Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Pete Maravich Assembly Center
"The PMAC"
"The Deaf Dome"
Map
Former namesLSU Assembly Center (1972–1988)
AddressNorth Stadium Road
LocationBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Coordinates30°24′51″N 91°11′04″W / 30.4142°N 91.1845°W / 30.4142; -91.1845
OwnerLouisiana State University
OperatorLSU Athletics Department
Capacity13,215 (2009–present)[1]
13,472 (2006–2009)
14,164 (1990–2005)
14,236 (1983–1990)
14,262 (1981–1983)
14,327 (1975–1981)
14,351 (1972–1975)
14,192 (center-stage events)
8,945-13,312 (end-stage concerts)
8,628 (amphitheater)
4,619 (theater)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke ground1969
OpenedJanuary 3, 1972
Construction cost$11.5 million
($83.8 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectRobert M. Coleman & Partners
Tenants
LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers (NCAA) (1972–present)
Basketball (1972–present)
Wrestling (1972–1985)
Volleyball (1974–present)
Gymnastics (1975–present)
Louisiana Bayou Beast (PIFL) (1998)
Pete Maravich Assembly Center - Court View

The Pete Maravich Assembly Center is a 13,215-seat multi-purpose arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The arena opened in 1972. It was originally known as the LSU Assembly Center, but was renamed in honor of Pete Maravich, a Tiger basketball legend, shortly after his death in 1988. Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer signed an act to rename the building in Maravich's honor (under Louisiana law, no LSU or state owned building may be named after a living person). Maravich never played in the arena as a collegian but played in it as a member of the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason game. But his exploits while at LSU led the university to build a larger home for the basketball team, which languished for decades in the shadow of the school's football program.[3] The Maravich Center is known to locals as "The PMAC" or "Pete's Palace", or by its more nationally known nickname, "The Deaf Dome", coined by Dale Brown. The Maravich Center's neighbor, Tiger Stadium is known as "Death Valley".[4]

The slightly oval building is located directly to the north of Tiger Stadium, and its bright-white roof can be seen in many telecasts of that stadium. The arena concourse is divided into four quadrants: Pete Maravich Pass, The Walk of Champions, Heroes Hall and Midway of Memories. The quadrants highlight former LSU Tiger athletes, individual and team awards and memorabilia pertaining to the history of LSU basketball, gymnastics and volleyball.[3] There are 11,230 permanent seats in the arena: 6,931 upper-level seats, 4,299 lower-level seats and 2,000 seats on retractable risers.

The "L" Club meeting room and Tiger Athletic Foundation offices are also located in the arena.[5]

Prior to building the Assembly Center, LSU played its games at John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum (aka, the "Cow Palace"), located on the southeast corner of the campus.[6]

  1. ^ "LSU Men's Basketball Facilities". LSU Tigers. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  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. ^ a b "LSU Men's Basketball Facilities". LSU Athletics. July 17, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "Pete Maravich Assembly Center (United States)". TVtrip. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  5. ^ "LSU Women's Basketball Facilities". LSU Athletics. September 1, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  6. ^ "Pete Maravich Assembly Center". Sports-Venue.info. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.