Pride Roofing University Center

University Center
The UC
Map
LocationN. General Pershing St. and W. University Ave.
Hammond, LA 70401
Coordinates30°31′12″N 90°28′22″W / 30.52000°N 90.47278°W / 30.52000; -90.47278
OwnerSoutheastern Louisiana University
OperatorSoutheastern Louisiana University
CapacityConcerts: 8,961
Basketball: 7,500
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Built1982
Construction cost$16.3 million
($51.5 million in 2023 dollars[1])
Tenants
Southeastern Louisiana Lions basketball
Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball
Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions volleyball
Graduation ceremony for Southeastern Louisiana University, December 12, 2009, in the University Center, Dr. John L. Crain presiding.

The University Center is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hammond, Louisiana, United States, on the campus Southeastern Louisiana University.[2] Often called "the UC" within the university, it was built in 1982 at a cost of $16.3 million.

It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University's Lions and Lady Lions basketball teams and Lady Lions volleyball team. It also hosts many other functions including Southeastern's commencement, a variety of concerts and community events, circuses, and rodeos.

From 2001 through 2008, the arena hosted the girls basketball state championships tournament of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association; after a 1-year hiatus at a location on another campus, the tournament returned to Southeastern and to its University Center in 2010. The tournament is well received and supported in Hammond and Tangipahoa Parish, where girls basketball has been popular for many decades. Baylor coach Kim Mulkey starred at Hammond High School before a standout career at Louisiana Tech and as a member of the U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

The arena floor measures 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2); the arena seats up to 8,961 for concerts. Access to the university is via multilane LA 3234 (University Avenue) from I-55.

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "University Center". lionsports.net. Archived from the original on 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2015-06-01.