McKale Center is no spring chicken.
But he’s certainly aged well, for a 41-year-old.
A lot has changed since he was born Feb. 1, 1973, for the price of $8.4 million dollars.
That night, Arizona played Wyoming. Coniel Norman, a freshman, scored 37 points for the Wildcats in an 87-69 win.
In the four-plus decades since, Mr. McKale Center has went from a boy — with just 46 offices, five handball courts and a storage area for the drama department — to now, a man, with a whole lot more than that.
A man with an $80 million plan. This is McKale Center’s midlife crisis. The Ferrari to make him feel young again.
The latest McKale face-lift has the UA community buzzing, ready to see their “new” McKale. The home to great history, from Lute Olson to Sean Miller, Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr to Derrick Williams and Nick Johnson. Not to mention the “Ooh Aah Man” and longtime super-fan Phyllis Goodman.
“It’s a spectacular place,” said Miller.
Added Suzy Mason, the associate athletic director of event operations: “For fans, it’s like McKale is their second home, and it’s going to be exciting to see it packed when basketball starts.”
Miller, women’s basketball coach Niya Butts and the rest of Arizona’s athletic department are reaping the benefits of this midlife crisis, and everyone that has seen McKale 2.0 has a favorite part, or parts.
Miller: “To me it looks like a brand-new arena. Everything, from the lights to the ceiling to the court … and the seats have been done well.”
Butts: “The pro lighting on the court is outstanding, the seating … the locker room area and the space, when you bring people in, the scoreboard, the new seats, it’s all attractive.”
Said UA freshman Stanley Johnson: “Look at it. What isn’t good about it? The court looks amazing, seats look amazing, gym looks amazing. I’m just looking forward to seeing people fill the seats up and go crazy, like on my visits.”
Returning guard Gabe York called it “ridiculous.”
“I love it,” he said. “The lights are what makes it a lot different.”
So, what exactly is new? And how did we get to this point?
Here’s the breakdown of all you need to know about McKale Center.
The debut
Technically, McKale had a “soft opening” of sorts on Sept. 5 for the volleyball team’s home opener. For the Red-Blue Game on Oct. 18, the capacity was limited by about 4,700 people, and will likely be that way again Nov. 9 for an exhibition game against Cal Poly Pomona.
UA officials are confident McKale will be a full-go for the Nov. 14 regular-season opener against Mount St. Mary’s.
What’s new?
Well, a lot. Here’s a list.Increased capacity: There are 155 new seats, bringing the overall capacity to 14,700.
- New seats: Padded navy blue seats — with cup holders — make up all non-student areas below the upper concourse. There are no more yellow seats, and the upper deck will be all red, lower level blue. All the padded seats are emblazoned with a stitched red block “A.”
- Lighting: It has a new, state-of-the-art LED light system, replacing the fluorescent lights McKale has long used. There will a more “spotlighted” effect, as the lights focus on the floor and the upper seating areas are darker. It looks especially good on TV.
- Concessions: Game-day points of sale have been doubled from 21 to 42, with stands on the east and west sides, and another “Mini Mart” on the lower level. Lines will form north to south, and will have TVs so fans waiting in line won’t miss any of the action.
- Locker rooms: Size has increased exponentially, for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. The basketball teams have new film rooms, coaches’ rooms and mini-kitchens. Volleyball has a lounge and mini-kitchen as well. “Volleyball and women’s basketball were in spaces previously that were about 915 square feet,” Mason said, “and their lounge alone is bigger than that now.”
- Restrooms: They are being expanded and redone on the southeast, northeast and northwest sides.
Who’s paying for it?
McKale’s overhaul will cost $80 million. But this is just Phase 1, with a cost of $30 million.
Here’s the list of donations confirmed by the UA, so far:Cole and Jeannie Davis ($6 million)
- Anonymous ($2.5 million)
- Donald Diamond ($1 million)
- George Kalil ($1 million)
- Steve and Margot Kerr ($1 million)
- George Rountree ($800,000)
Plus, there’s a matching program where another donor agreed to chip in up $8 million in matching funds.
Other stuff
Some other changes of note:
- There are now only three entrances to the floor: A players’ tunnel under the middle of the south stands, and the two existing corner exits on the northwest and northeast sides.
- Zona Zoo, the student section, will remain at about 2,400 un-padded seats alternating in navy blue and red to make up a big block “A,” visible when the arena is empty.
- The men’s basketball film room is having movie theater seating installed.
- The walls of the men’s locker room will showcase its four Final Four teams and 10 Elite Eights.
- A high-definition video scoreboard, the first part of Phase I, was installed in December 2013.
- El Saguarito is the new Mexican food provider, replacing El Charro Café.
- Concession food will be the same, working with student union concessions. When the stand on the top east side is finished, “you’ll see a lot more grilling,” Mason said. Including fresh-made hamburgers.
- Since McKale re-opened with the first volleyball match, the women’s basketball team has added one three-star recruit for 2015, and a four-star for 2016.
- Attendance for volleyball has been on the rise: 3,547 fans cheered at a Sept. 24 match against ASU.
