Calihan Hall
Encyclopedia
Calihan Hall is an 8,295-seat multi-purpose arena
in Detroit, Michigan
. It is home to the University of Detroit Mercy
Titans basketball
te am. The arena opened in 1952. The building was dedicated on May 25, 1952 as the Memorial Building. The first basketball game was played on December 2 of that year when the Titans defeated Kalamazoo College
, 75-61. In 1977, the name was changed to Calihan Hall in honor of the Titans' first basketball All-American Bob Calihan
.
The NBA Detroit Pistons played some games in Calihan Hall in the late 1950s.
After a five-year stretch of playing in downtown Detroit's Cobo Arena, the Titans returned to campus in 1993-1994, a move which coincided with major exterior renovations and a rededication of Calihan Hall in September 1993. A newly-painted playing floor greeted the Titans for the 1996 season, and almost all of the building's locker rooms were remodeled in 1998. A major interior renovation project began one year later and has continued since. New retractable bleachers were installed in the arena's lower bowl in 2002, and further renovations including the new Willie Green
men's basketball locker room took place during the 2006 off-season. Due to several coaching changes in regards to the Men's and Women's basketball teams, the Titans received a new logo on the basketball's floor and will have a new logo for the 2008-09 season onwards.
Calihan Hall houses the Titan Athletic offices, varsity and intramural locker rooms, sports medicine
facilities, the Thelma Fox Murray running track and the Larry Bleach Fitness Center. It also serves as the basketball practice facility for the Titans throughout the year.
During the 2001-02 season, Detroit extended the nations's longest homecourt winning streak to a school record of 39 games before falling to UW–Green Bay, 65-61, on Feb. 11, 2002.
During the 52 years since the opening of Calihan Hall, the Titans have enjoyed a 512-186 (.734) homecourt record.
The Titan Pep Band
is featured at all men's and women's home basketball games in Calihan Hall.
On December 5, 2011, the floor at Calihan Hall will be named the Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall, in honor of longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale
, who began his head coaching career at the University of Detroit in 1973 and later served as the school's athletic director. The date coincides with the 32nd anniversary of Vitale's first game at ESPN.
(vs. Detroit, Feb. 22, 1988)
Points (Titan): 49 - Archie Tullos (vs. Bradley, Feb. 22, 1988)
Points (Team): 135 - Detroit (vs. CCNY, Feb.10, 1979)
Rebounds: 39 - Dave DeBusschere
(vs. Central Michigan, Jan 30, 1960)
Victory Margin: 72 (Detroit 114, Western Ontario
43, Jan. 11, 1964)
Attendance: 11,065 (Detroit vs. Marquette
, Mar. 4, 1978)
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 Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. It is home to the University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational university in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the president. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university...
Titans basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
te am. The arena opened in 1952. The building was dedicated on May 25, 1952 as the Memorial Building. The first basketball game was played on December 2 of that year when the Titans defeated Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
, 75-61. In 1977, the name was changed to Calihan Hall in honor of the Titans' first basketball All-American Bob Calihan
Bob Calihan
Robert J. Calihan was an American basketball player and coach.Calihan played for the University of Detroit Mercy from 1937 to 1940. He led his team in scoring during each of his three seasons and became the school's first All-American honoree in 1939...
.
The NBA Detroit Pistons played some games in Calihan Hall in the late 1950s.
After a five-year stretch of playing in downtown Detroit's Cobo Arena, the Titans returned to campus in 1993-1994, a move which coincided with major exterior renovations and a rededication of Calihan Hall in September 1993. A newly-painted playing floor greeted the Titans for the 1996 season, and almost all of the building's locker rooms were remodeled in 1998. A major interior renovation project began one year later and has continued since. New retractable bleachers were installed in the arena's lower bowl in 2002, and further renovations including the new Willie Green
Willie Green
Willie J. Green is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA. He was selected in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics and later acquired by Philadelphia from Seattle in a draft-night trade for the draft rights...
men's basketball locker room took place during the 2006 off-season. Due to several coaching changes in regards to the Men's and Women's basketball teams, the Titans received a new logo on the basketball's floor and will have a new logo for the 2008-09 season onwards.
Calihan Hall houses the Titan Athletic offices, varsity and intramural locker rooms, sports medicine
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
facilities, the Thelma Fox Murray running track and the Larry Bleach Fitness Center. It also serves as the basketball practice facility for the Titans throughout the year.
During the 2001-02 season, Detroit extended the nations's longest homecourt winning streak to a school record of 39 games before falling to UW–Green Bay, 65-61, on Feb. 11, 2002.
During the 52 years since the opening of Calihan Hall, the Titans have enjoyed a 512-186 (.734) homecourt record.
The Titan Pep Band
Titan Pep Band
The current University of Detroit Mercy Pep Band may seem to be a modern invention, but its roots stretch back over ninety years to the formation of the University’s first musical ensemble. In 1916, the University and surrounding community were delighted to hear the first performance of the...
is featured at all men's and women's home basketball games in Calihan Hall.
On December 5, 2011, the floor at Calihan Hall will be named the Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall, in honor of longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
, who began his head coaching career at the University of Detroit in 1973 and later served as the school's athletic director. The date coincides with the 32nd anniversary of Vitale's first game at ESPN.
Calihan Hall Record Book
Points: 63 - Hersey Hawkins, Bradley UniversityBradley University
Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
(vs. Detroit, Feb. 22, 1988)
Points (Titan): 49 - Archie Tullos (vs. Bradley, Feb. 22, 1988)
Points (Team): 135 - Detroit (vs. CCNY, Feb.10, 1979)
Rebounds: 39 - Dave DeBusschere
Dave DeBusschere
David Albert DeBusschere was an American NBA and major league baseball player and coach in the NBA. In 1996, DeBusschere was named as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history....
(vs. Central Michigan, Jan 30, 1960)
Victory Margin: 72 (Detroit 114, Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
43, Jan. 11, 1964)
Attendance: 11,065 (Detroit vs. Marquette
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, Mar. 4, 1978)