Petersen Events Center
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Petersen Sports Complex
.
The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center (more commonly known as the Petersen Events Center or "The Pete") is a 12,508-seat multi-purpose arena
on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers
basketball teams. The arena is named for philanthropists John Petersen and his wife Gertrude, who donated $10 million for its construction.http://www.peterseneventscenter.com/index.asp John Petersen, a Pitt alumnus, is a native of nearby Erie, Pennsylvania
and is the retired President and CEO of Erie Insurance Group
.
, which housed the university's football
team from 1925–1999. The Pitt men's and women's basketball programs make their home here, previously residing in Fitzgerald Field House
. The new building, due to its larger capacity, also meant that Pitt no longer had to play certain games or hold graduation ceremonies at the Civic Arena
.
Its first event was a Counting Crows
concert. For concerts the Center seats 9,000 for end-stage shows, 14,763 for center-stage shows. The first official women's basketball
game at the Pete was 90-51 win over Robert Morris University
on November 22, 2002. The first official men's basketball
game at the Pete was an 82-67 win over Duquesne University
on November 23, 2002. Since its creation through the end of the 2009-10 season, the Pitt men's basketball team has compiled a record of 149–12 (.925) at the Pete, including a 9-0 record against teams ranked in the top five. Pitt broke the 100 win mark on November 22, 2008 with a 86-60 win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania
.
In 2006, the Pittsburgh Xplosion
, a professional basketball team in the Continental Basketball Association
, played its first game at the arena. The team folded just prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.
In October, 2011, a new high definition video board was installed in the Pedersen Events Center.
The section known as the Oakland Zoo
is composed of the sections across from the team benches and next to the court. The name comes from Oakland
, the neighborhood where Pitt's campus resides. The students in the Zoo wear gold T-shirts with the words "Oakland Zoo" in some way, shape or form across the front. This layout and unity is a large factor in why the Pete is such a tough place to play for opposing teams. In fact, Pitt has lost only two home non-conference game since the Panthers moved into the Pete in 2002.
In 2006, Sports Illustrated
surveyed the Big East Conference
's basketball players, and the Pete was named the "Toughest Place to Play," with specific players mentioning the Oakland Zoo and the fans' creativity. In 2007 and 2010, "The Pete" hosted first and second round games of the NCAA Women's Division I Tournament
.
The Petersen Events Center serves as more than just the home court of the Panthers basketball teams. Located within the facility is a 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) Baierl Student Recreation Center featuring four racquetball courts, two squash courts, Cybex weight machines, a free weight area, aerobics practice room, martial arts room, health assessment area, and aerobic area with treadmills, exercise bikes, elliptical and Stairmaster machines and four plasma TVs.
In addition, the McCarl Panthers Hall of Champions, which pays homage to and displays memorabilia from past Pitt athletics achievements, and the official Pittsburgh Panthers Team Store are located in the main lobby of the Pete. http://web-smg.athletics.pitt.edu/spaces/spaces.html
The arena was also one of the home courts for the Pittsburgh Xplosion
Continental Basketball Association
team, the city's only professional basketball squad at the time, before it folded prior to the 2008-09 season.
Also, a food court is located within the Pete and is available to students and others during the weekdays in addition to when events are being hosted within the arena.http://www.pc.pitt.edu/dining/locations/petersen.html
The arena also features and auxiliary practice basketball facility, athletic training, office and media facilities.
The Pete also hosts the University's commencement ceremony.
Petersen Sports Complex
Not to be confused with Petersen Events Center.The Petersen Sports Complex is a multi-sport athletic facility on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It houses Charles L...
.
The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center (more commonly known as the Petersen Events Center or "The Pete") is a 12,508-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...
on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers
University of Pittsburgh Panthers
The Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly also referred to as the Pitt Panthers, are the athletic teams of University of Pittsburgh, although the term is colloquially used to refer to other aspects of the university such as alumni, faculty, and students...
basketball teams. The arena is named for philanthropists John Petersen and his wife Gertrude, who donated $10 million for its construction.http://www.peterseneventscenter.com/index.asp John Petersen, a Pitt alumnus, is a native of nearby Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and is the retired President and CEO of Erie Insurance Group
Erie Insurance Group
Erie Insurance Group, is a multi-line insurance company, offering auto, home, commercial and life insurance through a network of independent insurance agents....
.
History
The arena opened in 2002 on part of the former site of Pitt StadiumPitt Stadium
Pitt Stadium was a stadium located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1999. It served primarily as the home of the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Pittsburgh Panthers...
, which housed the university's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team from 1925–1999. The Pitt men's and women's basketball programs make their home here, previously residing in Fitzgerald Field House
Fitzgerald Field House
Fitzgerald Field House is a 4,122-seat multi-purpose athletic venue on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Fitzgerald Field House is named for Rufus Fitzgerald, a past chancellor of the university....
. The new building, due to its larger capacity, also meant that Pitt no longer had to play certain games or hold graduation ceremonies at the Civic Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
.
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
concert. For concerts the Center seats 9,000 for end-stage shows, 14,763 for center-stage shows. The first official women's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt women's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games...
game at the Pete was 90-51 win over Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
on November 22, 2002. The first official men's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
game at the Pete was an 82-67 win over Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
on November 23, 2002. Since its creation through the end of the 2009-10 season, the Pitt men's basketball team has compiled a record of 149–12 (.925) at the Pete, including a 9-0 record against teams ranked in the top five. Pitt broke the 100 win mark on November 22, 2008 with a 86-60 win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
.
In 2006, the Pittsburgh Xplosion
Pittsburgh Xplosion
The Pittsburgh Xplosion was a member of the Continental Basketball Association from 2006–2008. Founded in 2004 as the Pittsburgh Hard Hats as a member of the ABA, the team, following an ownership change, took the court as the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls. The team became the Xplosion in 2005, and joined...
, a professional basketball team in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, played its first game at the arena. The team folded just prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.
In October, 2011, a new high definition video board was installed in the Pedersen Events Center.
Amenities
With 430,000 total square feet, the Pete seats 12,508 for basketball and 9,000 for end stage concerts. The arena features 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of lobby space with 90 feet (27.4 m) high ceilings, 18 luxury suites, including five courtside luxury suites (the only college arena with courtside suites) and a 193-seat SuperSuite.http://web-smg.athletics.pitt.edu/about/about.htmlStudent section
Oakland Zoo (cheering section)
The Oakland Zoo is the student cheering section for the University of Pittsburgh men's and women's basketball teams. The Zoo cheers on the Panthers from the bottom tier of the stands at the Petersen Events Center, primarily across from the teams' benches and on the baselines under the baskets...
is composed of the sections across from the team benches and next to the court. The name comes from Oakland
Oakland (Pittsburgh)
Oakland is the academic, cultural, and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania's third largest "Downtown". Only Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh can claim more economic and social activity than Oakland...
, the neighborhood where Pitt's campus resides. The students in the Zoo wear gold T-shirts with the words "Oakland Zoo" in some way, shape or form across the front. This layout and unity is a large factor in why the Pete is such a tough place to play for opposing teams. In fact, Pitt has lost only two home non-conference game since the Panthers moved into the Pete in 2002.
In 2006, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
surveyed the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
's basketball players, and the Pete was named the "Toughest Place to Play," with specific players mentioning the Oakland Zoo and the fans' creativity. In 2007 and 2010, "The Pete" hosted first and second round games of the NCAA Women's Division I Tournament
2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 17, 2007 and concluded on April 3 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Final Four consisted of Tennessee, LSU, Rutgers, and North Carolina, with Tennessee defeating Rutgers 59-46 for their seventh National Title...
.
Other uses
In addition, the McCarl Panthers Hall of Champions, which pays homage to and displays memorabilia from past Pitt athletics achievements, and the official Pittsburgh Panthers Team Store are located in the main lobby of the Pete. http://web-smg.athletics.pitt.edu/spaces/spaces.html
The arena was also one of the home courts for the Pittsburgh Xplosion
Pittsburgh Xplosion
The Pittsburgh Xplosion was a member of the Continental Basketball Association from 2006–2008. Founded in 2004 as the Pittsburgh Hard Hats as a member of the ABA, the team, following an ownership change, took the court as the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls. The team became the Xplosion in 2005, and joined...
Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
team, the city's only professional basketball squad at the time, before it folded prior to the 2008-09 season.
Also, a food court is located within the Pete and is available to students and others during the weekdays in addition to when events are being hosted within the arena.http://www.pc.pitt.edu/dining/locations/petersen.html
The arena also features and auxiliary practice basketball facility, athletic training, office and media facilities.
The Pete also hosts the University's commencement ceremony.
Notable events
- 2004 Jeopardy! College ChampionshipJeopardy! College ChampionshipThe Jeopardy! College Championship is one of the traditional tournaments held each season on the TV quiz show Jeopardy! Contestants in this tournament are full-time undergraduate college students with no prior degrees...
- 2005 Senior OlympicsSenior OlympicsThe National Senior Games or "Senior Olympics" is a sports competition for seniors from the United States. It is a multi-sport event specifically devoted to adults aged 50+ . It is composed of regional competitions held yearly in all American states...
(headquarters, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, table tennis) - 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 17, 2007 and concluded on April 3 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Final Four consisted of Tennessee, LSU, Rutgers, and North Carolina, with Tennessee defeating Rutgers 59-46 for their seventh National Title...
- first and second round games - 2008 Presidential campaign rally for Senator Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on April 21st - 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games (closing ceremonies) PG: Schedule for the 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games
- 2009 Funeral for victims of the Pittsburgh Police shootings2009 Pittsburgh police shootingsThe 2009 Pittsburgh police shootings was a shootout that took place on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 1016 Fairfield Street in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, stemming from an argument over a dog urinating in the house between a mother and her 22-year-old...
- 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament started Saturday, March 20, 2010 and was completed on Tuesday, April 6 of the same year with University of Connecticut Huskies defending their title from the previous year by defeating Stanford, 53-47. The tournament bids were announced on...
- first and second round games
Fictional portrayals
- In the 2011 movie Warrior, the arena plays host to ultimate fighting with Jennifer MorrisonJennifer MorrisonJennifer Marie Morrison is an American actress, model and film producer. She is best known for her role as Dr. Allison Cameron in House, whom she played for five-and-a-half years, and also as Zoey Pierson in the sixth season of How I Met Your Mother...
and Nick NolteNick NolteNicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
in attendance.