Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Men's Physical Education Building (1950-1956), Memorial Gym (1956-1992) |
|---|---|
| Location | East Summit St.<br.>Kent, OH 44242 |
| Owner | Kent State University |
| Operator | Kent State University |
| Capacity | 6,327 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1950 |
| Opened | 1952 |
| Construction cost | $1.33 million |
| Architect | Braun and Steidl (1992 Renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Kent State Golden Flashes Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Volleyball | |
The Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, also known as the MAC Center, MACC, and Memorial Gym is a multi-purpose arena in Kent, Ohio. The arena opened in 1952 and is home to the Kent State University Golden Flashes men's and women's basketball, wrestling, women's gymnastics, and women's volleyball teams. The facility currently seats 6,327 people.
Additions Over the Years
In 1977 the MAC Annex was constructed (originally known as the Memorial Gym Annex or MGA), which included a new facility for the gymnasics team that connects with the main gym by way of a removable wall. Most of the Annex addition was built as a separate building behind the MAC Center which was connected by a second floor bridge. The Annex originally included a large central gym with four adjacent basketball courts as well as auxilary gyms, courts, a weight room, classrooms, and offices for the School of Dance and the School of Exercise, Leisure, and Sport and would serve as the Kent State Recreation Center until 1999. Today the Annex also houses graduate student studios from the College of Architecture in space taken from two of the original four basketball courts. The arena itself underwent a major renovation in 1992. This renovation removed the swimming pool in the front of the building and replaced it with a new three-story lobby and the Blue and Gold Loge. The renovation also included a new scoreboard system, parquee floor, improved lighting, and new building facade outside of the lobby. During the summer of 2006, a new court was installed, along with a new scoreboard system.
Inside the Arena
Built as a physical education building, the interior of the arena is basically a large gymnasium consisting of four seating areas on each side of the floor with balcony seating along each sideline. All seating sections are bleacher seats except for chairback seats in the Blue and Gold Loge and in the lower sideline seats opposite the team benches.
-
Looking south towards main lobby with Blue and Gold Loge visible at the top. -
East sideline seats and balcony -
West sideline seats and balcony and team benches -
North end zone with removable wall to gymnastics center.
Lobby
The lobby includes an elevator, concession stands, the ticket office, and the Blue and Gold Trophy Room.
-
Main lobby, showing ticket office -
Another view of main lobby showing elevator and thrid floor
Second Floor
Galleries on the second floor honor Kent State's all-Americans and Hall of Fame members.
Also
The building also houses administrative and coaches' offices and hosts a variety of events including guest speakers, concerts, and graduations for both the university and local high schools.