Hooper Eblen Center

{{short description|Sports facility in Cookeville, Tennessee}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Hooper Eblen Center

| nickname = The Hoop

| image = Tennessee-technological-university-he.jpg

| caption = Hooper Eblen Center in 2007

| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=275|zoom=15|type=point}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|36.178508|-85.510000|type:landmark|display=it}}

| address = 1100 McGee Boulevard

| location = Cookeville, Tennessee

| built =

| owner = Tennessee Tech

| surface =

| capacity = 9,282

| website = https://www.ttusports.com/inside_athletics/Tech_facilities

| operator = Tennessee Tech

| opened = October 2, 1977

| scoreboard =

| tenants = Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (NCAA) (1977–present)

}}

Hooper Eblen Center, often called The Hoop by students, is a 9,282-seat multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee. Named for former TTU coach and professor Hooper Eblen,{{Cite web |url=http://www.tntech.edu/about/maps-and-directions/ |title=Maps and Directions | Tennessee Tech University |access-date=2013-03-04 |archive-date=2013-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316131942/http://www.tntech.edu/about/maps-and-directions/ |url-status=dead }} the arena is home to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles men's basketball and Golden Eagles women's basketball teams.{{Cite web |date=August 2012 |title=Visiting Team Guide |url=https://www.ttusports.com/information/athletics_department/Visiting_Team_Guide_Oct_1.pdf |website=ttusports.com}} Before the construction of the arena, the on-campus home to the Tennessee Tech men's and women's basketball teams was the Memorial Gym, a post-War gymnasium located on the quadrangle.

The Hooper Eblen Center opened on October 2, 1977, with a Phoebe Snow concert as its inaugural event.{{cite web |title=Phoebe Snow on Stage |url=https://tntecharchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/bignameentertainment/item/94 |website=Tennessee Tech |publisher=Tennessee Tech Archives and Special Collections |access-date=August 17, 2024}} Elvis Presley had originally been scheduled to give the arena's first performance on September 27. However, these plans were canceled after the late singer's death on August 16.{{cite web |title=Tidbits, Outtakes, and Lessons in Big Name Entertainment Part II |url=https://tntecharchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/bignameentertainment/outtakesandlessonsii |website=Tennessee Tech Archives and Special Collections |publisher=Tennessee Tech |access-date=August 17, 2024}} Alabama performed the first sell-out concert at the Hooper Eblen Center on August 1, 1982, with 11,210 people in attendance.{{cite web |title=Alabama: Sweet Home Tennessee Tech? |url=https://tntecharchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/bignameentertainment/alabama |website=Tennessee Tech Archives and Special Collections |publisher=Tennessee Tech |access-date=August 17, 2024}}

File:Eblen Center 2020 graduation.jpg