University Hall (University of Virginia)

University Hall
U-Hall
Ralph's House
Map
LocationMassie Rd
Charlottesville, VA 22904
OwnerUniversity of Virginia
OperatorUniversity of Virginia
CapacityOfficial: 8,457; Record: 11,174
Construction
OpenedNovember 3, 1965
Closed2006
DemolishedMay 25, 2019
Tenants
Virginia Cavaliers

University Hall was an 8,457-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Virginia Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia.[1] The arena opened in 1965 as a replacement for Memorial Gym; it was demolished on May 25, 2019, with Ralph Sampson leading the demolition. Like many arenas built at the time, the arena was circular, with a ribbed concrete roof and blue and orange seats (the orange seats arranged in a "V" near the top of each section) that surrounded the arena. Unlike many other facilities, however, the floor was never lowered for additional seating around the court, which left large areas behind press row, the team benches, and the announcer's table empty during games.

University Hall was replaced by the John Paul Jones Arena as the home to the men's and women's basketball teams in 2006.

UVa's athletic department held "final game" ceremonies for University Hall in connection with the men's basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins on March 5, 2006. UVA legend Ralph Sampson sank ceremonial "last baskets" at U-Hall, dunking twice during postgame festivities. [1]

However, the women's basketball team made the Women's National Invitational Tournament and played and won two WNIT games in University Hall.

2006
  1. ^ The arena sat on the boundary between the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, which encloses but does not include the city. For more details, see UVa's "Building Category Map", which clearly shows the city-county boundary and University Hall on the boundary, downloadable here.