 Moby Arena interior during a 2022 "orange out" game againstSan Diego State | |
  Moby Arena Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Full name | Auditorium-Gymnasium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Moby Gymnasium (1966–1986) |
| Location | 951 West Plum Street Fort Collins, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°34′32.41″N105°5′36.25″W / 40.5756694°N 105.0934028°W /40.5756694; -105.0934028 |
| Owner | Colorado State University |
| Operator | Colorado State University |
| Capacity | 8,083 |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1964 |
| Opened | January 24, 1966 |
| Architect | Bunts and Kelsey |
| Tenants | |
| Colorado State Rams (Volleyball and Basketball) | |
Moby Arena is an 8,083-seatbasketballarena on the campus ofColorado State University inFort Collins, Colorado. The arena, officially known as theColorado State Auditorium-Gymnasium, was opened on January 24, 1966, with a victory over New Mexico State.[1] The arena was built to replaceSouth College Gymnasium, which was built in 1926 and seated 1,500 people.[2]
On the outside, the arena is a rounded rectangle over the indented lower level, with a hump-shaped roof arcing over the long sides of the building. Inside, the seating is much higher on the sidelines than in the endzones. However, the most recognizable features of the arena are the corner walls which divide the sidelines from the end zones, and feature large ram's horn patterns on each one, radiating out from the near corners. The basketball court floor also features the ram's horns pattern, created with the use of two different colors of hardwood (the horns used a darker shade prior to 2022, and a lighter shade currently). A video scoreboard hangs from the center of the rafters, and is surrounded by banners as well as retractable basketball hoops for use during practice. Two auxiliary scoreboards are located on opposite corner walls (to the right when standing on either sideline).
The arena was originally intended to be called theAuditorium-Gymnasium during construction, and the building is still listed as such on state records. However, an article in theRocky Mountain Collegian mentioned the hump-shaped building looking like a beached whale. From that, the gymnasium was nicknamed "Moby Gymnasium" forMoby Dick, the white whale of Herman Mellville'sclassic story. Athletic directorOval Jaynes renamed the gymnasium "Moby Arena" during his tenure in the late 1980s.[2]
Between the2021–22 and2022–23 seasons, the court underwent a renovation that updated fonts and reduced the size of the horns, among other changes.[3]
The arena is home to theColorado State University Rams basketball and volleyball teams. In 1967, it hosted two first-round games for the West and Midwest regions, forthat year's men's basketball tournament. It also hosted the 1992Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
Moby Arena also hosts concerts.The Rolling Stones played the first show of their 1969 tour at the arena. Other artists to have played there areFrank Zappa,Big Head Todd and the Monsters,Steve Miller Band,O.A.R.,Dave Matthews Band,The Fray,Blind Melon,Gov't Mule,Ludacris,Lupe Fiasco,Three 6 Mafia,Guess Who,Beach Boys,Emerson, Lake and Palmer,Doobie Brothers,Chicago,Jerry Jeff Walker,Van Halen, andWillie Nelson andTanya Tucker.
Parts of the 1977 filmOne on One were filmed in Moby Arena.[1]
Campus Crusade for Christ hosts its U.S. staff conference every other year at CSU; main sessions are held inside Moby Arena.
ThePhiladelphia 76ers of theNational Basketball Association held part of their 2023 training camp at Moby Arena before the2023-24 NBA season from October 3 to October 6.[4][5]
