Crisler Center

Last updated
Crisler Center
"The House that Cazzie Built" [1] [2]
Crisler Center, an arena in Ann Arbor, MI that hosts various Michigan Wolverines athletics events.jpg
Crisler Center, as seen from above.
Crisler Center
Former namesUniversity Events Building (1967–1970)
Crisler Arena (1970–2011)
Location333 E Stadium Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Coordinates 42°15′54″N83°44′48″W / 42.265037°N 83.746768°W / 42.265037; -83.746768
Owner University of Michigan
OperatorUniversity of Michigan
Capacity 13,684 (1967)
13,609 (1968–1991)
13,562 (1991–2001)
13,751 (2001–2011)
12,721 (2011–2012)
12,693 (2012–2013)
12,707 (2013–present) [3]
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 18, 1965
OpenedDecember 6, 1967
Renovated1998, 2001, 2012 [3]
Construction cost$7.2 million ($65.8 million in 2023 dollars) [4]
Architect Daniel L. Dworsky Associates
Kenneth C. Black Associates, Inc. [5]
General contractorSpence Brothers Company [5]
Tenants
Michigan Men's Basketball (NCAA) (1967–present)
Michigan Women's Basketball (NCAA) (1974–present)
Michigan Women's Gymnastics (NCAA) (1978–1989, 2004–present)
Former tenants
Michigan Men's Gymnastics (1978–1989)
Michigan Wrestling (1967–1989)
Michigan Volleyball (1984–1986)

Crisler Center (formerly known as the University Events Building and Crisler Arena) is an indoor arena located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the home arena for the University of Michigan's men's and women's basketball teams as well as its women's gymnastics team. [3] Constructed in 1967, the arena seats 12,707 spectators. It is named for Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler, head football coach at Michigan from 1938 to 1947 and athletic director thereafter until his retirement in 1968. Crisler Center was designed by Dan Dworsky, a member of the 1948 Rose Bowl-winning Michigan football team. Among other structures that he has designed is the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Los Angeles Branch.

Contents

The arena is often called "The House that Cazzie Built", a reference to player Cazzie Russell, who starred on Michigan teams that won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles from 1964 to 1966. Russell's popularity caused the team's fan base to outgrow Yost Fieldhouse (now Yost Ice Arena) and prompted the construction of the current facility. [1] [2]

At Michigan men's basketball games, the bleacher seats behind the benches are home to the Maize Rage student section.

Tenants

Crisler Center has been the home of Michigan Wolverines men's basketball since its opening in 1967. The women's basketball team has been at Crisler Center since 1974. It has also been the home of Michigan's wrestling, women's volleyball and men's gymnastics teams. The gymnastics team hosted events at Crisler Center from 1978 to 1989. The wrestling team called Crisler Center its home from 1967 to 1989. The women's gymnastics team competed at Crisler Center from 1978 to 1989 before moving to Cliff Keen Arena in 1990 before ultimately returning to Crisler Center as their primary home in 2004.

Other events

Black Panther Bobby Seale at John Sinclair Freedom Rally on 10 December 1971 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan Bobby Seale at John Sinclair Freedom Rally.jpg
Black Panther Bobby Seale at John Sinclair Freedom Rally on 10 December 1971 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Despite being on a Big Ten Conference campus, the facility hosted the 19801982 Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament. It has also hosted Big Ten and NCAA gymnastics championships, the 1999 Big Ten wrestling championship, and other events. Prior to the opening of Cliff Keen Arena, the arena was the full-time home to the men's and women's gymnastics teams and the wrestling team. The women's gymnastics team continues to hold significant meets in the arena. [3]

The arena has also hosted concerts, including the opening show of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's The River Tour. Elvis Presley performed at the arena on April 24, 1977.

Crisler Center was also the site of the famous "ten-for-two" John Sinclair Freedom Rally, featuring John Lennon & Yoko Ono in 1971.

The 2014 NCAA Men's Gymnastics championship was held at Crisler Center. Michigan's Men's Gymnastics team won their second consecutive national championship in that meet.

The arena has also hosted graduations, including Michigan’s Dearborn campus’ winter commencements every year.

Crisler Arena Panorama.jpg
Panorama of the interior during a 2008 graduation ceremony.

Renovation

The university completed a $52 million renovation to the Crisler Center in 2012. [6] A new scoreboard was added along with the construction of an athletic facility in between the arena and Michigan Stadium called the Junge Family Champions Center. Along with the Junge Center, the University added the Mortenson Family Plaza on the roof of the Junge Center. The outside walls were torn down and the concourse was expanded. A new grand entrance along with new boxes were expected to be ready by January 2013, but were completed just before the start of the 2012–13 Basketball season, much earlier than originally planned. The renovations also included renovations to the control room, updating the controllers for game stats and content for the University of Michigan football stadium and the Crisler Center. [7]

Part of the Crisler renovation also included the construction of the William Davidson Player Development Center (WDPDC). The $23.2 million facility boasts 2 full courts with 10 baskets, weight room, sports medicine training room, and two identical wings for Men's and Women's basketball offices. [8]

See also

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The 1963–64 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1963–64 season. The team played its home games at Fielding H. Yost Field House on the school's campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Under the direction of head coach Dave Strack, the team tied for the Big Ten Conference Championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes. This was the first of three consecutive Big Ten titles and Michigan's first visit to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four. According to the Michigan's Basketball media guide, during the season junior Bill Buntin led the Big Ten conference in rebounding, although the Big Ten records, which count only conference games, do not recognize this fact. The team earned the Big Ten team statistical championships for both scoring defense (75.5) and scoring margin (10.3). Sophomore Cazzie Russell led the team in scoring with 24.8, while Buntin added 23.2 points per game. The team spent the entire 15-week season ranked in the Associated Press Top Ten Poll, ending the season ranked number two after starting the season ranked number eight. The team also finished the season ranked number two in the final UPI Coaches' Poll. Bob Cantrell served as team captain, while Russell earned team MVP. Buntin earned All-American recognition. During the season, Russell established the school single-season point total record with 670. On December 11, 1963, against the Butler Bulldogs, Buntin made all eleven of his field goals which is the best 100% shooting night in Michigan history. Russell made 150 of 178 free throws to establish the school single-season free throw percentage record of 84.27, which stood for 32 years and continues to be the highest percentage by a Wolverine sophomore. Buntin made 151 free throws which was a school record that Russell eclipsed the following season.

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References

  1. 1 2 Kornacki, Steve (October 29, 2014). "Michigan Great Russell Reflects on 'The House That Cazzie Built'". MGoBlue. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Dorn, Mihn (November 5, 2016). "Russell visits 'the house he built' for the very first time". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Crisler Center Archived 2012-01-01 at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  4. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "University Events Building - Crisler Arena". University of Michigan. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  6. Jesse, David. "U-M Regents approve $52 million renovation of Crisler Arena". Annarbor.com. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  7. Michigan unveils planned scoreboards Crisler Arena
  8. Ablauf, Dave. "Player Development Center Named in Honor of William Davidson". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved 12 February 2013.