CFSB Center

CFSB Center
"The Bank"
Former names Regional Special Events Center
Location 1401 State Route 121 North
Murray, KY 42071
Owner Murray State University
Operator Murray State University
Capacity 8,602 - Basketball
7,800 - Concerts
Surface Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground 1995
Opened September 12, 1998
Construction cost $23 million
($33.4 million in 2016 dollars[1])
Architect Peck, Flannery, Gream, Warren, Inc.[2]
General contractor Bell & Associates Construction[2]
Tenants
Murray State Racers (1998–present)

The CFSB Center is an 8,600 seat arena located in Murray, Kentucky near the intersection of Ky. 121 and U.S. 641. The arena is the home of the Murray State Racers Basketball teams. It was previously known as the Regional Special Events Center, or "RSEC", until the name was changed on September 17, 2010 following a $3.3 million donation from Community Financial Services Bank to Murray State Athletics. While the CFSB Center is commonly used for basketball, it was designed as a multi-purpose facility that also frequently hosts concerts, trade shows, and conventions.[3][4]

History

RSEC as it appeared before naming rights were sold to CFSB

The Regional Special Events Center (RSEC) was built as a replacement for Racer Arena, the school's former basketball arena. While Racer Arena was structurally sound (it still stands and is now used for volleyball), it was growing increasingly obsolete, and its capacity of 5,500 proved too small for the men's basketball program. Talk of a new basketball arena began around 1978, when the basketball program was beginning to make big strides toward success. The project became reality in the early 1990s when the Kentucky General Assembly appropriated $18 million for construction of the project on the condition that the school would raise at least $2 million locally. Ground was broken in 1995; however, construction problems and cost overruns delayed completion of the facility until 1998 and pushed the total cost to $23 million for the 188,800 square foot facility.

RSEC officially opened on September 12, 1998, but the first event was actually the Kentucky Baptist Youth Conference in June 1998, which took place before construction was completed. Tim McGraw played the first concert at the facility on September 26, 1998 to a crowd of about 8,000 people.[5]

In 2004, new basketball locker rooms and a weight room were constructed in the Regional Special Events Center. Additional enhancements were implemented between August and September 2009, including a new playing floor and two wide screen video boards measuring 10 feet tall and 18 feet wide.[6]

Community Financial Services Bank made a $3.3 million donation to Murray State athletics in September 2010 in exchange for naming rights to the Regional Special Events Center. The name of the facility officially changed to the CFSB Center on September 17, 2010. Following the donation, Murray State also unveiled plans in January 2011 for facility expansion and upgrades to the CFSB Center. Since the building was constructed as a multi-purpose facility, the other events held at the CFSB Center often restrict the amount of court time available to the Murray State basketball teams. The expansion plan calls for a new practice facility attached to the CFSB Center that will give both men's and women's basketball teams unlimited access to courts. In addition to new practice space, the expansion will include new office space for basketball coaches. The university also has plans to construct luxury boxes for the CFSB Center and relocate the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame to the CFSB Center.[7]

Relocation of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame to the CFSB Center was completed in Summer 2011, and Hastings & Chivetta was selected as the architect for construction of the new practice facility and coaching office space. Construction work on the facility expansion was originally expected to begin by November 2011; however, it was delayed until after the nationally televised final home game of the 2011-12 men's basketball season against the nationally ranked Saint Mary's Gaels. Preliminary ground work on the CFSB Center expansion finally began in late February 2012. Construction of the practice facility and office space will add more than 18,000 square feet of additional space to the CFSB Center. The construction contract was awarded to Pinnacle, Inc. of Benton, Kentucky. The addition to the CFSB Center is scheduled to open in January 2013.[8][9][10]

Features

The CFSB Center uses a split-level concourse system, with the lower level section accessed through a lower level entrance (Quad A, Northeast Entrance just off Highway 121) and the upper level accessed through any entrance, primarily at the main entrance (Quad B, Southeast Entrance just off Gilbert Graves Drive).

Lower Level

The lower level is the main concourse and features street level access from two of the four gates located on Gilbert Graves and US Highway 121. This level accesses sections 101 to 121. It is on this level where the main ticket box offices are located. The lower level also features VIP concessions, locker rooms, the Murray Room (a banquet-style or meeting space for up to 200 people), and the administrative offices.

Upper Level

The Upper level accesses sections 201 through 222, as well as standing room and four concessions areas. Surrounding the upper level is a four lane rubberized track. The state-of-the-art rubberized floor provides a safe and comfortable indoor walking experience. The track is available to Murray State students, faculty and staff, as well as the local community. Just seven laps around the track is equal to one mile (1.6 km).

Main Box Office

The CFSB Center is a Ticketmaster facility. All tickets can be bought at the facility, or online.

Sports Medicine Room

This large area is dedicated solely to the care and health of MSU athletes. It includes two general offices and a doctor's office, as well as a whirlpool room.

Weight Room

This room is utilized by the men's and women's basketball teams for strength training. All athletes who utilize the weight room are in direct supervision of their trainer.

Officials Locker Rooms

These rooms not only serve as the place where officials will come to prepare for games, but also as production offices for concerts and other special events. Road managers and the production staff have online access in these rooms.

Loading Dock Area

Built for convenience and easy access, the loading dock area includes three bays that are large enough to drive three 18-wheelers through. It also offers show power and enough shore power for four buses.

Basketball record crowds

View of the crowd inside the CFSB Center during a February 26, 2011 basketball game
# Date Opposition Attendance Score
1 February 18, 2012 Saint Mary's 8,825 65-51 (Win)
2 January 14, 2012 Tennessee Tech 8,691 82-74 (Win)
3 January 28, 2012 Eastern Illinois 8,673 73-58 (Win)
4 February 9, 2012 Tennessee State 8,668 68-72 (Loss)
5 February 11, 1999 Southeast Missouri State 8,602 62-52 (Win)
6 February 11, 2012 Austin Peay 8,587 82-63 (Win)
7 February 2, 2012 Southeast Missouri 8,369 81-73 (Win)
8 January 23, 1999 Austin Peay 8,352 89-58 (Win)
9 November 11, 1998 Southern Illinois 7,633 65-62 (Win)
10 March 2, 2013 Southeast Missouri 7,489 68-84 (Loss)
11 December 7, 2002 Western Kentucky 7,288 83-72 (Win)
12 February 23, 2013 South Dakota State 7,231 73-62 (Win)
13 December 19, 2000 Morehead State 7,199 80-65 (Win)
14 February 7, 2013 Belmont 7,141 79-74 (Win)
15 December 16, 2012 Western Kentucky 7,080 75-70 (Win)
16 February 22, 2001 Tennessee Tech 7,076 71-94 (Loss)
17 November 22, 2008 Western Kentucky 7,038 89-61 (Win)
17 February 9, 2013 Tennessee State 6,762 69-48 (Win)
19 January 15, 2000 Southeast Missouri State 6,640 78-84 (Loss)
20 December 4, 2004 Western Kentucky 6,612 72-82 (Loss)

Concerts

References

  1. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Bell & Associates Construction
  3. Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. "Murray State University Racers Athletics - RSEC Begins Basketball Enhancements". Goracers.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  5. "Planning for basketball practice facility officially underway - Murray Ledger & Times: Murray State". Murrayledger.com. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  6. "Murray State continues work on improving sports facilities: Hall of Fame one of many items to receive face-lift - Murray Ledger & Times: Murray State". Murrayledger.com. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  7. "Basketball Facility Work - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  8. "MSU basketball facility eyes January opening - Murray Ledger & Times: Local News". Murrayledger.com. 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  9. "Regional Special Events Center celebrating 10 years - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  10. "Shirley Manson Talks Bond While Garbage Shoots New Video". MTV.com. 1999-10-18. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  11. "3 Doors Down Gets Schooled For "Loser" Clip". MTV.com. 2000-08-30. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  12. Hendrickson, Matt (2001-09-10). "Lifehouse Ready for the Road". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  13. "Lifehouse Prep For First Headlining Tour". MTV.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  14. "The Style of Nelly". The Murray State News. March 29, 2002. p 1
  15. "MTV Online - Bands - Campus Invasion". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  16. "John Mayer Plans CONTINUUM Tour - U.S. Winter Dates Announced - re> NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  17. "Mayer concert plays big at RSEC - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  18. "In concert - Murray Ledger & Times: Local News". Murrayledger.com. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  19. "RSEC concert to feature two top Christian artists - Murray Ledger & Times: Local News". Murrayledger.com. 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  20. "Kevin Skinner to headline Freedom Fest - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  21. "2010 in review: A look back at some of the top stories making headlines in Murray and Calloway County - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  22. "Skillet Live at Murray State University - 2011-10-18 12:00:00". Skillet.com. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  23. "Tour". Castingcrowns.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  24. "Welcome concert-news.com - BlueHost.com". Concert-news.com. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  25. "Eric Church to perform Sunday at CFSB Center - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  26. "April 27, 2013 | The Official Bob Dylan Site". Bobdylan.com. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  27. "Florida-Georgia Line rocks Murray - Murray Ledger & Times: News". Murrayledger.com. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  28. "Zac Brown Band - Murray Ledger & Times: Local News". Murrayledger.com. 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2015-06-21.

External links

Coordinates: 36°37′22″N 88°19′13″W / 36.62267°N 88.32031°W / 36.62267; -88.32031

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