Crisler Arena

• Seating Chart: JPEG (74 KB) | PDF (98 KB)
  

Michigan basketball teams have called Crisler Arena "home" since 1967. As one of the more attractive basketball facilities in the nation, this "home" has served the Wolverines well.

Through the years, Crisler Arena has been the site of Big Ten Conference championship events, concerts, commencements and numerous other activities, in addition to serving as home facility for Michigan men's and women's basketball teams.

Three years in the making at a cost of $7.2 million, Crisler Arena stands as a tribute to Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler and his outstanding contributions to Michigan athletics. Crisler, 10 years a Wolverine football coach, served 27 years as U-M athletic director before retiring in 1968. Crisler Arena opened December 2, 1967, with formal dedication February 27, 1968.

Dan Dworsky, a linebacker on Crisler's undefeated 1947 and 1948 football teams, was architect for the arena. The building stands at 107 feet with telescopic seating encircling the arena floor and bringing the total seating capacity to 13,562. A multi-million dollar state-of-the-art scoreboard and message center, added in the fall of 1989, is suspended over center court.

Over two million Michigan basketball fans have been treated to Crisler Arena performances by some of the nation's top men's and women's basketball talent, including the Wolverine's first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament squad in 1990 and the 1989 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship team.

In addition to being an outstanding competition facility, Crisler Arena is a place where Michigan's student-athletes can train, study or simply relax. Weight room facilities, including a sauna, are open to all U-M varsity athletes. The athletic training room area and locker rooms are located off the arena's tunnel entrance. Press conferences, pre-game meals and other special events are held in the Crisler Lounge. The availability of conference and study areas within the arena aid Michigan's commitment to academic excellence among its student-athletes.

Crisler Arena Quick Facts

Construction Began: September 18, 1965
Construction Completed: February 1, 1968
Capacity: 13,684 (1967); 13,609 (1968); 13,562 (1991)
Cost: $7,200,000
Used By: Men's Basketball (1967-present), Women's basketball (1974-present), Women's Gymnastics (1978-89), Men's Gymnastics (1978-89), Wrestling (1967-89)
Size: 378'x313'x107' (Size of court: 94'x50')
Area: 97,260 sq. ft, 8,469,365 cu. ft.

Crisler Arena Interesting Facts

• Ten supply fans can filter a maximum of 350,000 cu. ft. of air per minute. This means that the entire air content of the arena can be changed every 14 minutes.

• The roof is made up of two plates, weighing approximately 160 tons each. The bridge-like construction of the plates allows them to expand or contract given the change of seasons or the weight of snow.

Directions

Crisler Arena is located on Stadium Blvd. east of Michigan Stadium at the corner of Stadium Drive and Main Street on the south side of Ann Arbor. The facility is directly accessible from I-94 at the Ann Arbor-Saline exit #175, and can be reached off the State Street exit #177, or Jackson Road exit #172.

• U-M Men's Basketball
• U-M Women's Basketball

Last updated: Thursday, 25-Oct-2001 01:08:13 EDT