been replaced with newer versions, along with banners commemorating Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma's Hall of Fame inductions.

Located throughout the concourse of Gampel Pavilion are plaques recognizing the Huskies of Honor, a recognition program that began in 2006 and honors the most significant figures in the history of the UConn basketball programs.

See also

References

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