While watching a Seton Hall-Arkansas, Notre Dame-Kentucky doubleheader at Freedom Hall a few weeks ago, I was reminded that there are a lot of venues that may not be home to their main tenant anymore, but are still in use. Freedom Hall is one of them as Louisville basketball moved into the KFC Yuck!…I mean Yum!….Center. By the way, how awful and sacrilegious did that UK floor look at Freedom Hall during that “event”. Anyway, listed below are some of the facilities (in no particular order) that are still in play, but out of the main limelight. If there are any big ones I might have missed, let me know:
- Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Convention Center (Tulsa 66ers in the NBDL)
Used to be home to several minor-league teams and Tulsa University
1 - Durham, NC – Durham Athletic Park (The Durham Bulls play one game per year here starting in 2010)
Also home to North Carolina Central University’s baseball team
1 - Birmingham, AL – Rickwood Field (The Birmingham Barons play one game per year)
Home to the famous Rickwood Classic since 1996
1 - Greensboro, NC – World War Memorial Stadium (North Carolina A&T University Baseball)
Former home to Greensboro’s various minor-league baseball teams before switching to beautiful NewBridge Bank Park
| - Midland, TX – Christensen Stadium (Midland College)
Former home of Midland’s Double-A farm clubs until moving to Citibank Ballpark
| - Montgomery, AL – Paterson Field (Alabama State University)
Another college that took over a former minor-league field
| - Winston-Salem, NC – Ernie Shore Field (Wake Forest University took over and renamed it Wake Forest Baseball Park)|
Ernie Shore survived another year because getting new BB&T Ballpark built was a debacle. It was finally finished this season
| - Quebec City, QU – Colisee du Quebec (Quebec Remparts)
On to hockey, as the Quebec Nordiques old building is used by the QMJHL’s Quebec team
| - Hershey, PA – HersheyPark Arena (Lebanon Valley College)
Division III’s LVC uses the old arena that the Herhsey Bears played in for over 60 years
| - Lowell, MA – Tsongas Arena (UMass-Lowell)
After the AHL Devils left last season, the local university took the building over
| - Akron, OH – Rubber Bowl (High School Football)
The University built a new football stadium, but High School games I believe are still played here
| - Denver, CO – Denver Coliseum (High School Basketball)
An old arena that a long time ago hosted the ABA…still continues to host High School BBall Championships
| - Madison, WI – Veterans Memorial Coliseum (High School Hockey)
The Badgers hockey team moved to the Kohl Center, but the High School State Tournament remains here
| - Madison, WI – Wisconsin Field House (University of Wisconsin Volleyball)
Meanwhile, the Men’s basketball team played here before moving to beautiful Kohl
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- Columbia, MO – Hearnes Center (University of Missouri Volleyball)
It’s nice to see several colleges keep their old basketball buildings in use for other sports
| - Chapel Hill, NC – Carmichael Auditorium (University of North Carolina Volleyball)
A building with a ton of history is still open and in use
| - Columbus, OH – St. John Arena (Ohio State University Volleyball)
The basketball team has played a few games here even after moving to Value City Arena
| - Lexington, KY – Memorial Coliseum (University of Kentucky Volleyball)
Another nostalgic place that can still be toured
| - Philadelphia, PA – McGonigle Hall (Temple University Volleyball)
Makes me think of John Chaney
| - Raleigh, NC – Reynolds Coliseum (North Carolina State University Women’s Basketball)
I’m totally fine with a lot of the newer arenas, but this is one where they screwed up. Sharing an off-campus hockey arena isn’t an improvement over Reynolds in my opinion
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- Pittsburgh, PA – Fitzgerald Field House (University of Pittsburgh Volleyball)
Send it in Jerome!
| - Springfield, MO – Hammons Student Center (Missouri State University Volleyball)
This arena harkens back to the days when they were known as Southeast Missouri State University
Stadium and Arena Visits 