Athletics–Recreation Center: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Arena in Valparaiso, Indiana, US}}

{{Infobox_Stadium |

{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}

stadium_name = Athletics-Recreation Center|

{{Infobox venue

nickname = ARC|

| stadium_name = Athletics-Recreation Center|

image = [[Image:ARCmainentrance.JPG|200px]]|

| nickname = ARC|

___location = 1009 Union Street<br>Valparaiso University<br>Valparaiso, IN 46383|

| logo_image broke_ground = |

| image opened = December 9, 1984|{{Photomontage

|photo1a=Athletics-Recreation Center panorama.jpg

closed = |

|photo2a=ARCmainentrance.JPG

demolished = |

|size= 250

owner = Valparaiso University|

|position=center

operator = Valparaiso University|

|color= white

surface = |

|border=0

construction_cost= $7.25 million|

architect = Daverman Associates, Inc.|

former_names = |

tenants = [[Valparaiso Crusaders]]|

seating_capacity = 5,000 (basketball)|

caption = |

coordinates = |

renovated = |

expanded = |

project_manager = |

main_contractors = |

dimensions = |

}}

| renovated image_size = |

[[Image:ARCinterior.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The interior of the Athletics-Recreation Center]]The '''Athletics-Recreation Center''' is a 5,000 -seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Valparaiso, Indiana]], located at 1009 Union Street. It serves as the home court for '''[[Valparaiso University]]''' men's and women's basketball teams as well as the volleyball team. The oldest parts of the building date to 1939 and are among the first facilities built at the University after it was purchased by the Lutherans. This original building was expanded in 1962 to include more seating for basketball and a swimming pool on the first floor[http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/index.php?a=t&nid=18]. Known as the Hilltop Gym this facility was home for Valpo basketball when it competed in the NCAA's old "college" classification, for smaller schools. Despite this the gym was still witness to a number of historic individuals including [[Larry Bird]] who competed in the gym when Valpo played against his [[Indiana State]] Sycamores, and [[Robert Kennedy]], who gave a speech there during his presidential campaign.[[Image:Hilltopoutside.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The old Hilltop Gym remains a part of the larger ARC building which was added to it in 1984]] Beginning in the late 70's it was decided that Valpo needed to expand its basketball facilities again, and in 1984, the 7.25 million dollar expansion on the north side of the gym, named the Athletics and Recreation Center (or '''ARC''' for short) was completed. The men's basketball team played their first game there on December 9th, 1984 against the Fighting Irish of [[Notre Dame University]], from nearby [[South Bend, IN]][http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/index.php?a=t&nid=18]. The greatest upset in the ARC occurred four years later against this same team, when Valpo defeated the then 19th ranked Fighting Irish in front of 4,913 fans. In 1995 the ARC hosted the finals of the [[The Summit League|Mid-Continent Conference]] men’s basketball tournament. Since that time a number of smaller renovations have occurred in and around the facility. In the fall of 1999 the men's and women's coaching staffs moved into the new Schrage Basketball Wing, added to the east side of the main arena.[[Image:SchrageWing.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The Schrage Basketball Wing]] In 2005 the old Hilltop Gym on the south side of the building was renovated with new flooring, lighting, windows and numerous banners celebrating Valpo's basketball tradition. It is now used as a practice facility for the men's and women's basketball teams[http://nwitimes.com/articles/2005/08/07/sports/top_sports/842c9cf7cda2568186257055001b0139.txt]. In 2006 the weight lifting facilities were rearranged with athletes now having access to the Mosak Performance Center, a refurbished room in the building with new customized weight lifting equipment. The ARC's capacity can easily be increased by adding bleachers to the East side which is usually left open. Also the building architects, Barton-Malow Company, left the north side of the building ammenable to future expansion. The largest crowd in school history was for a game against the [[Purdue University]] Boilermakers on November 16, 2001. The attendance was 5,425 fans[http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/index.php?a=t&nid=18]. Future improvements to the facility have been floated but none are in the works for the near future[http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/06/06/sports/college_sports/3dad3bc0537c57d1862571850010cbef.txt].

| caption = Interior in 2016, exterior in 2006

| ___location = 1009 Union Street<br>[[Valparaiso, University<br>Indiana|Valparaiso, IN]] 46383|

| coordinates = {{coord|41.464198|-87.048338|display=inline, title|type:landmark|format=dms}}

| pushpin_map = USA

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States

| broke_ground = April 23, 1983<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/assets/pdfs/0708%20MBB%20Media%20Guide.pdf|title=Home Page &#124; Official Website of Valpo Athletics}}</ref>

| built caption = |

| opened = November 27, 1984

| closed = |

| demolished = |

| owner = [[Valparaiso University|]]

| operator = Valparaiso University|

| surface = |

| construction_cost= $7.25 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|7250000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})

| architect = Daverman Associates, Inc.|

| former_names = |

| tenants = [[Valparaiso Beacons]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br>[[Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball|Men's basketball]] (1984–present)<br>Women's basketball (1984–present)<br>Women's volleyball (1984–present)

| seating_capacity = 5,000 (basketball)|

| record_attendance = 5,444<ref name=mmm>{{cite web | url = http://www.midmajormadness.com/2016/3/22/11288748/nit-valparaiso-shuts-down-saint-marys-to-advance | website = [[SB Nation]] Mid-Major Madness | title = NIT: Valparaiso Shuts Down Saint Mary's to Advance | last = Evans | first = Andrew | date = March 22, 2016 | access-date = March 22, 2016}}</ref>

}}

The '''Athletics–Recreation Center''', also known as the '''ARC''', is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of [[Valparaiso University]] in [[Valparaiso, Indiana]], United States. It serves as the home court for [[Valparaiso Beacons]] men's and women's basketball teams as well as the volleyball team. It opened in 1984 as an addition to Hilltop Gym, the oldest parts of which date to 1939.

==History==

[[File:Hilltopoutside.JPG|thumb|left|Hilltop Gym entrance, now part of the ARC]]

Prior to construction of the ARC, the Valpo basketball and volleyball teams competed at Hilltop Gymnasium, which opened in 1939 and is among the first facilities built at the university after it was purchased by the Lutherans. Hilltop had previously been expanded in 1962 to include more seating for basketball and a swimming pool on the first floor. Hilltop Gym was home for Valpo basketball when it competed in the NCAA's former [[National Collegiate Athletic Association#Division history|College Division]], for smaller schools. Notable individuals to appear in Hilltop include [[Larry Bird]] during his collegiate career at [[Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball|Indiana State]], and [[Robert F. Kennedy]], who gave a speech in the gym during his presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/index.php?a=t&nid=18|title = Home Page &#124; Official Website of Valpo Athletics}}</ref> It is now used as a practice facility for the men's and women's basketball teams following a 2005 renovation that included new flooring, lighting, windows and numerous banners celebrating Valpo's basketball tradition.<ref>{{cite news |title=The man with the plan |url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/the-man-with-the-plan/article_67730ec7-8107-563e-8129-f972389afd4d.html |author=Hanlon, Steve |date=August 7, 2005 |newspaper=[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]] |access-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref>

Beginning in the late 1970s it was decided that Valpo needed to expand its basketball facilities again, and in 1984, the $7.25 million expansion on the north side of Hilltop Gym, named the Athletics and Recreation Center, was completed. The ARC added {{convert|84000|sqft|m2}} to the existing gym for a total of {{convert|142000|sqft|m2}}.

The men's basketball team played their first game there on November 27, 1984, against [[Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball|Western Michigan University]] and their dedication game there on December 9, 1984, against the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame Fighting Irish]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/assets/pdfs/Game%20Notes/mbb/123007%20North%20Carolina%20notes.pdf|title=Home Page &#124; Official Website of Valpo Athletics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/arc.php|title = Home Page &#124; Official Website of Valpo Athletics}}</ref> The greatest upset in the ARC occurred four years later against this same team, when Valpo defeated the 19th ranked Fighting Irish in front of 4,913 fans. The ARC hosted the finals of the 1995 [[Summit League|Mid-Continent Conference]] men's basketball tournament and the 2012, 2013, and 2015 [[Horizon League men's basketball tournament]] finals.

The largest crowd in arena history was 5,444 fans for the [[2016 National Invitation Tournament|2016 NIT]] Quarterfinal against [[2015–16 Saint Mary's Gaels men's basketball team|St. Mary Gaels]] on March 22, 2016.<ref name=mmm/><ref>{{cite tweet | author =Valparaiso University Athletic Department | author-link=Valparaiso Crusaders|user=valpoathletics|number=712430882406199296|date=March 22, 2016 |title=New ARC record attendance tonight - 5,444 fans here! Tremendous crowd! #GoValpo #MarchToMSG #HLMBB}}</ref> The total eclipsed the previous record of 5,432 in attendance for the February 5, 2008, meeting against the 10th-ranked [[2007–08 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team|Butler Bulldogs]] on February 5, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=280362674 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208064548/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=280362674 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |title=Campbell's 3-pointer with :15 left gives Butler first lead in win |agency=Associated Press |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=January 17, 2016}}</ref>

==Facility==

[[File:SchrageWing.JPG|thumb|left|The Schrage Basketball Wing, built in 1999]]

The main gym is oriented with sidelines on the north and south side of the building and baselines on the east and west. Chairback seating is located along the north sideline. The south sideline includes the press row, team benches, and bleacher seating, and a balcony section. The student section is located behind the west baseline, while the pep band sits in a small temporary bleacher section behind the open east baseline. Fans can access all seating areas from a central concourse that rings the court, which also includes portable concession stands. An additional concession area is located on the floor level behind the east baseline. The listed seating capacity is 5,000 people and can be increased to approximately 6,000 by adding additional seating to the east side. The building architects, Barton-Malow Company, also left the north side of the building amenable to future expansion of up to 10,000 seats total by adding a second balcony section.<ref name=ARC>{{cite web |title=Athletics-Recreation Center |url=http://athletics.valpo.edu/wbasketball/athletics-recreation-center/ |work=Valparaiso Crusaders Women's Basketball |publisher=[[Valparaiso University]] |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117121730/http://athletics.valpo.edu/wbasketball/athletics-recreation-center/ |archive-date=November 17, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There have been several renovations and upgrades in and around the facility since it opened. In 1999 the Schrage Basketball Wing was completed and dedicated, added to the east side of the main arena. The Schrage Wing includes offices for the men's and women's basketball coaches, a computer lab, video room, and team lounges. In 2006 the weight lifting facilities were rearranged with athletes now having access to the Mosak Performance Center, a refurbished room in the building with new customized weight lifting equipment. Further improvements to the facility, such as seating expansion and locker room updates, were discussed in 2006 as the university prepared to begin membership in the [[Horizon League]], but none are in the works for the near future.<ref name=ARC/><ref>{{cite news |title=Facility changes on the Horizon at VU |url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/facility-changes-on-the-horizon-at-vu/article_1b02813d-9a49-5a10-9e69-3fcd037305d0.html |date=June 6, 2006 |author=Tremback, Paul |newspaper=[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]] |access-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{start box}}

*[http://www.valpoathletics.com/facilities/reccenter/ Facilities - ARC - Official Athletic Site of the Valparaiso University Crusaders]

{{succession box |title=[[Valparaiso University|Valparaiso University basketball arenas]]|before=Hilltop Gym|after=''current''|years=[[1984]] &ndash; }}

{{end box}}

{{Valparaiso University}}

{{The Summit League basketball venues}}

{{Valparaiso Beacons men's basketball navbox}}

{{Valparaiso Beacons women's basketball navbox}}

{{Missouri Valley Conference basketball venue navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics-Recreation Center}}

[[Category:1984 establishments]]

[[Category:College basketball venues in Indiana]]

[[Category:SportsEvent venues established in Indiana1984]]

[[Category:TheValparaiso Summit League men'sBeacons basketball tournament venues]]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Valparaiso, UniversityIndiana]]

[[Category:Valparaiso1984 Crusadersestablishments in Indiana]]

[[Category:Volleyball venues in Indiana]]