Williams Arena
"The Barn" | |
 | |
| Former names | Minnesota Field House (1928-1950) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1925 University Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Owner | Univ. of Minnesota |
| Operator | Univ. of Minnesota |
| Capacity | 14,625 (Arena proper) 5,700 (Sports Pavilion) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1927 |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Construction cost | $650,000 |
| Tenants | |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers (Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Gymnastics, Volleyball and Wrestling) | |
Williams Arena is on the Twin Cities main campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Initially known as the Minnesota Field House (another building has that name today), it was constructed in the 1920s and opened in 1928. The arena was remodeled in the 1950s, and renamed Williams Arena after Dr. Henry L. Williams, the football coach from 1900 to 1921. The building is known affectionately as "The Barn," and its student section is known as The Barnyard. During the 1950s renovation, it was divided into two separate arenas within one building. The larger one (Williams Arena proper) houses the men's and women's Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball teams. The smaller arena (formerly "old" Mariucci Arena, currently the Sports Pavilion) was originally used by the ice hockey team until the early 1990s, when it relocated across the street to a new arena. That smaller arena now houses the volleyball, wrestling and gymnastic teams.
| 1928–1950 | 14,100 |
| 1950–1971 | 18,025 |
| 1971–1987 | 17,500 |
| 1987–1993 | 16,434 |
| 1993–present | 14,321 |
From 1950 until the opening of Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in 1971, it had the largest capacity of any collegiate basketball arena in the country. Also, it is one of only a few basketball stadiums that still has a raised floor. Memorial Gymnasium at Vanderbilt University and Robertson Memorial Field House at Bradley University are two other arenas with raised floors. The Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University was also constructed in 1928, and held the honor of being the highest capacity arena until the remodeling of Williams Arena in 1950.
The venue hosted the 1951 men's NCAA basketball championship and the Frozen Four in 1958 and 1966.
