Coolest Gym in each Conference

[hopefan]

I wasn't going to venture an answer to this question, because so many gyms are 'cool' for different reasons...

BUT... here is a question to research during the offseason...

Which gym in each conference is the oldest... the longest in use?  This would lead to finding out the oldest D3 gym in the country.. it may be common knowledge, but I don't know the answer.. plus, it would be interesting to find out  the oldest per conference....

When I played basketball at RPI 1967-71, we played in the antiquated '87 Gym... it was financed by the class of 1887, and dedicated in 1912.  However, the team moved to the Troy-RPI armory in 1973? and recently to it's new home at the East Campus Athletic Facility...

[hopefan]

As far as the oldest courts in the SLIAC, I'd have to research, but at a glance, Westminster, Blackburn, Spalding, and Greenville might be in contention.  Prin, Fontbonne, Eureka (totally remodelled), Iowa Wesleyan, Webster are obviously out... I would think MacMurray too....  Anybody have any information?

[Ralph Turner]

ASC has gymnasiums that are all within the last 50 years.

Louisiana College may be the oldest, late 1960's  (HO West Fieldhouse)

The Brownwood Colisuem, home to Howard Payne since the late 1960's at least, was built in 1963.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central's Merner Fieldhouse (or, more specifically, the gym contained within it where the Cardinals play, Gregory Arena) is the oldest in the CCIW, as it was built in 1931. It's known to friends and foes alike in the CCIW as "the airplane hangar", or just "the hangar".

[WUPHF]

As far as the oldest courts in the SLIAC, I'd have to research, but at a glance, Westminster, Blackburn, Spalding, and Greenville might be in contention.  Prin, Fontbonne, Eureka (totally remodeled), Iowa Wesleyan, Webster are obviously out... I would think MacMurray too...  Anybody have any information?

I'll be surprised if the SLIAC has a gym older than 1928 that is still in use today.  I'll do some more research.

Incidentally, the oldest on-campus gym in use in Division I is Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University which was built in 1925, though for obvious reasons, it is far less likely that an old Division I gym would be in use today.

[WUPHF]

Apropos of nothing, I was looking at the official history of Washington University and read a few things that have probably been discussed here before, but are interesting nonetheless.

The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young.  Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20.  This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.

The Francis Gymnasium has long been used for recreation only and was removed last year as part of the Athletic Complex renovations.

[hopefan]

Spalding's gym doesn't beat Westmin for age, but a neat little writeup.

Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG) is an on-campus 2400 seat gymnasium located in the Spalding University Center, and is home to Spalding men's and women's basketball, and volleyball teams.

Prior to housing Spalding Athletics, Derek Smith Gymnasium was used as a USO for military personnel during World War II and the Korean War.  A little known fact, DSG served as the original training center for world famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali. Ali began training in the gym at age fifteen while working in the school library.

2400 in that gym?  Less than half could see the entire court

[AO]

Spalding's gym doesn't beat Westmin for age, but a neat little writeup.

Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG) is an on-campus 2400 seat gymnasium located in the Spalding University Center, and is home to Spalding men's and women's basketball, and volleyball teams.

Prior to housing Spalding Athletics, Derek Smith Gymnasium was used as a USO for military personnel during World War II and the Korean War.  A little known fact, DSG served as the original training center for world famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali. Ali began training in the gym at age fifteen while working in the school library.

2400 in that gym?  Less than half could see the entire court

A cool gym for sure, couldn't find many pictures of it.

Are there more stands on the other side above the benches?  2400 seems preposterous based on every picture I've seen.

[WUPHF]

The Alumni Gym at Loyola University Chicago was comparable to the Derek Smith Gymnasium in regards to the design, but they had a lot more bleachers and still had less than 2,000 seats.

2,400 must be the capacity when set up with seats on the floor.

[David Collinge]

The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young.  Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20.  This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.

Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship Belt^TM board.

[WUPHF]

Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship Belt^TM board.

+1 Day made.

[Ralph Turner]

The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young.  Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20.  This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.

Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship Belt^TM board.

I hate to be a spoil sport but there was no NCAA in 1904! 

[hopefan]

The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young.  Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20.  This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.

Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship Belt^TM board.

I hate to be a spoil sport but there was no NCAA in 1904!

And that D3 world year No.1 was 1974-75.... 
It would not be impossible to trace the BeltTM back to then, using NCAA.com....

[hopefan]

Spalding's gym doesn't beat Westmin for age, but a neat little writeup.

Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG) is an on-campus 2400 seat gymnasium located in the Spalding University Center, and is home to Spalding men's and women's basketball, and volleyball teams.

Prior to housing Spalding Athletics, Derek Smith Gymnasium was used as a USO for military personnel during World War II and the Korean War.  A little known fact, DSG served as the original training center for world famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali. Ali began training in the gym at age fifteen while working in the school library.

2400 in that gym?  Less than half could see the entire court

A cool gym for sure, couldn't find many pictures of it.

Are there more stands on the other side above the benches?  2400 seems preposterous based on every picture I've seen.

Yes AO, the seats upstairs above the benches mirror those on the other side of the court, though a bench for the radio crew takes up some center court space...  steps to the court level also take up space on the near end... the thing that really hurts viewing are the large supporting posts upstairs... there aren't many areas of seating where they aren't blocking your view from one angle or another... and there is no way you can see the near corners from upstairs without standing.... still, I love the place... I played in at least two or three high school gyms back in the day that were exactly like it.... and, one rarely has to worry about getting a good seat, as Spalding is primarily a commuter school, and attendance at games is minimal, even at conference tourneys... a shame, as Spalding always puts out a good team at the SLIAC level of play...

[HOPEful]

The lighting at Van Noord I believe is a difference maker in terms of look and feel of a professional basketball arena... Also the Van Noord gives the overall impression and feel of a professional arena (suite, second tier, etc).  Yes it was designed with other events in mind as well but I believe it sets up very nicely for a basketball game no matter where you sit... The biggest complaint I have against it is the natural light from too many windows for day games.  It reflects on the court and I don't think that is a good thing...

And to be nit picky here are a few other things I don't like but they are very minor.  Curious to hear Hope posters thoughts. 
1. The AV room in the corner has a terrible layout as the people have to look out an awkward side window to view the court. Poorly planned I think.
2. The stands are packed in around the court (closer than most gyms). I might not like how close the students are but that was Hope's decision and it might give them an advantage, so that was smart in my opinion.  But the thing I think looks sloppy is they got so close that around the corner endzone the "H" and "E" for "Hope College" gets cuts off by the bleachers.  Bad planning?
3. The visitors don't have an exit to their locker without running in front of Hope's bench.  Can't even walk behind because the stands are right there. Just annoying as a visitor.

My last post on this since the horse is long dead and beaten to a pulp...

1. I never noticed Van Nordt's "special" lighting once until after hearing about it. To me, it makes zero difference in watching the games. If anything, I would prefer natural light to yellow light.

2. The AV room is indeed poorly located for the AV team. For everyone else, it's far away and out of sight - out of mind. To me this seems like a really weird criticism. I have never went to a venue and said to myself, "check out that av room setup!" The end zone being cut off annoys my OCD tendencies, but once again, doesn't really alter how I view the game being played.

3. Whether you like it or not, the stands were intentionally packed around the court to mimic that of the Civic Center. I know many people (us Dutch don't care for change...) were worried about moving to a new building and losing the "charm" that the Civic Center provided. One promise was made that the Dew Crew wouldn't be moved further from the court. I think most Hope fans like this but i could see how a guest would not.

4. IMO, your most valid argument is the 1 exit to the locker rooms. I really dislike how everyone bottlenecks on the west side of the court at the end of the game.

Can we all agree that the worst gym in the MIAA is Kzoo's?