The CU Events Center is an 11,064-seat multi-purpose arena in the Western United States, on the main campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Opened in 1979, it is home to the Colorado Buffaloes men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball of the Big 12 Conference. The playing surface is named the Sox Walseth Court in honor of the former Buffaloes men's and women's basketball head coach.
The building is an eight-sided concrete structure, with three levels: arena floor, service level, and the concourse level.
History
The venue was initially called the CU Events/Conference Center and was renamed to the Coors Events/Conference Center in September 1990 after the Coors family, in recognition of a $5 million gift from the Adolph Coors Foundation. In 2008 with the addition of the basketball offices to the building on the service level, the "Conference" was removed from the name as there were no longer conference rooms in the building. Although the naming agreement with the Coors Foundation had long expired, the Coors name remained on the building until 2018, when it was renamed the CU Events Center. At the time, the CU athletic department announced it was actively seeking a new naming rights partner.
On December 9, 1981, the Grateful Dead played their last Boulder show at the then-named "CUC."
It is the highest indoor arena in the Big XII Conference, approximately above the Huntsman Center It is one of only three basketball arenas in a major conference that uses roof-mounted retractable goals: the other arenas that are also equipped with this style of basket are Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke and Maples Pavilion at Stanford.
Improvements
The most dramatic changes since the building was opened have come since 2008. After the 2007-08 basketball seasons, the CEC underwent a $200,000 "Floor Lift", in which a permanent maple surface with technology to reduce injuries and fatigue was installed.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas