| McArthur Court | |
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| The Pit | |
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| Location | University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403 |
| Broke ground | 1926 |
| Opened | December, 1926 |
| Owner | University of Oregon |
| Construction cost | $5 million USD (1996 Renovation) |
| Architect | Lawrence & Holford |
| Tenants | Oregon Ducks (NCAA) |
| Capacity | 9,087 |
McArthur Court is a basketball arena located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene. Also known as "The Pit," it is known as one of the toughest arenas in the country for opposing players to play in. The arena is named for Clifton N. (Pat) McArthur, a student-athlete and the university's first student body president.[1] The student section, the notorious "Pit Crew," sits courtside and leads a crowd of 9,087 that is arguably the loudest in the Pac-10. Its unique and antiquated structure has the fans on top of the court. The maple floor bounces under the weight of the student section that surrounds the court.[2] In 2001 Sporting News named it "best gym in America".[3] For its history, character, and atmosphere, sports writer and arena researcher, Bill Kintner named McArthur Court in his top five of college basketball arenas in America. He notes that McArthur Court "is a building that will give you chills even if there is no game being played."[4] The arena was funded by a $15 fee imposed by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon and the mortgage papers were burned as part of a public ceremony after the building was completely paid for.[5]
The second oldest on-campus arena still in use (after Fordham University's Rose Hill Gym), McArthur Court saw its first game on January 14, 1927, a 38-10 Oregon victory over Willamette University. Among its finest moments are two upsets over #1 UCLA in the mid 1970s and another upset of the top-ranked Bruins on January 6, 2007. An undefeated home season in 2001-02 propelled the Ducks to the "Elite Eight" in the NCAA Tournament. Players to call the court home over the years include Ron Lee, Blair Rasmussen, Terrell Brandon, Fred Jones, Luke Ridnour, Luke Jackson and Aaron Brooks. Women began playing in 1974 and played their first game at MCArthur Court on January 23, 1974 against Southern Oregon University.[6] Mac Court is also home to the OSAA high school 5A and 6A boys' basketball championships. Its small capacity is inhibiting its future viability as a Division I arena. The University is currently in discussion to build a new 12,500 seat arena on the east side of campus. Discussions are currently underway to construct the new arena at the former site of Williams' Bakery at 13th street and Franklin.[7]
References
- ^ McArthur Court - Architecture of the University of Oregon. University of Oregon Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ "Where we play", Oregon Daily Emerald, September 20, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Agase, Jeff (December 9, 2002). Oregon pits visiting teams against McArthur Court. Daily Bruin. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Kintner, Bill (January 18, 2007). Best College Arena Atmosphere. Collegehoops.net. Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
- ^ McArthur Court. University of Oregon, Official Athletic Site. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Baker, Mark. "What counts about The Pit", The Register-Guard, February 18, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Hall, Calvin. "University seeks use for old bakery site", Oregon Daily Emerald, October 4, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
External links
- McArthur Court, Architecture of the University of Oregon
- McArthur Court is at coordinates Coordinates:
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| Beasley Coliseum (Washington State) • Haas Pavilion (California) • Hec Edmundson Pavilion (Washington) • Galen Center (USC) • Gill Coliseum (Oregon State) • Maples Pavilion (Stanford) • McArthur Court (Oregon) • McKale Center (Arizona) • Pauley Pavilion (UCLA) • Wells Fargo Arena (Arizona State) |
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| West Campus: Deady • Villard • Fenton • Friendly • Condon • Chapman • Johnson • Schnitzer Museum • Knight Library • PLC • McKenzie
Central Campus: Lawrence • Allen • EMU • Gerlinger • Gerlinger Annex • Susan Campbell • Hendricks • Esslinger • Straub Science Complex: Willamette • Columbia • Cascade • Deschutes • Klamath • Onyx Bridge Athletics: Autzen Stadium • McArthur Court • Hayward Field • Casanova Center • SRC Housing: Carson • Earl • Walton • Hamilton • Bean • Barnhart • Riley • LLC Lillis Business Complex: Lillis • Gilbert • Peterson • Chiles Other Buildings: School of Music • Education • Knight Law Center • Oregon Hall (Administration) • Agate Hall • Natural History Museum • Millrace Research Center • Baker Downtown Center |
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