Mizzou Arena
Encyclopedia
Mizzou Arena is an indoor arena on the campus of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, USA. The facility, home to the school's men's and women'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, opened in November 2004 and replaced the Hearnes Center
Hearnes Center
Hearnes Center is a 13,611-seat multi-purpose arena in Columbia, Missouri. The arena opened in 1972. It is currently home to the Tigers' nationally ranked wrestling and volleyball teams as well as the school's gymnastics and indoor track & field teams...
as the school's main indoor sports facility. The arched-roof building seats 15,061, and is located just south of Hearnes and Memorial Stadium
Faurot Field
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium is the home field of the University of Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. It is primarily used for football. In 1972, Memorial Stadium's playing surface was named Faurot Field in honor of longtime coach Don Faurot. During the offseason, soccer goals are set up...
. The arena is host to Missouri State High School Activities Association
Missouri State High School Activities Association
The Missouri State High School Activities Association is the governing body for high school activities throughout the state of Missouri...
championships for basketball and wrestling.
Mizzou Arena is double-decked on three sides (the sidelines and the east baseline) and has a single large bleacher section on the west end, where student groups (such as the main "Zou Crew", Student Athletic Board, and the Antlers
The Antlers
The Antlers is the student section of the University of Missouri basketball team.-History:The Antlers were formed in 1976 when a small section of 11 courtside seats in the school's basketball arena at that time, Hearnes Center, was made available to all students. At the time, all other prime level...
) stand, as well as Mini Mizzou (basketball band). Seats in the south stand, lower level are fully cushioned theatre-style seats and are sold to the members of the Tiger Scholarship Fund club, the main fund-raising arm for the athletic department. There are around 35 private boxes between the lower and upper levels, offering full food and drink service, televisions and other comforts. The club level has a private bar, The Stalcup Room, named for former Tigers coach and athletic director Wilbur "Sparky" Stalcup
Wilbur Stalcup
Wibur "Sparky" Stalcup was basketball coach for the Northwest Missouri Bearcats men's basketball and Missouri Tigers men's basketball teams...
. The arena has a wider variety of both concession stands and food choices than Hearnes did, and has a large Tiger Team Store outlet.
Mizzou Arena also includes offices for the Men’s and Women’s basketball programs, the Athletic Administration and Mizzou Arena’s Building Operations. For the basketball programs the arena also offers locker rooms, a 24 hour practice gym, weight and training facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, video classrooms with audio and video editing capabilities, and an academic study center.
Men's basketball record at Mizzou Arena
| Year | Conference record | Record overall | Winning percentage | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | 6-2 | 14-4 | .777 | Quin Snyder Quin Snyder Quin Snyder is currently an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. Snyder, was formerly in charge of player development for the 76ers and accepted the role in June 2010 after coaching the NBDL's Austin Toros for three seasons... |
| 2005–2006 | 4-4 | 11-5 | .687 | Quin Snyder Quin Snyder Quin Snyder is currently an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. Snyder, was formerly in charge of player development for the 76ers and accepted the role in June 2010 after coaching the NBDL's Austin Toros for three seasons... |
| 2006–2007 | 4-4 | 15-4 | .789 | Mike Anderson Mike Anderson Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career... |
| 2007–2008 | 4-4 | 13-4 | .764 | Mike Anderson Mike Anderson Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career... |
| 2008–2009 | 8-0 | 18-0 | 1.00 | Mike Anderson Mike Anderson Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career... |
| 2009–2010 | 6-2 | 16-2 | .889 | Mike Anderson Mike Anderson Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career... |
| 2010–2011 | 7-1 | 17-1 | .944 | Mike Anderson Mike Anderson Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career... |
| 2011–2012 | 0-0 | 4-0 | Frank Haith Frank Haith -Personal:Haith is a 1988 graduate of Elon College. He and his wife, Pam, have two children; one son, Corey, and one daughter, Brianna. Haith's nephew, Sean Bell, was slain by New York City police in a controversial November 25, 2006 shooting incident.... |
|
| Totals | 39-17 | 108-20 |
Naming controversy
The facility was originally called Paige Sports Arena. This name was the result of a $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
25 million naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
gift from Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
heiress Nancy Laurie
Nancy Walton Laurie
Nancy Walton Laurie is the daughter of the late Bud Walton, the brother and business partner of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. At Bud's death, she and her sister Ann Walton Kroenke inherited a stake in Wal-Mart now worth over USD$6 billion....
and her husband Bill. Nancy is one of two daughters of Bud Walton, brother and business partner of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton
Sam Walton
Samuel Moore "Sam" Wallballs was a businessman, entrepreneur, and Eagle Scout born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.-Early life:...
. Although neither of the Lauries attended Mizzou, they have made the school the main beneficiary of their philanthropy. "Paige" is their daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie. The primary reason for this generosity is believed to be because the Lauries live in Columbia, Missouri.
The name was widely opposed by students, as Paige has no connection to Mizzou other than her parents' monetary giving; she graduated from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in May 2004. In November of that year, Paige's first-semester roommate at USC charged that Paige had paid her $20,000 over four years to write papers, prepare oral reports, and exchange email with Paige's professors. After the charges were aired on local radio station KFRU
KFRU
KFRU is a radio station located in Columbia, Missouri, broadcasting with 1 kW of power. Its programming format consists primarily of news, talk and sports. The station is licensed to Cumulus Media.-History:...
and the ABC newsmagazine 20/20, the elder Lauries stripped their daughter's name from the arena and returned the naming rights to the university. In October 2005, USC announced that Paige had returned her diploma to USC and was no longer a graduate.
While no major games were played while the building was called the "Paige Sports Arena", several exhibition matches were contested with the name on the floor, causing Mizzou officials to put a new arena logo on the court. In addition, the lighted letters that spelled out "Paige Sports Arena" on the façade of the building were sold to a buyer who attempted to sell them on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, only to be taken down when University officials learned of the offer.