A. J. Palumbo Center
Encyclopedia
A. J. Palumbo Center is a 4,406-seat multi-purpose arena
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The arena opened in 1988, and is part of Duquesne University
. It is home to the Duquesne Dukes basketball
, volleyball
and wrestling
programs. The center hosts concerts, boxing, and other special events, and is capable of converting the seating arrangement into a sport, stage, or theatre setup. The facility was named in honor of its benefactor, Antonio J. Palumbo, who was elected to the Duquesne University board of directors and, in 1987, received an honorary doctorate of Business and Administration from Duquesne. Performance Magazine, a concert trade magazine, has consistently ranked the Palumbo Center as one of the top 10 grossing arenas of its size since its opening in 1988.
The center houses the administrative offices for the athletic department and facility management. The center is also open to intramural sports and other recreation groups, however, in 2007, Duquesne University completed a new five story recreational facility on Forbes Ave near the A.J. Pablumbo Center, which has now become the primary facility for recreational sports and activities.
After the 2009-2010 basketball season, Duquesne University began major renovations on the Palumbo Center. A new center-hung scoreboard was installed as well as new corner scoreboards. In addition, current bleacher seating on the north end of the arena was replaced with permanent stadium chairs. The University also received $1.8 million in private donations to upgrade the locker-rooms for the men's and women's basketball teams and the volleyball team. It will be called the James and Janice Schaming Athletic Center, named after the largest donor. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10356/1112497-135.stm
(their exclusive home from 1964 to 1988, and used for occasional big games until 2009), Fitzgerald Field House
, and Duquesne Gardens
, as well as several high school gymnasiums. The first men’s basketball game was played in the arena on December 3, 1988, in which Duquesne defeated St. Joseph’s 73-69. As of January 2008, Duquesne men’s basketball had 132-125 (.514) all-time record at the Palumbo Center. http://gwsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012508aab.html The facility is used for most major sports at Duquesne, and has played host to NIT
games, WNIT
games, highschool post season championships, national wrestling championships, and Atlantic 10 tournament competitions. The new CONSOL Energy Center is now the home to the annual Pitt Panthers-Duquesne Dukes City Game
http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/dukes-blog/6888-qaa-submissions-120209-future-site-of-the-city-game- as well as basketball games of regional interest, such as a mens' game played on December 12, 2010 between the West Virginia Mountaineers
and Duquesne. http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/dukes-blog?start=5.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The arena opened in 1988, and is part of Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
. It is home to the Duquesne Dukes basketball
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball
The Duquesne Dukes represent Duquesne University in college basketball. The team, which started in 1914, has only ever played in NCAA Division I and has had five appearances in the NCAA Tournament...
, volleyball
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.The complete rules are extensive...
and wrestling
Collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...
programs. The center hosts concerts, boxing, and other special events, and is capable of converting the seating arrangement into a sport, stage, or theatre setup. The facility was named in honor of its benefactor, Antonio J. Palumbo, who was elected to the Duquesne University board of directors and, in 1987, received an honorary doctorate of Business and Administration from Duquesne. Performance Magazine, a concert trade magazine, has consistently ranked the Palumbo Center as one of the top 10 grossing arenas of its size since its opening in 1988.
Facilities
In 2006, the Palumbo Center underwent major renovations. In addition to resurfacing the basketball court, upgrading video monitors, and replacing some seating sections, the facility was updated and renovated to include:- New men’s and women’s basketball staff offices
- Recruiting suite
- Video breakdown room
- Strength and conditioning facilities
- Athletic trainer facilities
The center houses the administrative offices for the athletic department and facility management. The center is also open to intramural sports and other recreation groups, however, in 2007, Duquesne University completed a new five story recreational facility on Forbes Ave near the A.J. Pablumbo Center, which has now become the primary facility for recreational sports and activities.
After the 2009-2010 basketball season, Duquesne University began major renovations on the Palumbo Center. A new center-hung scoreboard was installed as well as new corner scoreboards. In addition, current bleacher seating on the north end of the arena was replaced with permanent stadium chairs. The University also received $1.8 million in private donations to upgrade the locker-rooms for the men's and women's basketball teams and the volleyball team. It will be called the James and Janice Schaming Athletic Center, named after the largest donor. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10356/1112497-135.stm
Sports
Prior to the building of the facility, the men's basketball team played games at various sites around the city, including Pittsburgh Civic ArenaMellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
(their exclusive home from 1964 to 1988, and used for occasional big games until 2009), Fitzgerald Field House
Fitzgerald Field House
Fitzgerald Field House is a 4,122-seat multi-purpose athletic venue on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Fitzgerald Field House is named for Rufus Fitzgerald, a past chancellor of the university....
, and Duquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens was the main sports arena located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA during the first half of the 20th century. It opened 3 years after a fire destroyed the city's prior sports arena, the Schenley Park Casino, in 1896. The arena was the first hockey rink to use glass above the dasher...
, as well as several high school gymnasiums. The first men’s basketball game was played in the arena on December 3, 1988, in which Duquesne defeated St. Joseph’s 73-69. As of January 2008, Duquesne men’s basketball had 132-125 (.514) all-time record at the Palumbo Center. http://gwsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012508aab.html The facility is used for most major sports at Duquesne, and has played host to NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
games, WNIT
Women's National Invitation Tournament
The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...
games, highschool post season championships, national wrestling championships, and Atlantic 10 tournament competitions. The new CONSOL Energy Center is now the home to the annual Pitt Panthers-Duquesne Dukes City Game
City Game
The City Game is an annual college basketball game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duquesne University Dukes. The term "City Game" is also used refer to women's basketball games played annually between the two universities and may also be used to refer to other athletic...
http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/dukes-blog/6888-qaa-submissions-120209-future-site-of-the-city-game- as well as basketball games of regional interest, such as a mens' game played on December 12, 2010 between the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
and Duquesne. http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/dukes-blog?start=5.