Banterra Center

Banterra Center (formerly SIU Arena)^[2] is an 8,284-seat multi-purpose arena, on the campus of Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Construction on the arena began in the spring of 1962 and took nearly two years to complete. It was completed in 1964 and is the home of the SIU Salukis basketball team.^[3]

Banterra Center

The entrance to the Banterra Center

Banterra Center

Former names	SIU Arena (1964-2019)
Location	Arena Drive Carbondale, Illinois, U.S.
Coordinates	37°42′30″N 89°13′7″W
Owner	Southern Illinois University
Operator	Southern Illinois University
Capacity	8,284
Surface	Hardwood
Construction
Broke ground	March 1962
Opened	December 1, 1964
Renovated	2010
Construction cost	$4.3 million ($42.2 million in 2023 dollars[1])
Architect	Perkins & Will 360 Architecture (renovation)
Tenants
SIU Salukis men's basketball (NCAA) (1964–present) SIU Salukis women's basketball (NCAA) (1964–present)

History

The basketball team played its first game in the new complex on December 1, 1964. The Salukis defeated Oklahoma State, 78–55, in the opener and went on to post a 14–1 record at home that season.^[4]

Two first-round games of the 1969 NCAA basketball tournament were played at the arena.^[5] An NBA regular-season game was also played there in 1969.^[6]

Peter Gabriel recorded part of his live album, Plays Live, at the SIU Arena in December 1983. Widespread Panic released a live album, containing their complete concert performance from 2000. In December 2003, it was also the site of a memorial service for the late U.S. Senator Paul Simon. In March 2010, Drake performed his first live performance of his career; he was booked at the last minute as a surprise to the students, as the event was sold out. This was the beginning of his emerging career.^[7]

Johnny Cash played "The Johnny Cash Show" at the arena in October 1971 with June Carter Cash, The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and the Tennessee Three. Tickets at the time were $3 to $5.

In October 1976, Elvis Presley played to a sold-out crowd at the arena.

Naming rights

On May 16, 2019, the university and Banterra Bank, a regional financial institution, announced agreement on a ten-year naming rights deal for the facility, the first in its 55-year history.

See also

• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas

References

1. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
2. "Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Banterra Bank announce arena naming-rights agreement". Southern Illinois University Athletics. Archived from the original on 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
3. "Banterra Center". Southern Illinois University Athletics. Archived from the original on 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
4. "Reference at siusalukis.cstv.com". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
5. "RotoWire Fantasy Football, Baseball, Basketball and More". Archived from the original on 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2015-02-24.
6. "Phoenix Suns vs Chicago Bulls Box Score, March 6, 1969 | Basketball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
7. "MTV". Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-08-28.

External links

• Official Site