McAlister Field House

McAlister Field House
Map
Former namesThe Citadel Armory (1939–1973)
Location171 Moultrie Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29409 USA
Coordinates32°47′55″N 79°57′45″W / 32.798508°N 79.962573°W / 32.798508; -79.962573
OwnerThe Citadel
OperatorThe Citadel
Capacity6,000 (1989-present)
4,500 (1939-1989)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke ground1938
Opened1939
Renovated1989
Construction cost$465,217[1]
($10.2 million in 2023 dollars[2])
$7.9 million (renovation)
ArchitectLiollio Architecture (renovation)
General contractorSoutheastern Construction Company[1]
Tenants
The Citadel Bulldogs basketball, wrestling, and volleyball
Lowcountry Highrollers

McAlister Field House is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It was built in 1939 and is home to The Citadel Bulldogs basketball, wrestling and volleyball teams. Office space in the facility houses athletic department staff as well as several coaches.[3]

Previously known as The Citadel Armory, the facility was named in honor of Col. David S. McAlister, Citadel Class of 1924 on March 16, 1973.[4]

The arena was renovated in 1989, and is used for entertainment events including concerts and sporting events, as well as college and high school commencements. The renovation expanded the seating capacity from 4,500 to 6,000. Since the renovation, three basketball games have sold out and filled the facility to capacity: Duke (1991), South Carolina (1997), and College of Charleston (1999).[5] The facility has hosted several athletic tournaments, including opening rounds of the Southern Conference women's basketball tournament and the All-Academy Wrestling Championship.[6]

On July 23, 2007, McAlister Field House was the venue for the Democratic Party's edition of the CNN-YouTube presidential debates.[7] McAlister is also used as the venue for major speeches and addresses to the Corps of Cadets, including President George W. Bush's December 11, 2001 address.[8]

  1. ^ a b "Citadel Awards Building Project". The News and Courier. December 30, 1938. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Athletic Facilities". The Citadel. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  4. ^ "Campus Tour - Athletic Facilities". The Citadel. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  5. ^ 2011-12 Citadel Basketball Media Guide. Citadel Athletics. p. 20. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  6. ^ "McAlister Field House". Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  7. ^ Aaron Gould Sheinin (July 14, 2007). "Citadel seen as odd choice for Democratic debate". Herald Online. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  8. ^ Jim Garamone (December 11, 2001). "Bush Calls for Military Transformation". defense.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2013.