Harry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena

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 Storrs, Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut

Storrs is a census-designated place and part of the town of Mansfield, Connecticut located in eastern Tolland County. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The arena opened on January 21, 1990, and is the largest on campus arena in New England. It was named after Harry A. Gampel, who donated one million dollars for the construction of the arena. It is about 216000 sq ft (20,067.1 m²).
Gampel Pavilion is the primary home to the University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut

The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...

 Huskies

Connecticut Huskies

The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...

 men's

Connecticut Huskies men's basketball

The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...

 basketball

College basketball

College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....

, women's

Connecticut Huskies women's basketball

The Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut in NCAA women's basketball competition. Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have won 7 NCAA Division I national championships, advanced to 12 Final Fours, and won over 30 Big...

 basketball, and women's 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...

 teams. However, the basketball teams now play most of their home games at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...

, playing eleven out of nineteen home games there and only eight at Gampel.

Construction

It replaced the Hugh S. Greer Field House

Hugh S. Greer Field House

Hugh S. Greer Field House was a 4,604 seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs, Connecticut. It opened December 1, 1954 with a win against then-archrival URI. It was home to the University of Connecticut Huskies men's and women's basketball teams until January 27, 1990, when the Harry A. Gampel...

, which only held 4,604 people and still stands to the northwest of the pavilion. The facility has undergone multiple seating expansions, most recently before the 2002-2003 season.

First Game

The first basketball game was played on January 27, 1990 between the then 20th ranked Connecticut Huskies and the 15th ranked St. John's Red Storm

St. John's Red Storm

The St. John's Red Storm is the nickname used for the 16 varsity athletic programs of St. John's University. St. John's 16 NCAA Division I teams compete in the Big East Conference, with the exception of the fencing and lacrosse teams, which compete in the ECAC...

. Connecticut won by the score of 72-58.

Home court advantage

Since 1990 through 2009 the Huskies have a 125-17 record at Gampel Pavilion. |+  Sources: Statistics published by the University of Connecticut at the end of the 2009 season; page 17 in the Letterwinner History section.

Year	Record
1989–1990	5-0
1990–1991	7-2
1991–1992	6-1
1992–1993	5-2
1993–1994	7-0
1994–1995	5-1
1995–1996	6-0
1996–1997	6-2
1997–1998	6-0
1998–1999	6-1
1999–2000	5-2
2000–2001	8-1
2001–2002	6-0
2002–2003	5-2
2003–2004	8-0
2004–2005	6-1
2005–2006	6-0
2006–2007	7-2
2007–2008	8-0
2008–2009	7-0
2009–2010	7-1
2010-2011	6-2

Banners

Also, the banners for the men's and women's basketball teams have been taken down and in their place are now large boards on the walls listing the years the teams have made the NIT, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16, and Elite 8, along with their Big East Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
The National Championship Banners and NIT Championship Banners have been replaced with newer versions, along with banners commemorating Jim Calhoun

Jim Calhoun

James A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...

 and Geno Auriemma

Geno Auriemma

Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...

's Hall of Fame inductions.