Bartow Arena

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Bartow Arena
UAB v Tulsa.jpg
UAB Blazers Men's Basketball vs. Tulsa
Former names UAB Arena (1988–1997)
Location 617 13th Street South
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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Owner University of Alabama at Birmingham
Operator University of Alabama at Birmingham
Capacity 8,508
Record attendance 9,878 (August 16, 2015, BGEA Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope)
Construction
Broke ground 1986
Opened December 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)
Construction cost $10.6 million
($21.2 million in 2024 dollars[1])
Architect GA Architecture Studio
Services engineer MW/Davis Dumas & Associates, Inc.[2]
General contractor Huber, Hunt & Nichols[3]
Tenants
UAB Blazers Athletics
Website
Bartow Arena at UABSports

Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose arena in Birmingham, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team. The arena is named after Gene Bartow, the coach who largely built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.

History

Between 1978 and 1988, the Blazers played their home games at the off-campus Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, located just north of downtown Birmingham.[4] On December 3, 1988, the men's team defeated Vanderbilt 76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena.[5] Following the retirement of Gene Bartow in December 1996, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees voted to officially change the name of UAB Arena to Bartow Arena.[6] Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rival Memphis 51–48.[7]

Currently playing as a member of Conference USA, UAB has won more than 80 percent of its games played there.[4] The record attendance for Bartow Arena was set on February 16, 2008, against Memphis with an announced crowd of 9,392.[4][8] At the conclusion of the 2010–11 season, the UAB men's team has an all-time record of 277 victories and 59 losses at Bartow in giving the program an all-time winning percentage of .824.[4]

Attendance records

Top 10 Home Basketball Games at Bartow Arena
Opponent Attendance
1 Memphis (2008) 9,392
2 Louisville (2005) 9,354
3 Cincinnati (2004) 9,312
4 Cincinnati (2000) 9,279
5 Cincinnati (1996) 9,213
6 Memphis (2009) 9,153
7 Memphis (2011) 9,119
8 Alcorn State (1989) 9,010
9 Arkansas (1990) 8,951
10 Cincinnati (1994) 8,907
[4]

Gallery

Bartow Arena
Arena scoreboard hanging in an empty venue with banners and seats visible
Bartow Arena center scoreboard installed in Fall 2009. 
Exterior of Bartow from the southeast. 
Interior of Bartow during a timeout against Butler in December 2009. 

References

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  2. MW/Davis Dumas & Associates - Projects
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