Bartow Arena
{{Short description|Arena in Birmingham, Alabama}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Bartow Arena
| nickname =
| image = UAB v Tulsa.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = UAB Blazers Men's Basketball vs. Tulsa
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| former_names = UAB Arena (1988–1997)
| location = 617 13th Street South
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|33|30|7.79|N|86|48|33.28|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = 1986
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|1988|12|03}}
| owner = University of Alabama at Birmingham
| operator = University of Alabama at Birmingham
| construction_cost = $10.6 million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|10600000|1988}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = GA Architecture Studio
| services engineer = MW/Davis Dumas & Associates, Inc.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mwdda.com/projects.html |title=MW/Davis Dumas & Associates - Projects |access-date=2012-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424190915/http://www.mwdda.com/projects.html |archive-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead }}
| general_contractor = Huber, Hunt & Nichols{{cite web |title=College|url=http://www.huberhuntnichols.com/pages/College.asp|publisher=Hunt Construction Group|access-date=August 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030713230405/http://www.huberhuntnichols.com/pages/College.asp|archive-date=July 13, 2003}}
| capacity = 8,508
| record_attendance = 9,878 (August 16, 2015, BGEA Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope)
| tenants = UAB Blazers Athletics
| website = {{URL|1=http://uabsports.cstv.com/tickets/albr-tickets-bartow.html|2=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 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, now known as Legacy 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.{{cite book |title=2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide |chapter=Bartow Arena |pages=59–62 |year=2010 |publisher=UAB Athletic Media Relations Office |location=Birmingham, AL |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/albr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011-mg-section5.pdf |access-date=March 20, 2011 |format=PDF |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112173058/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/albr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011-mg-section5.pdf |url-status=dead }} On December 3, 1988, the men's team defeated Vanderbilt 76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena.{{cite news |title=UAB top 25 moments |first=Toraine |last=Norris |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=January 14, 2004 |page=C1}} 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.{{cite news |title=Trustees rename arena for Bartow |first=Kent |last=Faulk |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=December 13, 1996 |page=A1}} Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rival Memphis 51–48.{{cite news |title=Bartows still on the go |first=Kevin |last=Scarbinsky |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=January 26, 1997 |page=B16}}
Currently playing as a member of the American Athletic Conference, UAB has won more than 80 percent of its games played there. The record attendance for Bartow Arena was set on February 16, 2008, against Memphis with an announced crowd of 9,392.{{cite news |title=Heartbreaker: Blazers' shot to win comes after the buzzer |first=Steve |last=Irvine |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=February 17, 2008 |page=D1}} 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, giving the program an all-time winning percentage of {{Winning percentage|277|59}}.
Attendance records
Venue Events
Bartow Arena serves as primary home to the UAB men's and women's basketball teams as well as women's volleyball. In addition, Bartow Arena has served as home to UAB graduation ceremonies and a number of other UAB sponsored concerts and activities.
In 1996, Bartow Arena served as host to the CUSA Women's Basketball Tournament. Additionally, the arena has been host to the early rounds of the CUSA Women's Basketball Tournament in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
In 2015, Bartow Arena hosted the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship between Deontay Wilder and Eric Molina.
Gallery
{{Gallery
| title = Bartow Arena
| width = 160
| height = 140
|File:Bartow Center Scoreboard.jpg|alt1=Arena scoreboard hanging in an empty venue with banners and seats visible|Bartow Arena center scoreboard installed in Fall 2009.
|File:Bartow Arena from the southeast.jpg|alt2=Brick structure along a street.|Exterior of Bartow from the southeast.
|File:UAB versus Butler in Bartow Arena.JPG|alt3=Interior of a basketball arena with the scoreboard and stands visible.|Interior of Bartow during a timeout against Butler in December 2009.
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Bartow Arena}}
{{UAB Blazers men's basketball navbox}}
{{University of Alabama at Birmingham}}
{{American Athletic Conference basketball venue navbox}}
Category:Sports venues in Birmingham, Alabama
Category:UAB Blazers basketball venues
Category:1988 establishments in Alabama