User:Dgiovag/sandbox/Redbird Arena

Redbird Arena is an arena located in Normal, Illinois, home of the Illinois State Redbirds. It has been labeled as the "the best basketball arena in the state."

=Construction= The design process for Redbird Arena started in 1984. Construction began in 1985, with it finishing up in 1988. The general contractor for the job was C. Iber & Sons Inc. The architecture firm was CRS Sirrine Inc. (also known as Caudill Rowlett Scott), with award winning Paul Kennon being the senior design principle. It has a seating capacity of 10,200 people, with the furthest distance the the court being only 220 feet away It has a height of 24.34 m, a buidling area of 8100 m^2, and a total floor area of 16,538 m^2.

=Events=

Basketball and Volleyball
Redbird Arena is home to the basketball and volleyball teams. The men's basketball team has won the conference tournament 4 times (1983, 1990, 1997, 1998) and has made the NCAA tournament 6 times (1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1998). Doug Collins is the most famous alumni of the basketball team, as he was the number 1 pick in the 1973 NBA draft. The women's team has won the conference tournament 4 times (1983, 1989, 2005, 2008) and has made the NCAA tournament 4 times ( 1983, 1985, 1989, 2005, 2008).

Gamma Phi Circus
It is also home to the Gamma Phi Circus, which is the oldest collegiate circus in the United States. It was founded in 1926 when Clifford "Pop" Horton, a gymnastics instructor at Illinois State University, organized a small group of men to perform pyramids and tumble at basketball and football games. It is one of two 4-year universities in the nation that has a circus completely ran by the college itself. The stadium pays homage to the circus in the design on its roof, which looks like the top of a circus tent.

=Reggie Redbird= Reggie Redbird is the official mascot for Illinois State University who attends all of the games at Redbird Arena. He first started showing up in the 1960's and has had 4 design changes for his costume. It wasn't until 1981 that Reggie became known as "Reggie" to his ISU fans, when he was coined "Reggie Redbird" by the Junior Redbird Club after baseball great, Reggie Jackson

=Doug Collins= On Feb. 3, 2007, the court in Redbird Arena was named "Doug Collins Court" after legendary player, coach, Olympian and broadcaster Doug Collins, who started at Illinois State from 1971-73. It is known as "Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena." On September 19th, 2009, a bronze statue of Doug Collins and his coach, Will Robinson, was unveiled in front of the stadium. The statue, which was sculpted by Lou Cella, a 1985 alumnus of Illinois State, was created at the Rotblatt-Amrany Fine Art Studio in Highwood, Ill.

=References=