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Mackey Arena is home to the Purdue's basketball teams, and occasionally hosts home games for the volleyball and wrestling teams. The arena opened in 1967 as a replacement for Lambert Fieldhouse.

Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. On December 12, 1997, the floor was renamed Keady Court in honor of longtime men's coach Gene Keady.

The circular arena has 42 rows of seats and seats 14,123, and is considered by many as one of the loudest arenas in the nation due to its domed aluminum roof. On May 18, 2007, the university's board of trustees voted to award a contract to HNTB Architecture of Kansas City, Mo., for a $99.5 million dollar project that extends from the outer edges of the arena north along Northwestern Avenue to Cherry Lane. A three-level structure is planned north of Mackey and currently is being referred to as the Student-Athlete Development Center. Its highlights include:

  • A sports medicine facility approximately three and a half to four times larger than the current area in Mackey.
  • A strength and weight training facility approximately four times larger than the previous Intercollegiate Athletic Facility weight room.
  • An oversized basketball practice facility with a full-size court and three breakout shooting areas.
  • The Drew and Britney Brees Student Athlete Academic Center, towards which the couple donated $2M in the fall of 2007.

The concourse width was approximately doubled, concessions increased four times (from 12 to 48 points of sale) and restrooms increased three times for women and by 35 percent for men. In addition, the lower seating sections on the east side was modified to allow for some premium seats, with club seats (fixed padded stadium chairs) and loge seats (office-style chairs on casters) provided. A limited number of premium courtside seats are available in the west pit area. Accessible seating increased approximately six times. Two club spaces were created, one for general fans on the west side and a premium club to the east.

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