Vadalabene Center
{{Short description|Building in Illinois, United States}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Vadalabene Center
| nickname = The Vadalabene, The VC
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| fullname = Sam M. Vadalabene Center
| former names =
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| image = File:Vadalebene Center E.jpg
| caption =
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_label_position =
| address = 35 Circle Drive
| location = Edwardsville, Illinois
| coordinates = {{coord|38|47|45.56|N|89|59|59.58|W|display=it}}
| type =
| genre =
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = December 5, 1984
| renovated = 2008, 2014
| expanded = 1993, 2012
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
| operator = SIUE Athletics Department
| surface =
| scoreboard =
| cost =
| architect =
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| seating_type =
| capacity = 4,000+
| suites =
| record_attendance = 4,392
| dimensions =
| field_shape =
| acreage =
| volume =
| tenants = SIUE Cougars men's & women's basketball,
volleyball & wrestling teams
| embedded =
| website =
| publictransit =
}}
The Sam M. Vadalabene Center is a multi-purpose sports and recreation building on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) that features an arena (known as "First Community Arena" for sponsorship reasons) with a seating capacity of just over 4,000. The Vadalabene, which opened in 1984, was named in honor of Illinois State Senator Sam M. Vadalabene (1914–1994),{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=78197|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Sam M. Vadalabene}} who was a long-time and ardent supporter of the university. The Vad Pad is home to the SIUE Cougars basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. In addition to the arena, the Vadalabene also houses a swimming pool, classrooms, offices, and several activity areas. The Student Fitness Center (SFC), built in 1993, is immediately adjacent to and an integral part of the venue and contains numerous additional recreational and fitness facilities.
In addition to SIUE athletics, the Vadalabene hosts the university's commencement ceremonies, trade shows, concerts, and sports events sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the Prairie State Games, and the State Games of America. The Vadalabene was host to the 1986 & '87 NCAA Division II wrestling championships{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/wrestling/d2|title=DII Wrestling}} which were televised on ESPN. In 2000, the Vad Pad hosted the IHSA class AA sectional semifinals and finals, where future NBA player Darius Miles led East St. Louis High School past Edwardsville High School in the championship game in front of a sold-out crowd. In 2002, rapper Nelly played a concert at the Vadalabene. In May, 2010, the Vadalabene was site for a Guinness World Record--- for most people clicking a pen at one time, despite an attendance of only about 100 at the event.
First Community Arena at Vadalabene Center
On August 29, 2019, it was announced that the arena in the Vadalabene would be named First Community Arena at Vadalabene Center for the next ten years. First Community Credit Union paid a $2.3 million fee to acquire the rights for 10 years through June 30, 2029 with a two-year extension provided, making the potential end date June 30, 2031. First Community, based in Chesterfield, Missouri has more than 40 locations across the Greater St. Louis metro area, including branches in eight Illinois communities.{{cite web |url=https://www.ibjonline.com/2019/08/27/first-community-credit-union-acquiring-naming-rights-to-siue-arena/ |title=First Community Credit Union acquiring naming rights to SIUE arena |publisher=Illinois Business Journal |date=August 27, 2019 |access-date= 6 October 2019}}
Renovations and additions
The Vadalabene finished a $6 million renovation project in 2008 to coincide with SIUE's move to the NCAA's Division I. The Vadalabene underwent a complete overhaul, adding a new floor, dressing room, seating system (increasing seating from c.2400), plus classroom and office space.{{cite web|url=https://www.theintelligencer.com/sports/article/SIUE-is-ready-for-Division-I-10436618.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812150121/https://www.theintelligencer.com/sports/article/SIUE-is-ready-for-Division-I-10436618.php|url-status=live|archive-date=2023-08-12|title=SIUE is ready for Division I|date=3 August 2012 |access-date=2023-08-12}} After one season playing on the new floor, rain from a heavy storm flooded and ruined the hardwood because an opening in the roof had not been properly sealed; a similar flooding event had occurred in 1990.
On November 29, 2012, the $5.4 million Lukas Athletics Annex was dedicated. Facilitated by a $4.2 million donation from the Charles S. and Mary L. Lukas Estate, the {{convert|29100|sqfoot|adj=on}} annex houses the offices of the entire SIUE Cougars athletics program in one location for the first time.{{cite web|url=http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/genrel/2012-13/LukasDedication112912|title=SIUE Dedicates Lukas Athletics Annex|date=29 November 2012}}
On February 14, 2014, the SIU Board of Trustees approved the funding to expand the SFC weight room and to renovate the south entrance to the Vadalabene. The cost of these improvements is budgeted at $2.6 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.siue.edu/news/archives/ArchivesFEB2014.shtml#SIUBOTApprovesSIUEImprovementsValuedatNearly5Million |title=SIUE News - February 2014 Archives |website=www.siue.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222185337/http://www.siue.edu/news/archives/ArchivesFEB2014.shtml |archive-date=2014-02-22}}
Events
Jason Holmes owns the Vadalabene record for most points scored in a basketball game, with 45 on November 20, 1993; the women's record is 41 points, by Amanda Hyde of IP Fort Wayne on November 26, 2013 (high Cougar score was All-American Misi Clark's 40 on January 20, 2000). SIUE's longest home winning streak at the Vad Pad is 27 by the women's basketball team during the 1988-90 seasons; the men's record is 21, 1985-87.{{Cite web |url=http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/vcrecords.html |title=SIUE Cougars Official Athletic Site |access-date=2012-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910063303/http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/vcrecords.html |archive-date=2011-09-10 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/w-baskbl/archive/misc.html|title=SIUE Women's Basketball - Miscellaneous}}{{cite web |url=http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/w-baskbl/archive/vcrecords.html |title=SIUE Cougars Official Athletic Site |website=www.siuecougars.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720091224/http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/w-baskbl/archive/vcrecords.html |archive-date=2010-07-20}}
The largest crowd at the Vadalabene was for a men's basketball game between the then-Division II SIUE Cougars and the Division I SIU Carbondale Salukis on January 1, 1987, won by SIUC 84-83 in overtime. The largest post-renovation crowd at the Vadalabene was 4,157 on January 21, 2012 against the then-10th ranked Murray State Racers in the first nationally televised (on ESPNU) basketball game played at the Vadalabene.{{cite web|url=http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/012212aaa.html|title=No. 10/12 Murray State Downs Cougars to Remain Unbeaten|date=22 January 2012}}
SIUE women's basketball won its first home game against a Division I opponent January 19, 2009 over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels; on December 14, 2010, the men got their first Division I win against the Kennesaw State Owls.
On March 4, 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders gave a speech at the Vadalabene, with over 4,000 people in attendance.{{cite web |last=Rizvic |first=Veneta |title=Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visits SIUE (Photos) |work=St. Louis Business Journal |date=4 March 2016 |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2016/03/democratic-presidential-candidate-bernie-sanders.html |access-date=11 June 2016 }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.siue.edu Official SIUE website]
- [http://www.siue.edu/maps/tour/vc.shtml Venue information (Map and photos)]
- [http://www.siuecougars.com/facilities/Vadalabene_Center Cougars facilities (Vadalabene Center)]
{{Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus}}
{{SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball navbox}}
{{Ohio Valley Conference basketball venue navbox}}
Category:SIU Edwardsville Cougars basketball
Category:Volleyball venues in Illinois
Category:Wrestling venues in Illinois
Category:College basketball venues in Illinois
Category:College volleyball venues in the United States
Category:College wrestling venues in the United States
Category:Edwardsville, Illinois