Don Haskins Center
Encyclopedia
The Don Haskins Center is the home of UTEP Miners
men's and women's basketball. The 'Don', as it is known by local residents, is located in the heart of El Paso, Texas
. In addition to hosting sporting events, the Don is also used by many area schools, such as El Paso Community College
, for graduation and commencement ceremonies. Due to its large seating capacity, the center is also the city's premier entertainment venue and has hosted big name acts such as pop star Britney Spears
during her Circus Tour, comedian George Lopez
and rock band KISS
.
Built in 1976, as the Special Events Center, the venue replaced Memorial Gym. The Special Events Center was renamed after UTEP's Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins
(1930-2008) in 1998. Haskins, who is best known for starting five African-American players in the 1966 NCAA Championship game against Kentucky, was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
in 1997 and retired from the university in 1999. The arena was the site of a milestone win during the 1997–8 season, as coach Haskins notched his 700th career victory against SMU. The arena was also the site of the 1984, 1985, and 1990 Western Athletic Conference
men's basketball tournaments and the 2011 Conference USA
tournament. In September 2008 the building's namesake, Don Haskins, lay in state
there for several days after passing away of natural causes.
The Haskins Center features a Robbins Bio-Channel Star maple floor, installed in the summer of 2002, as well as two modern locker rooms, training facilities and basketball coaches' offices. The game-day environment for basketball was enhanced in recent years with the addition of four new scoreboards and two video replay boards to the arena. The arena now has a total of seven electronic scoreboards.
Depeche Mode
were scheduled to perform during their Touring the Angel
Tour on May 2, 2006, with She Wants Revenge
as their opening act, but the show was cancelled, due to scheduling issues.
New Kids on the Block
were scheduled to perform during their Full Service Reunion Tour
on July 13, 2009, but the show was cancelled.
The Miner men's basketball team has posted a 394-115 (.774) record in 30 years at the arena including a 364-94 (.795) record over the last 25 seasons.
UTEP won 25 straight home games from January 23, 1987 to Dec. 16, 1989. The Miners have posted undefeated home records in three seasons: 1983-84 (21–0), 1985-86 (19-0) and 1988-89 (18-0). They also won the first 10 conference games they played there after joining Conference USA
in 2005. UTEP has defeated many top-10 ranked teams in the Don Haskins Center over the years, including #10 Arizona (1977), #5 Georgetown (1985), #5 Wyoming (1988) and #9 Utah (1993), among others.
UTEP has attracted 4,686,630 fans in 30 seasons at the arena, an average of 9,208 per game during that span. The 12,000-seat arena has been sold out for UTEP basketball games 106 times.
UTEP Miners
The UTEP Miners is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Texas at El Paso. Informally, the UTEP Miners have also been referred to as the Miners, UTEP, or Texas-El Paso. UTEP was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1967 to 2005, when they joined Rice, Tulsa, and SMU in...
men's and women's basketball. The 'Don', as it is known by local residents, is located in the heart of El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. In addition to hosting sporting events, the Don is also used by many area schools, such as El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College is a community college district headquartered in El Paso, Texas. EPCC operates five campuses in the Greater El Paso area, as well as courses offered at nearby Fort Bliss....
, for graduation and commencement ceremonies. Due to its large seating capacity, the center is also the city's premier entertainment venue and has hosted big name acts such as pop star Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
during her Circus Tour, comedian George Lopez
George Lopez
George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture...
and rock band KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
.
Built in 1976, as the Special Events Center, the venue replaced Memorial Gym. The Special Events Center was renamed after UTEP's Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins
Don Haskins
Donald Lee Haskins, nicknamed "The Bear" , was an American collegiate basketball coach and player. He played for three years under legendary coach Henry Iba at Oklahoma A&M...
(1930-2008) in 1998. Haskins, who is best known for starting five African-American players in the 1966 NCAA Championship game against Kentucky, was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is a hall of fame and museum dedicated to college basketball. The museum is an integral portion of the College Basketball Experience created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches , located at the Sprint...
in 1997 and retired from the university in 1999. The arena was the site of a milestone win during the 1997–8 season, as coach Haskins notched his 700th career victory against SMU. The arena was also the site of the 1984, 1985, and 1990 Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
men's basketball tournaments and the 2011 Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
tournament. In September 2008 the building's namesake, Don Haskins, lay in state
Lying in state
Lying in state is a term used to describe the tradition in which a coffin is placed on view to allow the public at large to pay their respects to the deceased. It traditionally takes place in the principal government building of a country or city...
there for several days after passing away of natural causes.
The Haskins Center features a Robbins Bio-Channel Star maple floor, installed in the summer of 2002, as well as two modern locker rooms, training facilities and basketball coaches' offices. The game-day environment for basketball was enhanced in recent years with the addition of four new scoreboards and two video replay boards to the arena. The arena now has a total of seven electronic scoreboards.
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
were scheduled to perform during their Touring the Angel
Touring the Angel
Touring the Angel was a 2005/2006 concert tour by English electronic group Depeche Mode in support of the act's 11th studio album, Playing the Angel, which was released in October 2005....
Tour on May 2, 2006, with She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge is an American musical duo, based in San Fernando Valley, California. The group's debut album She Wants Revenge was released in early 2006, with three singles to follow...
as their opening act, but the show was cancelled, due to scheduling issues.
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
were scheduled to perform during their Full Service Reunion Tour
New Kids on the Block: Live
The New Kids on the Block: Live was the fifth concert tour by American band New Kids on the Block and the first in 14 years since the group broke up after their last tour in 1994. In April 2008, the group reunited on the Today Show, announcing a new album and tour. The tour visited North America...
on July 13, 2009, but the show was cancelled.
The Miner men's basketball team has posted a 394-115 (.774) record in 30 years at the arena including a 364-94 (.795) record over the last 25 seasons.
UTEP won 25 straight home games from January 23, 1987 to Dec. 16, 1989. The Miners have posted undefeated home records in three seasons: 1983-84 (21–0), 1985-86 (19-0) and 1988-89 (18-0). They also won the first 10 conference games they played there after joining Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
in 2005. UTEP has defeated many top-10 ranked teams in the Don Haskins Center over the years, including #10 Arizona (1977), #5 Georgetown (1985), #5 Wyoming (1988) and #9 Utah (1993), among others.
UTEP has attracted 4,686,630 fans in 30 seasons at the arena, an average of 9,208 per game during that span. The 12,000-seat arena has been sold out for UTEP basketball games 106 times.