He still remembers the cold, blustery night. The weather was terrible, but according to Morry Mannies, the voice of the Cardinals on WLBC, it didn't stop mens basketball fans on Jan. 15, 1992 from packing the then brand new University Arena to maximum capacity.
There, in front of 11,500 spectators, Ball State had its first win in the arena, only hours after the building was completed.
"The crowd was bananas that night," said Mannies, who has broadcasted games for 46 years on WLBC. "Everyone was hyped."
Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the arena, now John E. Worthen Arena. Ten years ago, the basketball team vanquished Miami (Ohio). Tonight, Ball State will tip off against Bowling Green in remembrance and celebration of that first game.
For those faculty members who saw the arena's opening, it is hard to believe the building has been around for a decade, they said.
"Seems impossible that the Arena could be that old," Mannies said. "I guess time moves more quickly for us older people.
It still looks brand new," he said. "Other arenas in the area look older than ours. That speaks very highly of the maintenance of the building."
The arena still looks new, despite heavy traffic it receives from athletes.
Ball State has 22 athletic teams, and they all use the facility, said Andrea Seger, director of intercollegiate athletics. The size of Worthen Arena now allows for recreation and intramural teams to practice, who were being short changed for practice time before Worthen Arena. Also, Seger said it is used for recruiting.
"It does a considerable amount for not only athletics but for the institution as well," she said. "It continues to be a showcase for the university and the athletic program."
MORE THAN SPORTS
The Multipurpose Room is used for meetings and gatherings and can hold up to 200 people used for hospitality. The recruiting room is for halftime gatherings and meetings with potential Ball State athletes. The room sports couches and carpeting that lends itself to a more casual feel. A working media room is used for post-game interviews and for journalists to file stories. A 5,000 square-foot varsity weight room resides in the lower area of the arena along with men's and women's athletic locker rooms. According to architect Craig Mullins, of Browning, Day, Mullins, Dierdorf, and a Ball State alumnus, the wide concourse that circles the arena was designed to have exceptional lighting due to large window usage. This, he said, ensures proper lighting and a pleasant atmosphere for job fairs and other events. According to Mullins the seating enhances the spectator's view during basketball games. He said the floor is cushioned much like an aerobics floor, which makes it much easier on athletes' knees. "It is a much higher grade floor than what is usually put in arenas," Mullins said. The arena floor space can expand because approximately the first 18 rows of seating retract making a much bigger court for practicing purposes. Although recognized primarily as a sports facility, the arena has accommodated academics and the arts as well, hosting between 700 and 800 events a year. Performers such as Nine Inch Nails, Vince Gill, Bryan Adams and the Harlem Globetrotters have all graced the arena's floor. Also, freshman orientation, job fairs from career services, summer sports camps and commencement have all been hosted in the arena. "We were having to turn people away for commencement because we didn't have large enough facilities," said Warren Vander Hill, vice president of academic affairs. "The arena enables friends and relatives to enjoy commencement in an indoor place. "It was intended to be a multi purpose building," he said. "It has been utilized well in that way." 10 YEARS OF HISTORY The building is approximately 110 feet tall, only ten feet shorter than Teachers College - the tallest structure on campus before the Shafer Tower. It spans about two city blocks. From the 1920s to the mid 1960s, Ball Gym served as the primary athletic facility on campus for men's sports. Ball Gym continued to serve the women's intercollegiate athletics until Worthen was built. "The arena is as good as any of the schools we play," Mannies said. "It's not only the most outstanding in the Mid-American Conference but in Indiana. " The arena had school spirit, even from its inception. "Since I am a Ball State graduate, we really wanted to step it up," Mullins said. "We wanted to set Ball State apart from other MAC schools." According to Greg Grahams assistant director of facilities planning and management, the arena was built as two projects. Phase one included the Human Performance Facility while phase two included the Arena complex. Construction began in 1990 and took 18 months, according to Grahams. "There was a considerable amount of work and thought process involved." Mullins said from a design standpoint the building ties in very gracefully with the rest of the structure and buildings on campus. "The arena is a nice combination of academics and athletics," "There's no question that the arena has built a great deal of pride in having such a first class facility," Mannies said. Jan. 15, 1992 February 1992 Spring 1992 March 18, 1993 March 20, 1994 April 6, 1997 Feb. 21, 1998 July 2000 Jan. 16, 2002
University Arena opens with the men+â-ìs basketball game between Ball State and Miami (Ohio).
Dedication ceremony for University Arena.
Pepperdine beats Stanford for the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship.
Alan Jackson performs for an audience of 4,933.
Harlem Globetrotters dazzle 2,500 with amazing acts.
WWF slams 4,301 BSU attendants on national television.
Bonzi Wells breaks former BSU coach Ray McCallum's MAC scoring record with 2,832 points.
University Arena renamed John E. Worthen Arena in dedication of Worthen after he retires.
Tenth Anniversary celebration of Worthen Arena.
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