Alico Arena

Alico Arena
"The Nest"
Entrance of arena
Map
AddressFGCU Lake Parkway East
LocationFort Myers, Florida
Coordinates26°28′16″N 81°45′53″W / 26.47111°N 81.76472°W / 26.47111; -81.76472
OwnerFlorida Gulf Coast University
OperatorFlorida Gulf Coast University
TypeMulti-purpose
Capacity4,633
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke ground2000
OpenedDecember 2, 2002 (2002-12-02)[2]
ExpandedAugust 1, 2017[1]
Construction cost$11.9 million
ArchitectHastings+Chivetta
BuilderManhattan Kraft Construction, Inc.[3]
Tenants
  • FGCU Eagles Basketball
  • FGCU Eagles Volleyball

Alico Arena is a 131,000 sq ft (12,200 m2) multipurpose arena located on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University. It is the home of the FGCU Eagles volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams. It holds 4,633 people in basketball configuration. It also features four practice courts, six suites, twelve locker rooms, and the offices of the Athletics Department.

The name of the arena comes from Alico, Inc., a Florida agribusiness with ties to the university.[4] The arena also serves as a hurricane shelter, most recently used when Hurricane Ian hit the Fort Myers area in September 2022.[5][6]

Eagle statue at the entrance of Alico Arena
  1. ^ Seth Soffian (July 5, 2017). "Sneak peek: FGCU a month from completing Alico Arena expansion". The News-Press. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Handel, Craig (December 2, 2002). "Alico Arena Debuts". The News Press. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Projects". Manhattan Construction Group. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  4. ^ "Facilities". FGCU Athletics. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Hurricane Ian hit close for FGCU students; Alico Arena became their home-away-from-home". WGCU. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "Emergency Public Shelters". Lee County Government. Retrieved September 2, 2023.