UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is a 3,500-seat multi-purpose arena in the Uptown area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania served by exits on both Interstate 376 and Interstate 579. The arena originally opened in 1988, and is part of Duquesne University. It is home to the Duquesne Dukes basketball and volleyball programs.

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
Location near Downtown Pittsburgh
UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
Location in Pennsylvania
UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
Location in the United States
Former namesA. J. Palumbo Center (1988–2021)
Location600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
Coordinates40.4374°N 79.9879°W / 40.4374; -79.9879
OwnerDuquesne University
OperatorDuquesne University
Capacity3,500[1]
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 3, 1986
OpenedJune 11, 1988[2]
February 2, 2021[3]
Construction cost$10.1 million
($21.8 million in 2019 dollars[4])
ArchitectDRS Architects
Tenants
Duquesne Dukes (NCAA) (1988present)
Pittsburgh Piranhas (CBA) (19941995)

History

The facility was originally known as the A. J. Palumbo Center. It was named in honor of its benefactor, Antonio J. Palumbo, who was elected to the Duquesne University board of directors and, in 1987, received an honorary doctorate of Business and Administration from Duquesne.

Early renovations

In 2006, the Palumbo Center underwent major renovations. In addition to resurfacing the basketball court, upgrading video monitors, and replacing some seating sections, the facility was updated and renovated to include:

  • New men's and women's basketball staff offices
  • Recruiting suite
  • Video breakdown room
  • Strength and conditioning facilities
  • Athletic trainer facilities

The center housed the administrative offices for the athletic department and facility management. The center was also open to intramural sports and other recreation groups; however, in 2007, Duquesne University completed a new five-story recreational facility on Forbes Ave. near the A.J. Palumbo Center, which was-then the primary facility for recreational sports and activities.

After the 2009-2010 basketball season, Duquesne University began further renovations on the Palumbo Center. A new center-hung scoreboard was installed as well as new corner scoreboards. In addition, then-current bleacher seating on the north end of the arena was replaced with permanent stadium chairs. The University also received $1.8 million in private donations to upgrade the locker rooms for the men's and women's basketball teams and the volleyball team. It was called the James and Janice Schaming Athletic Center, named after the largest donor.[5]

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Renovation

The most extensive renovation began immediately after the 2018–19 basketball season. The project was completed at the start of the 2020–21 school year and the arena was renamed the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The new name stems from a partnership between the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the family foundation of late Duquesne star Chuck Cooper, the first African American selected in an NBA draft. Renovations include new seating, enhanced concession areas, two high-definition video boards, and a new scorer's table and sound system.[6] The facility also houses the Folino Sports Performance Center featuring nearly 10,000 square feet of training equipment, sports performance labs, a nutrition center for all student-athletes, and the Joe and Kathy Guyaux Player Development Center which includes two regulation practice basketball courts. The original Palumbo name was transferred to the main entrance and atrium area of the renovated facility.[7][8]

During the renovations, the Dukes split home games between the UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris University, PPG Paints Arena, and the Kerr Fitness Center at La Roche University. The first game played in the renovated UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse was a 69–64 victory over Dayton.[9]

Sports

Prior to the building of the facility, the men's basketball team played games at various sites around the city, including Pittsburgh Civic Arena (their exclusive home from 1964 to 1988, and used for occasional big games until 2009), Fitzgerald Field House, and Duquesne Gardens, as well as several high school gymnasiums. The first men's basketball game was played in the arena on December 3, 1988, in which Duquesne defeated St. Joseph's 73–69. As of January 2008, Duquesne men's basketball had 132-125 (.514) all-time record at the Palumbo Center.[10] The facility is used for most major sports at Duquesne, and has played host to NIT games, WNIT games, high school post season championships, national wrestling championships, and Atlantic 10 tournament competitions. During the 1994-95 basketball season, the Palumbo Center was the home of the Continental Basketball Association's Pittsburgh Piranhas. In the team's lone season in Pittsburgh, the Piranhas lost to the Yakima Sun Kings in the 1995 CBA finals. The new Consol Energy Center, now known as PPG Paints Arena, is now the home to the annual Pitt Panthers-Duquesne Dukes City Game[11] as well as basketball games of regional interest, such as a men's game played on December 12, 2010 between the West Virginia Mountaineers and Duquesne.[12]

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is also home to the women's volleyball team and hosted the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2012, won by Temple.

For their 2017–18 season and part of the 2018–19 season, the arena served as the home of the Robert Morris Colonials men's basketball team for four games while renovations to the UPMC Events Center were taking place.

Preceded by
Mellon Arena
Home of
Duquesne Dukes Basketball

1988-
Succeeded by
future

See also

References

  1. "Duquesne to debut new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse against Dayton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  3. "UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse opens as state-of-the-art sporting venue at Duquesne University". NEXT Pittsburgh. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  5. Dunlap, Colin (2010-12-22). "Another gift will add to Palumbo renovation". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  6. "PMC Cooper Fieldhouse Set to Open February 2" (Press release). Duquesne Dukes. January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  7. "Duquesne Announces UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse and Major Renovation" (Press release). Duquesne Dukes. October 23, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  8. Spencer, Sarah K. (October 23, 2018). "Palumbo Center renovations on tap, as is name change honoring Chuck Cooper". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  9. "Dayton vs. Duquesne". ESPN. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. "Men's Basketball To Face Duquesne Saturday Night in Pittsburgh". cstv.com.
  11. Dunlap, Colin. "Q&A submissions 12/02/09 -- Future site of the City Game?". post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09.
  12. "Sports". post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-17.
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