"The Knapp" | |
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| Location | 2601 Forest Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50311 U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°36′16″N 93°39′7″W / 41.60444°N 93.65194°W |
| Owner | Drake University |
| Operator | Drake University |
| Capacity | 6,424 (2022–present) 7,152 (1992–2022)[1] |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1990 |
| Opened | December 1, 1992 |
| Construction cost | $12.5 million ($27.1 million in 2023 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | RDG Planning & Design |
| General contractor | Taylor Ball Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Drake Bulldogs (NCAA DI) (1992–present) | |
The Knapp Center is a 6,424-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1992.
The Knapp Center is the center building for three athletic buildings combined. The Bell Center to the west is a general athletic building with offices, a pool, gym, and locker rooms. To the east is the Shivers' Basketball Practice facility, which opened in 2014. The Knapp Center itself also holds a weight room by the northwest corner of the basketball court.
The namesake of the arena comes from William Knapp, who is the chairman of Iowa Realty and a member of the Drake University Board of Trustees. He played a key role in financing the arena with a $3 million gift towards construction.[3]
After receiving a donation from Hy-Vee, the court was named in honor Drake alum and former Hy-Vee CEO Ron Pearson as "Ron Pearson Court" on September 18, 2010.[3]
Renovations in the summer of 2022 reconfigured the lower bowl of seating, reducing capacity but filling in corners and adding premium seating options.[4]
- ^ https://godrakebulldogs.com/news/2022/11/13/womens-basketball-bulldogs-fall-short-in-overtime-slugfest-to-no-4-iowa.aspx
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b 2011-12 Drake Men's Basketball Yearbook
- ^ https://www.draketix.com/knappcenterrenovation