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The McKenzie Arena
Click here to visit The McKenzie Arena Website The McKenzie Arena, originally named the UTC Arena, was officially dedicated in December, 1982. It's construction is the result of a cooperative venture between the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, The University of Tennessee and the State of Tennessee. The 210,000-square-foot, $15.5 million multipurpose complex is home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's basketball teams. It also houses UTC's wrestling practice area, the weight room, training room, athletic administrative offices, coaches offices and locker rooms for football, wrestling and men's and women's basketball. The Arena was renamed The McKenzie Arena on Feb. 21, 2000 after a generous donation from supporters Toby and Brenda McKenzie of Cleveland, Tenn. The Arena’s longtime nickname “The Roundhouse” came about because of the facility’s round shape, but also because of the railroad tradition in the city. The building that housed the mechanism to turn locomotives around when it reached the terminal was known as the roundhouse. The University of Tennessee's men’s basketball team came down from Knoxville to open the Arena on Dec. 1, 1982. A sellout crowd of 11,218 came out to watch the Vols defeat the Moccasins 56-49. The game turned out to be a showdown of two future NBA players. Tennessee's Dale Ellis led the Vols with 17 points, while UTC's Gerald Wilkins paced his squad with a game-high 20 points. Defending National Champion North Carolina also visited the UTC Arena during the 1982-83 season. The Tar Heels, who boasted such players as Brad Daugherty, Sam Perkins and a sophomore named Michael Jordan, managed a seven-point victory, 73-66. UTC's Willie White, who would also go on to play professionally, netted 26 points. Jordan finished with 27 points. The 11,218-seat Arena has had other future NBA stars on its court. Mississippi State's Jeff Malone, Auburn's Chuck Person, Tennessee State's Anthony Mason, Clemson's Horace Grant and Georgia Tech's Mark Price and John Salley, not to mention the Mocs' own Johnny Taylor, all displayed their talents at the Arena. The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks have held their mini camp in the Arena for two summers. The Mocs have compiled an overall record of 259-59 in home games at the Arena, a winning percentage of .814. The Arena has also supplied some major entertainment acts for the city of Chattanooga. In addition to ice shows, rodeos and circuses, the Arena has also provided a stage for such performers as Elton John, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and Alabama. Kenny Rogers was the building's first event, performing for a crowd of 12,000 on Oct. 8, 1982. The Arena's most recent events have been concerts by Aerosmith, Elton John, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Shania Twain and World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment matches. |
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