OU Credit Union O'rena
{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Auburn Hills, Michigan}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = OU Credit Union O'rena
| nickname = "The Blacktop"
| image = OU Credit Union O'rena, Oakland University.jpg
| caption = The O'rena in 2009
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| coordinates = {{coord|42.673972|-83.213158|display=it}}
| location = Oakland University
Auburn Hills, Michigan
| opened = November 16, 1998
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Oakland University
| operator = Oakland University
| surface = Hardwood
| construction_cost = $32 million{{cite web|url=http://schooldesigns.com/Project-Details.aspx?Project_ID=445 |title=Oakland University, Recreation & Athletic Center - Project Details |publisher=Schooldesigns.com |access-date=January 23, 2012}}
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|32000000|1998}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = TMP Architecture, Inc.
| former_names = Athletics Center O'rena (1998–2023)
| tenants = Oakland University
Men's and Women's Basketball
Volleyball
}}
OU Credit Union O'rena, nicknamed "The Blacktop", is a 4,000-seat{{cite web |url=http://www.goldengrizzlies.com/facilities/orena-mbb.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024222626/http://www.goldengrizzlies.com/facilities/orena-mbb.html |archive-date=2014-10-24 |title=Oakland University Golden Grizzlies Official Athletic Site}} multi-purpose arena in Auburn Hills, Michigan with a Rochester mailing address. It is home to the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball teams. The court has a distinctive "blacktop" color first used in the 2015–16 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2015/04/16/oakland-university-basketball-court/25872503/|title = Oakland U. Unveils its new 'blacktop' basketball court}}
History
The facility opened November 17, 1998, with a 96–66 loss to Michigan State Universityhttp://bbpassport.com/game/1998-11-17-msu-oak{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} in men's basketball. The opening of the O'rena coincided with Oakland's move from Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to Division I.
On April 17, 2023, Oakland University Athletics announced that they had signed a 10-year naming rights deal with Oakland University Credit Union. The naming rights deal began on July 1.{{cite web |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2023/04/18/oakland-university-sells-naming-rights-to-orena-for-5-million/70125825007/ |title=Oakland University sells naming rights to O'Rena for $5 million |first=Tony |last=Paul |newspaper=Detroit News |date=April 18, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2024}}
Attendance
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" style="text-align: center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Oakland Golden Grizzlies|color=white}}" | Largest attendance | ||
| style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Oakland Golden Grizzlies|color=white}};"|Date || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Oakland Golden Grizzlies|color=white}};"|Opponent || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Oakland Golden Grizzlies|color=white}};"|Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2017 | Detroit Mercy | 4,123 |
| Feb 26, 2016 | Detroit Mercy | 4,114 |
| Jan 8, 2016 | Valparaiso | 4,110 |
| Feb 15, 2015 | Detroit Mercy | 4,101 |
| Feb 14, 2014 | Detroit Mercy | 4,065 |
The O'rena attendance record is 4,123, set January 13, 2017, against the University of Detroit Mercy. There have been seven other crowds over 4,000: 4,114 vs. Detroit (2015–16), 4,110 vs. Valparaiso (2015–16), 4,101 vs. Detroit (2014–15), 4,065 vs. Detroit (2013–14), 4,063 vs. Georgia (2016–17), 4,055 vs. University of Missouri (2003–04) and 4,034 vs. Oral Roberts University (2009–10).{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/oakl/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/release/release_20160225aaa.pdf |title=Oakland–Detroit Postgame Notes |publisher=Oakland University |date=February 26, 2016 |access-date=February 29, 2016 |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307002708/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/oakl/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/release/release_20160225aaa.pdf |url-status=dead }}
Power Five conference opponents
Oakland has a 4–2 record all-time against Power Five conference schools at home.{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2016/12/23/strong-second-half-lifts-oakland-georgia/95815064/ |title=Big second half lifts Oakland over Georgia |first=Geoff |last=Robinson |newspaper=Detroit News |date=December 24, 2016 |access-date=December 27, 2016}} They have defeated Michigan (2000–01 season), Texas A&M (2003–04), Tennessee (2011–12) and Georgia (2016–17) since the arena opened in 1998.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/oakl/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/release/release_20161223aaa.pdf |title=Georgia Game Notes |publisher=Oakland University |access-date=December 27, 2016 |archive-date=December 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228032721/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/oakl/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/release/release_20161223aaa.pdf |url-status=dead }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Horizon League basketball venue navbox}}
{{Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball navbox}}
{{Oakland University}}
Category:College basketball venues in Michigan
Category:Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Category:Sports venues in Oakland County, Michigan
Category:Sports venues completed in 1998