Joseph J. Gentile Arena
The Joseph J. Gentile Arena, formerly known as the Joseph J. Gentile Center or "The Joe", is a 4,486-seat[1] multi-purpose arena on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. The arena opened in 1996. It is the home of the Loyola Ramblers men's and women's basketball programs. Renovations at the facility began in the summer of 2011.[2]
Former names | Joseph J. Gentile Center (1996–2011) |
---|---|
Location | 6525 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626 |
Coordinates | 42°0′2″N 87°39′32″W |
Owner | Loyola University Chicago |
Operator | Loyola University Chicago |
Capacity | 4,963 |
Surface | Hardwood |
Construction | |
Opened | 1996 |
Renovated | 2011 |
Architect | Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz and Associates Inc. |
Tenants | |
Loyola Ramblers (NCAA) Men's basketball (1996–present) Women's basketball (1996–present) Women's volleyball (2012–present) men's volleyball (2012–present) | |
Website | |
loyolaramblers |
On March 3, 2011, the $26 million Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics opened adjacent to the Gentile Arena. The Norville Center houses the university's athletic training facilities, locker rooms, as well as the offices of the athletic department that were formerly housed in Alumni Gym.[3]
The Gentile Center was the site of the 1999 Midwestern Collegiate Conference NCAA women's volleyball tournament.
The Gentile Center was also the site of the 2014 NCAA Men's Collegiate Volleyball Championships on May 1 and May 3, 2014.
Joe Gentile was a Chicago area car dealer who donated money to the university for the arena.[4][5]
References
- "Loyola University Chicago Men's Basketball 2011-12 Quick Facts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- "Phase Two: Gentile Center".
- "THE NORVILLE CENTER FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS".
- Ginnetti, Tony (October 10, 2011). "Joe Gentile, gave $3.5M to help Loyola build campus arena, dies". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2011-10-13.
- Culpepper, Chuck (March 21, 2018). "Take a tour of Loyola Chicago, which wasn't a sports school until last week". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-03-23.