Montagne Center

Last updated
Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center
Neches Arena at Montagne Center LamarvsPaulQuinnMBB123023-1.jpg
Montagne Center
Location4400 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Beaumont, Texas 77710
Coordinates 30°2′38″N94°4′15″W / 30.04389°N 94.07083°W / 30.04389; -94.07083
Owner Lamar University
Operator Lamar University
Executive suitesRed Room: 20 to 150
Morgan Suites: 7 Suites with 16 seats each (face football field)
Capacity Maximum: 10,746
Basketball: 10,080
(Permanent seating: 8,102 and telescopic chairback seating system: 1,978)
Record attendanceMen's Game: 10,010
(on January 10, 1987 vs McNeese State Cowboys) [1]
Women's Game: 9,143
(on March 17, 1991 vs
LSU Lady Tigers) [2] [3]
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundJune 20, 1983 (1983-06-20)
BuiltJune 20, 1983 (1983-06-20)–November 1984 (1984-11) [4]
OpenedNovember 24, 1984 (1984-11-24)
Renovated2005, 2008 (Major repairs due to Hurricanes Rita and Ike) [5] [6]
Expanded1985 (1985)
Construction cost$12.5 million
($36.7 million in 2023 dollars [7] )
ArchitectLaBiche Architectural Group
Structural engineer Walter P Moore [8]
Tenants
Lamar Cardinals men's basketball
Lamar Cardinals women's basketball
Website
Montagne Center

Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at theMontagne Center, built in 1984, is a mixed-use event center that houses a 10,746-seat a multi-purpose arena and a variety of event spaces in Beaumont, Texas. The Montagne Center was designed especially for the basketball program with a wing designated for instructional purposes. The Montagne Center is currently home to the Lamar University Cardinals, the Lady Cardinals basketball teams, and the Lamar University Pathway Program, Lamar University's language program. The arena was previously the home of the Lady Cardinals volleyball team until renovations to McDonald Gym were completed in 2006–07. The Montagne's instructional area has been home to Lamar's language program since 2010 when the Lamar Language Institute (LLI) first moved there, then transitioned to TIEP at Lamar in 2011, and became the Lamar University Language Program (LUPP) in 2017.

Contents

Features

Interior of the arena in 2023. Neches Arena at Montagne Center LamarvsPaulQuinnMBB123023-8.jpg
Interior of the arena in 2023.

The Montagne Center is a mixed-use facility with a split funding arrangement, as required by state statute. Much of the center is devoted to sports and special events; a wing of the center is devoted to education.

The Sports & Events Center

After one year of operation, the arena's seating capacity was expanded from 8,000 in basketball configuration to its current seating capacity of 10,080. [9] The 10,080 capacity is made up of 8,102 permanent seats and a telescopic chairback seating system totaling 1,978 seats. All seats in the arena are chairbacked and all are cushioned with the exception of folding back seats in the four topmost rows of seats. Including floor seating, the arena has a maximum capacity of 10,746 in event configuration. The arena was named Neches Federal Credit Union Arena in 2023 in return for a $3.5 million donation by Neches Federal Credit Union. Naming rights to the arena extend to December 31, 2033. [10]

The arena floor can host sporting events including basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor seating, the Montagne Center can be configured for hosting concert events. The arena floor (which can be expanded to 165' x121') can also be transformed into hosting graduation ceremonies, proms, dances, banquets and conferences.

The Morgan Suites and Red Room are both sports suites housed in the Montagne. The Morgan suites face the football field and are priced at $25,000 a year. Each of the seven suites has seating for 16. The Red Room is a university reception center for alumni and reunion events. The Red Room is unique because one side has windows facing the North end of the Football field while the other side faces the basketball court.

The building includes the following in addition to the main arena area:

Educational Area

The educational wing houses the Lamar University Pathway Program, is located on the ground floor of the Montagne Center and contains a variety of instructional space designated to serve domestic and international students and ESOL teacher development. Language contains 5 modern equipped classrooms, a computer lab/classroom, office and conference suite, and student lounge.

Lamar University Pathway Program (LUPP) offers three language programs through domestic and international collaborations.

Annual events

Other notable features

On February 19, 2011, during halftime Billy Tubbs was honored by Lamar with the naming of the Montagne Center basketball court in his and his wife's honor. The court was named the "Billy & Pat Tubbs Court". [11] [12] During the same halftime ceremony Lamar also honored Billy's 78-79 Cardinal squad the first team in Lamar University history to advance to the NCAA tournament.

A small piece of the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament East Regional – Syracuse, New York is now part of the Montagne Center. The goals used in the Syracuse Regional were moved to and installed in the Montagne Center in April 2015. [13]

Recovery from Hurricanes Rita and Ike

The Montagne Center received significant damage from both Hurricane Rita (September 24, 2005) and Hurricane Ike (September 13, 2008). According to a November 2005 issue of the Cardinal Cadence, Lamar University's Alumni magazine, Rita severely damaged the roof leaving gaping holes. Exterior tiles around the building were blown out leaving the arena area exposed. Also, the mezzanine entrances were destroyed. [5] Hurricane Ike, striking three years later, also did significant damage to the center. According to an October 2008 issue of the Cardinal Cadence, exterior tiles again were blown out and the roof was damaged. Additionally, glass walls gave way. [6]

Improvements

Attendance

Source: [22]

Top 10 attendance marks

Below is a list of the Cardinals 10 best-attended games men's* home games (all at the Montagne Center).

Rk.DateOpponentAttendance
Top 10 Attendance
1January 10, 1987 McNeese State 10,010
2February 27, 1986McNeese State9,467
3December 16, 1985 LSU 9,432
4January 24, 1987 Arkansas State 8,992
5March 15, 1985 Houston 8,610
6December 27, 1995 Texas 8,454
7February 23, 2008 Northwestern St. 8,338
8January 26, 1985 Louisiana Tech 8,317
9March 20, 1985 Chattanooga 8,245
10November 26, 1985 Villanova 8,216

As of the 2018–19 season.
*Note: Record home attendance for a Lady Cardinals game at the Montagne Center of 9,143 was on March 17, 1991, vs the LSU Lady Tigers. [23] [24]

Yearly Attendance

Below is a list of the attendance by year since the Cardinals moved into the Montagne Center.

SeasonAverageHigh
Yearly Attendance
2022–23 [25] 1,8532,620
2021–22 [25] 2,2213,532
2020–21 [25] 1,2822,359*
2019–20 [25] 2,2564,254
2018–19 [25] 2,3565,218
2017–18 [25] 1,5602,196
2016–17 [25] 1,8902,774
2015–16 [25] 1,7762,312
2014-15 [25] 2,1733,543
2013-14 [25] 2,1703,984
2012-13 [25] 2,6646,059
2011-12 [25] 2,8345,138
2010-11 [25] 3,1765,083
2009-10 [25] 2,9704,675
2008-09 [25] 3,6736,182
2007-08 [25] 3,7048,338
2006-07 [25] 3,5797,497
2005-06 [25] 3,2695,173
2004-05 [25] 3,9866,164
2003-04 [25] 4,0635,347
2002-03 [25] 3,3384,537
2001-02 [25] 2,6704,147
2000-01 [25] 2,7685,033
1999-2000 [25] 3,7046,271
1998-99 [25] 3,3826,193
1997-98 [25] 4,4427,584
1996-97 [25] 2,6385,089
1995-96 [25] 2,8228,454
1994-95 [25] 2,2944,142
1993-94 [25] 2,9873,876
1992-93 [25] 3,8618,033
1991-92 [25] 3,6025,642
1990-91 [25] 5,4377,641
1989-90 [25] 1,6292,932
1988-89 [25] 4,5626,615
1987-88 [25] 4,5627,504
1986-87 [25] 6,61510,010
1985-86 [25] 6,3269,467
1984-85 [25] 6,3068,310

* Fall 2020 attendance limited to 25% capacity due to COVID19 precautions. [26]
As of the 2021–22 season.

See also

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The Lamar Lady Cardinals volleyball team represents Lamar University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. The Lady Cardinals compete in the Southland Conference and play their home games at McDonald Gym, an on campus facility in Beaumont, Texas. Ariel Apolinario was named head coach on January 5, 2024. He replaced former head coach Brandon Crisp who left the program on November 13, 2023.

The 2023–24 Lamar Cardinals basketball team represents Lamar University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals are led by third-year head coach Alvin Brooks and play their home games at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, Texas.

References

  1. ↑ "Lamar Basketball 2011-12 Info Guide" (PDF). Lamar University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. p. 7. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ "FINAL 1991 DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICS REPORT" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  3. ↑ "LSU Women's Basketball 2009-10 Media Guide". LSU Athletics. 19 October 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Lamar University Montagne Center | Beaumont, TX 77705".
  5. 1 2 http://www.lamar.edu/_files/documents/news/cardinal-cadence/2005-2004-issues/LR_cadence_vol334.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. 1 2 http://www.lamar.edu/_files/documents/news/cardinal-cadence/2009-2008-issues/LR_cadence_vol362.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Arenas". Walter P Moore. Archived from the original on July 8, 2000. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "LAMAR CARDINALS Official Athletic SiteFacilities". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  10. ↑ Matt Faye (August 30, 2023). "Cardinals basketball arena gets new name amid Neches FCU partnership". Beaumont Enterprise. Hearst Newspapers II, LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ Dabe, Christopher (February 19, 2011). "Lamar Men Extend Win Streak to Three". Beaumont Enterprise . Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  12. ↑ West, Bob (February 19, 2011). "Simmons, Lamar Made Great Move on Tubbs Court". The Port Arthur News . Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Montagne Center Gets Upgrade". Lamar University Department of Athletics. April 22, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  14. ↑ Brian Sattler (October 27, 2015). "Montagne Center court gets new look". Lamar University. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Montagne Center Court Gets New Look". Lamar University Athletics. October 27, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Montagne Center Gets New Scoreboard in 2016". Lamar University Athletics. October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Lamar Cardinals Upgrade the Montagne Center in 2016 with New Nevco Equipment". Nevco. April 27, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ Pat Murrary (October 18, 2016). "Montagne Center gets new video board". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  19. ↑ Danny Shapiro (October 27, 2016). "Lamar University shows off Montagne Center Upgrades". Beaumont Enterprise. Hearst Newspapers, II LLC . Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  20. ↑ Danny Shapiro (November 22, 2017). "Interim Lamar AD unveils plans for facilities upgrades". Beaumont Enterprise. Hearst Newspapers, LLC II. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Lamar University Public Disclosure Report FY 2018 Procurement over $15,000" (PDF). Lamar University. August 31, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  22. ↑ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/6-3-6.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  23. ↑ "FINAL 1991 DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICS REPORT" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ "LSU Women's Basketball 2009-10 Media Guide". LSU Athletics. 19 October 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 "Archived Team-by-Team Final Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  26. ↑ "COVID-19 Guidelines for LU Campus Events" (PDF). Lamar University. Retrieved June 8, 2022. Until further notice, attendance at campus events will be limited to 25% of the venue's seating capacity and adherence to social distancing of 6 feet between each individual, family, or party in attendance. (Larger parties may be asked to separate into smaller groups for safety.)
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