 UAB Blazers Men's Basketball vs.Tulsa | |
 | |
| Former names | UAB Arena (1988–1997) |
|---|---|
| Location | 617 13th Street South Birmingham, Alabama,U.S. |
| Coordinates | 33°30′7.79″N86°48′33.28″W / 33.5021639°N 86.8092444°W /33.5021639; -86.8092444 |
| Owner | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Operator | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Capacity | 8,508 |
| Record attendance | 9,878 (August 16, 2015,BGEA Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1986 |
| Opened | December 3, 1988 (1988-12-03) |
| Construction cost | $10.6 million ($28.2 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | GA Architecture Studio |
| Services engineer | MW/Davis Dumas & Associates, Inc.[2] |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols[3] |
| Tenants | |
| UAB Blazers Athletics | |
| Website | |
| Bartow Arena at UABSports | |
Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purposearena inBirmingham, in theU.S. state ofAlabama. It is home to theUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)Blazersmen's and women'sbasketball teams as well as the women'svolleyball team. The arena is named afterGene Bartow, the coach who built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at theBirmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, now known asLegacy Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.
Between 1978 and 1988, the Blazers played their home games at the off-campusBirmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, located just north of downtown Birmingham.[4] On December 3, 1988, the men's team defeatedVanderbilt 76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena.[5] Following the retirement ofGene Bartow in December 1996, theUniversity of Alabama Board of Trustees voted to officially change the name of UAB Arena to Bartow Arena.[6] Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rivalMemphis 51–48.[7]
Currently playing as a member of theAmerican Athletic Conference, UAB has won more than 80 percent of its games played there.[4] The record attendance for Bartow Arena was set on February 16, 2008, against Memphis with an announced crowd of 9,392.[4][8] At the conclusion of the2010–11 season, the UAB men's team has an all-time record of 277 victories and 59 losses at Bartow, giving the program an all-time winning percentage of .824.[4]
| Opponent | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis (2008) | 9,392 |
| 2 | Louisville (2005) | 9,354 |
| 3 | Cincinnati (2004) | 9,312 |
| 4 | Cincinnati (2000) | 9,279 |
| 5 | Cincinnati (1996) | 9,213 |
| 6 | Memphis (2009) | 9,153 |
| 7 | Memphis (2011) | 9,119 |
| 8 | Alcorn State (1989) | 9,010 |
| 9 | Arkansas (1990) | 8,951 |
| 10 | Cincinnati (1994) | 8,907 |
| [4] | ||
Bartow Arena serves as primary home to the UAB men's and women's basketball teams as well as women's volleyball. In addition, Bartow Arena has served as home to UAB graduation ceremonies and a number of other UAB sponsored concerts and activities.
In 1996, Bartow Arena served as host to the CUSA Women's Basketball Tournament. Additionally, the arena has been host to the early rounds of the CUSA Women's Basketball Tournament in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
In 2015, Bartow Arena hosted the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship betweenDeontay Wilder andEric Molina.
