Arena in Illinois, United States
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
History
[
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]
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
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]
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
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References
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External links
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People
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NAIA national championship in bold
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