Mackey Arena
Encyclopedia
Mackey Arena is located in West Lafayette, Indiana
. Part of the Purdue University
campus, it is home to the university's basketball
teams, and occasionally hosts home games for the volleyball
and wrestling
teams. The arena opened in 1967 as a replacement for Lambert Fieldhouse
.
Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to honor Purdue alumnus
and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. On December 12, 1997, the floor was renamed Keady Court in honor of longtime men's coach Gene Keady
. The circular arena, similar to several built in the 1960s, seats 14,123, and is considered by many as one of the loudest arenas in the nation due to its domed aluminum roof.
In recent years, Mackey Arena has experienced numerous upgrades and improvements, including:
The concourse width will be approximately doubled, concessions will increase four times (from 12 to 48 points of sale) and restrooms will increase three times for women and by 35 percent for men. In addition, the lower seating sections on the east side will be modified to allow for some premium seats, with club seats (fixed padded stadium chairs) and loge seats (office-style chairs on casters) provided. A limited number of premium courtside seats will be available in the west pit area. Accessible seating will increase approximately six times. Two club spaces will be created, one for general fans on the west side and a premium club to the east.
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
. Part of the Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
campus, it is home to the university's 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...
teams, and occasionally hosts home games for the 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
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
teams. The arena opened in 1967 as a replacement for Lambert Fieldhouse
Lambert Fieldhouse
Lambert Fieldhouse is an athletic facility on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. It was built in 1937 on land bought by David Ross and George Ade as a replacement for Memorial Gymnasium to be the home of the Purdue basketball team, and also contained an indoor track...
.
Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to honor Purdue alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. On December 12, 1997, the floor was renamed Keady Court in honor of longtime men's coach Gene Keady
Gene Keady
Lloyd Eugene "Gene" Keady is a basketball coach. Currently an assistant coach at St. John's, he is most notable for being the head basketball coach at Purdue University for 25 years, from 1980 to 2005.-Kansas State :...
. The circular arena, similar to several built in the 1960s, seats 14,123, and is considered by many as one of the loudest arenas in the nation due to its domed aluminum roof.
In recent years, Mackey Arena has experienced numerous upgrades and improvements, including:
- 1997 - New playing surface and basketball goals installed
- 1998 - Roof repainted
- 2000 - New bleachers installed
- 2002 - Women's basketball locker room renovated
- 2002 - Men's basketball locker room renovated
- 2003 - Video and meeting room for women's basketball constructed
- 2003 - Team championship and Consensus All-American jersey banners hung
- 2003 - Men's basketball player lounge renovated
- 2003 - Lower press row reconstructed
- 2003 - Press conference and media work room renovated
- 2004 - Video board installed
- 2004 - Sound system installed
- 2005 - Playing surface refinished
- 2007 to 2011- Mackey Complex $99.5 million dollar renovation/addition project
Mackey Arena Complex Project
On May 18, 2007, the university's board of trustees voted to award a contract to HNTB Architecture of Kansas City, Mo., for a $99.5 million dollar project that extends from the outer edges of the arena north along Northwestern Avenue to Cherry Lane. A three-level structure is planned north of Mackey and currently is being referred to as the Student-Athlete Development Center. Its highlights include:- A sports medicine facility approximately three and a half to four times larger than the current area in Mackey.
- A strength and weight training facility approximately four times larger than the existing Intercollegiate Athletic Facility weight room.
- An oversized basketball practice facility with a full-size court and three breakout shooting areas.
- The DrewDrew BreesDrew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
and Britney Brees Student Athlete Academic Center, towards which the couple donated $2M in the fall of 2007.
The concourse width will be approximately doubled, concessions will increase four times (from 12 to 48 points of sale) and restrooms will increase three times for women and by 35 percent for men. In addition, the lower seating sections on the east side will be modified to allow for some premium seats, with club seats (fixed padded stadium chairs) and loge seats (office-style chairs on casters) provided. A limited number of premium courtside seats will be available in the west pit area. Accessible seating will increase approximately six times. Two club spaces will be created, one for general fans on the west side and a premium club to the east.