Blue Eagle Gym

Blue Eagle Gym

BEG
The gymnasium in 2022.
Former names	Loyola Center [a] Ateneo de Manila Gymnasium [a]
Location	Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines
Coordinates	14°38′07″N121°04′32″E / 14.63524°N 121.07554°E / 14.63524; 121.07554
Public transit	Katipunan
Owner	Ateneo de Manila University
Operator	Ateneo de Manila University
Capacity	4,850–7,000
Construction
Opened	December 3, 1949
Renovated	late 1990s, 2023–2025
Tenants
Philippines men's national basketball team Ateneo Blue Eagles Manila Metrostars (1998–2000) Spikers' Turf (2018–present) Quezon City Capitals (MPBL) (2018–present)

The Blue Eagle Gym (BEG) is a gymnasium located in the main campus of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines. ^[4] Unlike most gymnasiums, the basketball court is oriented perpendicular to the orientation of the building. ^[5]

History

Blue Eagle Gym during UAAP Season 88 in 2025

The Blue Eagle Gym was inaugurated on December 3, 1949 as either the Ateneo de Manila Gymnasium ^[a] or the Loyola Center ^[a] , about three years before the Ateneo de Manila University moved from its Manila campus to its current main campus in Loyola Heights, Quezon City in 1952. ^{[3] [6] [7]} The gym was constructed under the direction of Jesuit priest and Ateneo rector William F. Masterson. ^[6]

In the 1990s, Ricky Palou the University Athletics Office director oversaw a renovation of the gymnasium in the late 1990s. ^[1] By the year 2000, the venue is already known by its current name Blue Eagle Gym. ^[a]

In 2019, Ateneo entered a sponsorship deal with Firefly LED ahead of a planned renovation. ^[8] The renovation which commenced in September 2023, costed ₱460 million and was led by architect Ike Madamba. It focuses on dealing with the venue's poor acoustics, adding an indoor running track, and installing retractable seats and air conditioning. ^{[3] [9]} The work was completed in September 2025, ahead of the Ateneo Blue Eagles return to its own venue for the UAAP Season 88 basketball tournament. ^[10]

Facilities

Interior of the Blue Eagle Gym in 2013

The Blue Eagle Gym has a capacity of 4,850 seats for sporting events which can be expanded to 7,000 for academic and cultural events. It also hosts the university’s athletics office, an indoor running track, locker rooms, and three regulation-sized basketball courts. The venue is fully air-conditioned. ^[11]

Tenants

As the Blue Eagle Gym is a facility owned by the Ateneo de Manila University, the Ateneo Blue Eagles uses it. This includes the events under the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). ^[12]

It has historically served as a venue for the National Collegiate Athletic Association games as well as some games of the Philippine Basketball Association during its early years. ^[6] The MBA’s Manila Metrostars also used the Blue Eagle Gym as their homecourt for the 1998-99 inaugural season before moving to the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.^{[ citation needed ]}

On December 1, 2025, the venue will be used as the homecourt for the Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers as they will go up against Guam. ^[13]

Notes

1. There are conflicting information about the timeline of the name of the Blue Eagle Gym.
   • A The Guidon report for the gym's 65th anniversary claims that the venue was named Loyola Center due to a sponsorship deal from the 1960s to the 1970s. It writes that it reverted back to its "original name" after the lease expired. ^[1]
   • Another The Guidon report for the venue's anniversary claimed that the venue was known as the Loyola Center from its inception in 1949 until 2000, when the name Blue Eagle Gym was adopted. ^[2]
   • The Manila Times report that the name was known as the Ateneo de Manila Gymnasium when it was inaugurated in 1949. ^[3]

References

1. Andres, Robi (March 19, 2015). "65 years of the Blue Eagle Gym". The Guidon. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
2. Melo, Joachim; Banaag, Joseph (December 14, 2019). "70 years on the hill: The Blue Eagle Gym". The Guidon.
3. Miroy, Jovi (November 21, 2023). "Renovating Ateneo's iconic gym for the 21st century". The Manila Times. p. B12. Retrieved October 11, 2025– via PressReader.com.
4. Melo, Joachim; Banaag, Joseph (December 14, 2019). "70 years on the hill: The Blue Eagle Gym". The Guidon.
5. Roa, Ana (August 31, 2019). "Battleground of champions". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved August 3, 2021.
6. Leongson, Randolph (August 28, 2019). "Blue Eagle Gym set to get improved lighting on 70th anniversary". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
7. Roa, Ana (August 31, 2019). "Battleground of champions". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Research. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
8. Lozada, Bong (August 29, 2019). "Blue Eagle Gym set to get brighter as Ateneo gets new backer". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved August 3, 2021.
9. Baang, Joaquin (September 12, 2023). "Blue Eagle Gym undergoes major renovations, briefly relocates athletes". The Guidon. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
10. Ulanday, John Bryan. "Blue Eagles try to defend home turf vs dangerous Tigers". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
11. "Memo # U2324-064" (PDF). Office of the President of the Ateneo de Manila University. October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
12. Jacinto, Christian (October 10, 2025). "UAAP returns to the Blue Eagle Gym for the first time in 20 years". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
13. Terrado, Reuben (October 28, 2025). "Gilas to play Fiba World Cup qualifier vs Guam at Blue Eagle Gym". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 18, 2025.

External links

• Media related to Blue Eagle Gym at Wikimedia Commons
• Blue Eagle Gym
• The Blue Eagle Gym flies again