Hinkle Fieldhouse

Hinkle Fieldhouse is a sports arena on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. The classic facility was constructed in 1928 and has stood up to the test of time, maintaining the splendor, character and atmosphere that made it one of the nation's most famous basketball arenas more than a half century ago. Butler's men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball teams plays their home matches in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Related Topics:
Butler University - Indianapolis, Indiana

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When the Fieldhouse was originally constructed, it was the largest basketball arena in the United States, and retained that distinction for more than 20 years. Recent renovation has reduced the seating capacity from 15,000 to 11,043, but the aura that made Hinkle Fieldhouse one of the nation's first great basketball arenas remains today.

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The original construction of Butler Fieldhouse was part of a massive project designed to give Butler one of the finest athletic plants in the nation. The project was financed by a corporation of 41 prominent and farsighted Indianapolis businessmen. Completion of the Fieldhouse was guaranteed when Butler signed a lease agreement with the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) allowing the high school state tournament to be played in the massive new facility. Butler's association with the IHSAA continued from 1928 to 1971, with a brief interruption during the war years, 1943-45. Perhaps the most famous game held at Hinkle Fieldhouse was the 1954 Indiana state final in which Milan (enrollment 161) defeated Muncie Central (enrollment over 1,600). The 1986 movie classic Hoosiers was very loosely based on the story of the 1954 Milan team, and the final game in the movie was shot at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

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1954 - Milan - Muncie - 1986 - Hoosiers

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Butler played its first basketball game in the Fieldhouse on March 7, 1928, defeating Notre Dame 21-13 in overtime. Since the Fieldhouse was not entirely completed at that time, the building dedication was held off until Dec. 21, 1928. The name of the facility was changed in 1966 from Butler Fieldhouse to Hinkle Fieldhouse in honor of Butler's legendary coach and athletic director, Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle.

Related Topics:
Notre Dame - Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle

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The Fieldhouse has served as host to four U.S. presidents (Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford), the Billy Graham Crusade, the Sonja Henie Ice Show, four professional basketball teams, the U.S. Olympic basketball trials, the first USSR-USA basketball game, all-star basketball games for the NBA, ABA and the East-West College All-Stars, the nationally prominent Butler Relays in track, tennis matches of both Bill Tilden and Jack Kramer, the 1982 World Goal Ball Championships, a three-ring circus, several equestrian events, the Roller Derby, a six-day bicycle race, and "Hoosiers". The building also housed the United States Air Force and Navy as a barracks during World War II.

Related Topics:
Herbert Hoover - Dwight Eisenhower - Richard Nixon - Gerald Ford - Billy Graham Crusade - Sonja Henie - Bill Tilden - Jack Kramer - Hoosiers - Air Force - Navy - World War II

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During the summer of 1987, Hinkle Fieldhouse again received national attention, this time as the site for the volleyball competition at the tenth Pan American Games. The largest crowd ever to see a volleyball match in the United States (14,500) gathered to see the United States defeat Cuba in the men's gold medal match.

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The Fieldhouse, which remained virtually unchanged for more than 60 years, received a major facelift during the summer of 1989. Among the changes to the historical building were new chairback seats in the lower arena, new doors and windows on the south side of the exterior, new offices for basketball, volleyball and sports information and marketing, a training room and locker rooms off the main arena, a VIP lounge, a repaved parking lot, outside landscaping, extensive interior painting and a new public address system. The renovation was geared toward upgrading the facility, while retaining the history and nostalgia of the home of "Hoosier Hysteria."

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