Knott Arena is a multi-purpose sports arena at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It opened in 1987 and is home to the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball and women's basketball teams. [1] The arena has a seating capacity of approximately 3,200 for basketball and 4,000 for other events. [2] [3]
In 2006, the home court was named in honor of longtime men's basketball head coach Jim Phelan, who amassed a school-record 830 wins between 1954 and 2003. [1] [4] [5] [6]
The arena is part of the larger Knott Athletic Recreation Convocation Complex (ARCC), which serves as an athletic and recreation center. The complex encompasses the main arena, a concourse area, a field house, and an indoor pool. [7] [8] Adjacent to the ARCC are other outdoor facilities for Mount St. Mary's athletics, including tennis courts, a track, a synthetic turf field, and softball and baseball fields. [1]
Frederick County Public Schools has used Knott Arena for high school graduation ceremonies. [9]
On October 4, 2015, President Barack Obama spoke at the arena during the 34th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. [10]
In 2024, the concourse area underwent substantial renovations, removing a wall and installing new graphics, lighting, flooring, and painting. The new concourse was dedicated to former athletic director Lynne Phelan Robinson. [11] [12] [13]