Anderson Arena
Encyclopedia
Anderson Arena is a 4,700-seat indoor arena that sits in Memorial Hall on the campus of Bowling Green State University
in Bowling Green, Ohio
and is currently home to the Bowling Green Falcons
women's gymnastics team. The arena, which opened in 1960, served as the home arena for Bowling Green's men's
and women's basketball
teams and women's volleyball team, until 2011. Following their season finales in 2010 and 2011, the men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team moved into the newly built Stroh Center
on the east side of the campus.
The arena is named after Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Harold Anderson
, who coached Bowling Green's men's basketball team from 1942–63, leading the Falcons to three NCAA tournament appearances. Anderson Arena played host to the championship game of the 1983 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, in which Bowling Green lost 59–56 to Ohio
. The arena also hosted first round games for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament in 1989, 1993 and 1994. Anderson Arena was also notable for its final center-hung scoreboard, a All-American scoreboard which was originally at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
and was moved to Anderson in the late 1980s.
After almost five decades serving Bowling Green State University, problems arose with the arena including the lack of adequate restroom and concession facilities, poor acoustics for concerts, negative impact on athletic recruitment and, most severely, failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Bowling Green men's basketball team won their final regular season game at Anderson Arena, defeating Buffalo
73–63. During the halftime of the game a ceremony named Closing the Doors At the House That Roars was held that included former Bowling Green Falcons basketball stars, most notably Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond
, university president Dr. Carol A. Cartwright and Ellen Anderson, the daughter of former coach and arena namesake Harold Anderson. The ceremony included a video tribute and a few speeches were given reminiscing the history of the arena.
The final commencement ceremonies at the Anderson Arena occurred on May 6–7, 2011 with 1,958 undergraduate and graduate students receiving their diplomas in four ceremonies over the two days.
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
in Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
and is currently home to the Bowling Green Falcons
Bowling Green Falcons
The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Bowling Green State University, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the...
women's gymnastics team. The arena, which opened in 1960, served as the home arena for Bowling Green's men's
Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball
The Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball team is the basketball team that represent Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1968...
and women's basketball
Bowling Green Falcons women's basketball
The Bowling Green Falcons women's basketball team is the NCAA Division I women's basketball team that represents Bowling Green State University. The team plays at the 4,700-seat Anderson Arena on the BGSU campus in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons are scheduled to move into the new 5,000-seat Stroh...
teams and women's volleyball team, until 2011. Following their season finales in 2010 and 2011, the men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team moved into the newly built Stroh Center
Stroh Center
The Stroh Center is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio that is currently under construction and will open September 2011...
on the east side of the campus.
History
Harold Anderson
W. Harold Anderson was a college men's basketball coach at Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo. As a player, he played at Otterbein College, a small liberal arts college outside of Columbus, Ohio. As a coach, he was one of the first to win more than 500 games on the...
, who coached Bowling Green's men's basketball team from 1942–63, leading the Falcons to three NCAA tournament appearances. Anderson Arena played host to the championship game of the 1983 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, in which Bowling Green lost 59–56 to Ohio
Ohio Bobcats men's basketball
The Ohio Bobcats men’s basketball team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 level...
. The arena also hosted first round games for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament in 1989, 1993 and 1994. Anderson Arena was also notable for its final center-hung scoreboard, a All-American scoreboard which was originally at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...
and was moved to Anderson in the late 1980s.
After almost five decades serving Bowling Green State University, problems arose with the arena including the lack of adequate restroom and concession facilities, poor acoustics for concerts, negative impact on athletic recruitment and, most severely, failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Bowling Green men's basketball team won their final regular season game at Anderson Arena, defeating Buffalo
Buffalo Bulls men's basketball
The Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team is the basketball team that represent the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team has never played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The Bulls are currently...
73–63. During the halftime of the game a ceremony named Closing the Doors At the House That Roars was held that included former Bowling Green Falcons basketball stars, most notably Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond
Nate Thurmond
Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double....
, university president Dr. Carol A. Cartwright and Ellen Anderson, the daughter of former coach and arena namesake Harold Anderson. The ceremony included a video tribute and a few speeches were given reminiscing the history of the arena.
The final commencement ceremonies at the Anderson Arena occurred on May 6–7, 2011 with 1,958 undergraduate and graduate students receiving their diplomas in four ceremonies over the two days.