Convocation Center (Eastern Michigan University)

Convocation Center
Construction
The Convo

Location	799 North Hewitt Road Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
Public transit	Trinity from EMU Student Center
Owner	Eastern Michigan University
Operator	Eastern Michigan University
Executive suites	8
Capacity	8,824
Broke ground	1997
Opened	December 9, 1998
Construction cost	$29.6 million ($43 million in 2016 dollars^[1])
Architect	Rossetti Architects
General contractor	Barton Malow
Tenants
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Website
http://www.EMUtix.com

Exterior 2008

Convocation Center inside 2010

The Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center is a multi-purpose arena, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The facility is owned by Eastern Michigan University. The event has hosted concerts, graduation ceremonies and athletic events. The facility was built in 1997.

History

Construction began in the spring of 1997 and culminated with its grand opening, December 9, 1998, with a men's basketball game against the University of Michigan in front of a crowd of 7,647.^[2] Since its opening, it has served as home court for the Eagles' men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. The EMU wrestling team has held several dual meets on the arena floor.^[2] It has also served as the site for two Mid-American Conference Championships. EMU hosted the 2000 MAC Gymnastics Championship and the 2002 MAC Wrestling Championship. It has been the host site for four first-round MAC Women's Basketball Tournament games, three first-round MAC Volleyball Tournament games and one first-round game for the men's basketball squad.

Along with their commitment to EMU Athletics, it has hosted concerts. It is also the site for EMU's spring and winter commencement ceremonies. Other events have included youth sporting competitions, high school commencements, trade shows, job fairs, conventions, charity and community awareness events and a circus.^[2]

Facilities

The 204,316-square-foot (18,981.6 m²) facility features three levels (arena, concourse, and office) and three seating configurations to maximize crowd capacity and space usage. The largest seating capacity is for center-stage entertainment activities, with 9,500 seats available. The capacity for basketball games is approximately 8,800.^[2]

EMU's athletic administration is located on the office level, along with offices for the EMU football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball coaching staffs. The EMU Sports Information Office, as well as offices for the staff, are located on the office level.

The main athletic training room and office space for EMU's sports medicine staff is located on the arena level as are strength and conditioning facilities and equipment rooms.

Athletic events

EMU Basketball

On March 18, 2014, Eastern Michigan received national attention when a CollegeInsider.com tournament game at the Convo – EMU's first men's basketball postseason game in 16 years – drew 373 fans. Senior forward Glenn Bryant tweeted his frustration at the small crowd, which was picked up by national media.^[3] Despite a 22-win season, EMU drew an average of 901 fans per home game in 2013–14 (10.2% of capacity). In 2014-15, EMU chalked up 21 wins and another postseason berth (at the College Basketball Invitational); however, attendance was even lower, just 776 per contest. (Eastern has never come close to selling out the Convo Center in its history; even the 1998 opener against Michigan featured over a thousand empty seats.)

2008 WNBA Finals

Due to the unavailability of The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Detroit Shock moved three WNBA playoff games to the Convo Center in the fall of 2008: two games in the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 3 of the 2008 WNBA Finals, against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Shock won game 3 and the WNBA title, 76-60; the contest was broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Concerts

The facility has hosted performers such as The Killers, Jay-Z,^[4] Deadmau5,^[5] Kid Cudi,^[6] Jason Mraz,^[6] and Dave Chappelle.^[7]

References

↑ "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
1 2 3 4 "Convo Center History". Eastern Michigan University. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
↑ Vance, Bryan M. (March 18, 2014). "373 People Came to Watch EMU Beat Norfolk State Tuesday Night, Glenn Bryant Isn't Happy". SB Nation. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
↑ "Jay-Z Performs at EMU convocation center". Eastern Michigan University. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
↑ "Deadmu5 at Eastern Michigan University". Eastern Michigan University. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
1 2 "Kid Cudi Jason Mraz Perform in Ypsilanti". Eastern Michigan University. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
↑ "Dave Chappelle At EMU". Eastern Michigan University. Retrieved June 19, 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 42°15′16″N 83°38′50″W / 42.25444°N 83.64722°W / 42.25444; -83.64722

Eastern Michigan University

Academics	College of Arts and Sciences College of Education College of Business College of Health and Human Services College of Technology Graduate School Honors College

Campus	EMU University sites University history Buildings On campus EMU Historic District Campus safety

Student life	EMU Student Center EMU housing WEMU WQBR Eastern Echo

Facilities	Building list Halle Library Olds-Robb Rec/IM McKenny Hall Pease Auditorium Brinkerhoff-Becker House Sherzer Observatory Convocation Center Rynearson Stadium Bowen Field House Oestrike Stadium Eagle Crest

Athletics	Eastern Michigan Eagles Athletic bands Swoop Football Men's basketball Women's basketball Baseball Men's cross country Wrestling Gymnastics Swimming and diving Track and field

People	EMU presidents Kim Schatzel Notable faculty and alumni Football coaches

Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball

Venues	Bowen Field House (1955–1998) Convocation Center (1998–present)

Rivalries	In-state MAC schools

Culture & lore	Swoop

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1897–98 1898–99 1899–00 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 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

Basketball arenas of the Mid-American Conference

East Division	Rhodes Arena (Akron) Stroh Center (Bowling Green) Alumni Arena (Buffalo) Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (Kent State) Millett Hall (Miami) Convocation Center (Ohio)

West Division	Worthen Arena (Ball State) McGuirk Arena (Central Michigan) Convocation Center (Eastern Michigan) Convocation Center (Northern Illinois) Savage Arena (Toledo) University Arena (Western Michigan)

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