Cassell Coliseum

Cassell Coliseum
Construction

Former names	VPI Coliseum (1962–1977)
Location	Washington Street & Beamer Way Blacksburg, VA 24060
Owner	Virginia Tech
Operator	Virginia Tech
Capacity	10,052^[1] (1995-present) 9,971 (1988-1995) 10,000 (1962-1988)
Surface	Hardwood
Broke ground	1961
Opened	January 3, 1962
Construction cost	$2.7 million ($21.1 million in 2016 dollars^[2])
Architect	Carneal and Johnston
General contractor	T.C. Brittain and Company
Tenants
Virginia Tech Hokies (Men's & Women's Basketball, Volleyball, & Wrestling)

Cassell Coliseum is a 10,052-seat multi-purpose arena in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States that opened in 1962. It is home to the Virginia Tech Hokies men's and women's basketball teams.

History

Built as a replacement for the much smaller War Memorial Gymnasium, the Coliseum's construction began in 1961. It was fully completed in December 1964 at a cost of $2.7 million.^[3] It was designed by Carneal and Johnston (now Ballou Justice Upton Architects, Richmond, Va) and built by T.C. Brittain and Company of Decatur, Georgia. Originally just referred to as "the Coliseum," it was dedicated on September 17, 1977 to the late Stuart K. Cassell, former school business manager, first Vice President of Administration, and major supporter of the building of the arena.

The first game was on January 3, 1962 when the Hokies played Alabama. The Hokies won 91-67. Unfortunately, the crowd sat on the concrete floor to watch the game because the seats had not arrived.

Cassell Coliseum

In the early years of the Coliseum, the Hokies frequently saw capacity crowds pack the venue. However, student and alumni interest in basketball decreased in the 1990s due to the Hokies' lack of a stable basketball conference home (the Hokies were in three different conferences in nine seasons) and due to the success of the football team. Fan support has begun to gain momentum under coach Seth Greenberg and the school's recent move to the ACC. A raucous student section, nicknamed the "Cassell Guard," has helped transform the Coliseum into a difficult venue for opposing teams in an athletic conference ripe with intimidating basketball arenas.

On June 27, 1996, a construction worker fell 90 feet to his death on the coliseum floor. Dewey Wayne Duncan of Pulaski, VA, who was working outside the coliseum on the roof, stepped on a section of the roof that was covered only by a ceiling tile. The tile collapsed, and Duncan fell through the roof.

On April 17, 2007, a memorial convocation was held there in response to the shootings of 32 students and faculty on the Virginia Tech campus the previous day. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura attended the event.

Over the years, Cassell has undergone various updates, most recently those being a new sound system, new lights inside building over the court, a well as a refinished court.

On August 5th, 2015, it was reported that Carilion Clinic has bought naming rights to the arena's court for $500,000 a year for the next 10 years. The Virginia Tech Carilion Court at Cassell Coliseum was dedicated in December 2015.^[4]

Major games

Scoreboard of the VT - Duke Upset

On January 10, 1983, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team defeated the number one ranked Memphis State Tigers 69-56 in front of 10,000 fans. It was the first time a number one team had played in Cassell Coliseum and the Hokies first win over a number one ranked team.^[5]

On February 17, 2005, during Virginia Tech's first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Blue Devils were ranked 7th nationally. By the end of the night, the Blue Devils were handed a 67-65 loss by the Hokies in front of 9,847 fans. It was the first time that Virginia Tech had beaten Duke since 1966.^[6]

On January 13, 2007, Virginia Tech defeated the number one ranked North Carolina Tar Heels 94-88. At one point in the game, the Hokies led by 29 points. They were able to hold off a strong surge by the Tar Heels to seal the victory.

On March 22, 2010, Virginia Tech beat UConn in Cassell on national television in the second round of the NIT tournament. Trailing 63-62, the Hokies' defense pressured Connecticut into a backcourt violation. With 14.1 seconds remaining, the Hokies took the lead with a Dorenzo Hudson jump shot. The Hokies' defense was able to stop Connecticut from scoring for a 65-62 victory.

On February 26, 2011, Duke fell to Virginia Tech 64-60. At the time Duke was the number one ranked team in the country. It was Virginia Tech's fourth upset of a number one ranked team under Seth Greenberg. New York Giant, David Wilson was seen doing back flips on the court with fellow classmate and track & field star, Nick McLaughlin following a halftime award ceremony recognizing the 2011 ACC Indoor Track and Field Champions.

The largest crowd ever at the Cassell was 11,500 for a game against Purdue on December 3, 1966.

References

↑ "Cassell Coliseum". vt.edu.
↑ "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
↑ "Men's Basketball:Cassell Coliseum". hokiesports.com.
↑ "Dedication of Virginia Tech Carilion Court at Cassell Coliseum". Carilion Clinic. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
↑ Anderson, Mike (January 11, 1983). "Tech stuns MSU". Collegiate Times: A1.
↑ "Hokies Surprise The Blue Devils". washingtonpost.com.

External links

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Academics	College of Arts and Human Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Architecture and Urban Studies Pamplin College of Business College of Engineering Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute School of Public and International Affairs School of Biomedical Engineering & Sciences College of Natural Resources and Environment College of Osteopathic Medicine College of Science College of Veterinary Medicine

Research	Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center Virginia Tech Foundation Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance System X System G Virginia Smart Road eCorridors Program e-58 Stability Wind Tunnel PATH Virginia school of political economy VLA DARwIn-OP Nanoknife Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital LibX Mid Atlantic Terascale Partnership VTLS Blacksburg Electronic Village Pelikan tail Virginia School Leaders Institute NIA Super Dual Auroral Radar Network eTBLAST Head impact telemetry system Metal rubber NEXTOR NetworkVirginia Sugar battery

Athletics	Atlantic Coast Conference Fighting Gobblers HokieBird Old Hokie Tech Triumph UVA–VT rivalry BC–VT rivalry RU–VT rivalry Football Commonwealth Cup Black Diamond Trophy Men's soccer Women's soccer Men's Basketball Baseball Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network Lane Stadium Cassell Coliseum English Field Berglund Center Collegiate Water Polo Association Thompson Field

Campus	Virginia Tech campus Virginia Tech National Capital Region Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center Virginia Tech Richmond Center Hotel Roanoke Hillcrest Honors Community Preston and Olin Institute Reynolds Homestead BCB Airport

Life	Collegiate Times Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Highty-Tighties The Marching Virginians The New Virginians Virginia Tech Rescue Squad The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech United States v. Morrison WUVT-FM WVTF HEVT WBRW Early Music Ensemble at Virginia Tech Tech Talk Live Radio IQ Index of Middle English Verse Hahn Horticulture Garden Hokie Stone Graduating Peter New River Valley History Virginia Tech shooting Stroubles Creek Home Ride Blacksburg Transit Valley Metro Police Department

People	List of Virginia Tech alumni List of Virginia Tech Presidents List of Virginia Tech head football coaches Virginia Tech commencement speakers

Commons Category

Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball

Venues	War Memorial Gymnasium (1926–1961) Cassell Coliseum (1962–present)

Rivalries	Virginia

Culture & lore	History HokieBird "Tech Triumph"

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

Virginia Tech Hokies women's basketball

Venues	Cassell Coliseum (1976–present)

Culture & lore	HokieBird "Tech Triumph"

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

Basketball arenas of the Atlantic Coast Conference

Conte Forum (Boston College)
Littlejohn Coliseum (Clemson)
Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)
Donald L. Tucker Center (Florida State)
Hank McCamish Pavilion (Georgia Tech)
KFC Yum! Center (Louisville)
BankUnited Center (Miami)
PNC Arena (NC State, men's)
Reynolds Coliseum (NC State, women's)
Dean Smith Center (North Carolina, men's)
Carmichael Arena (North Carolina, women's)
Joyce Center (Notre Dame)
Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh)
Carrier Dome (Syracuse)
John Paul Jones Arena (Virginia)
Cassell Coliseum (Virginia Tech)
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Wake Forest)

Volleyball arenas of the Atlantic Coast Conference

Power Gym (Boston College)
Jervey Athletic Center (Clemson)
Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)
Tully Gymnasium (Florida State)
O'Keefe Gymnasium (Georgia Tech)
KFC Yum! Center/Cardinal Arena (Louisville)
Knight Complex (Miami)
Reynolds Coliseum (NC State)
Carmichael Arena (North Carolina)
Edmund P. Joyce Center (Notre Dame)
Fitzgerald Field House (Pittsburgh)
Women's Building (Syracuse)
Memorial Gymnasium (Virginia)
Cassell Coliseum (Virginia Tech)
Reynolds Gymnasium (Wake Forest)

Coordinates: 37°13′20″N 80°25′8″W / 37.22222°N 80.41889°W / 37.22222; -80.41889

Music venues of Virginia

Outdoor venues	Blue Ridge Music Center Brown's Island Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach Jiffy Lube Live Meadow Event Park NTelos Wireless Pavilion Dick Price Stadium Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

Theaters and clubs	The Birchmere Carter Family Fold The Coffee Pot Harrison Opera House Jammin' Java JV's Restaurant Landmark Theater Little Grill Collective National Theater Norva Theatre Palace Theatre State Theatre

Arenas	Berglund Center Cassell Coliseum Ted Constant Convocation Center Hampton Coliseum Hampton University Convocation Center James Madison University Convocation Center John Paul Jones Arena Norfolk State University - Echols Hall Norfolk Scope Patriot Center Richmond Coliseum Salem Civic Center Stuart C. Siegel Center Vines Center William & Mary Hall

Festival sites	FloydFest Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival

Historical venues	Trax

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, March 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.

Cassell Coliseum

History

Major games

See also

References

External links