The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

but tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of first game played in Bartow Arena.

From Today in Blazer History:

Quote:The new arena cost $11 million to build and was one of the things that Gene Bartow wanted most of all...a true home court. The new arena was an improvement over the aging Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center, where UAB had played all home games previously. Attendance had lagged in previous years and the Blazers had all but lost their home court advantage, playing in front of six to seven thousand people in a 17,000 seat coliseum. Moving on campus also was an economic plus as UAB would not have to pay rent and be able to keep all concessions revenue. It also provided a new home for the athletic department offices. By keeping fans close to the action, the arena can become very intimidating to opponents when it is full of loud and enthusiastic fans. The Arena was originally approved to be a mult-purpose convocation center and meant to serve as a practice facility for the basketball team. However, as construction continued, Bartow decided to play all but the biggest games on campus at the Arena. Eventually, all games were played at the Arena.

The Commodores were coached by former Alabama coach, C.M. Newton . Vanderbilt came into the game riding a high, as they had beaten 13th ranked Louisville earlier in the week. The game started out badly for the Blazers as the Commodores jumped out to a 9-0 start. However, UAB tied the game at 11. The game went back and forth, but the Blazers took the lead for good with seven minutes to go in the game on an Andy Kennedy three pointer. An opening game crowd of 8307 watched the Blazers win the game 76-69. Kennedy led the Blazers with 26 points, despite missing his first five three pointers.

The Arena proved to be to have a great home court advantage as UAB went 12-1 at home that year. UAB would be formidable in the Arena for the first couple of years. They only lost five games at home in their first four years in the Arena.

In UAB Athletics (and Scudder's) defense, this was the trivia question last night (What year was the first game in Bartow vs Vandy?)

I saw that, but I don't think they mentioned that the specific date was coming up and that it was 25 years. That trivia question is what triggered my memory that it was a special milestone.

A smaller, on-campus facility making financial sense and creating a real home field advantage?

Maybe we ought to think about that for football.

Somebody was going to. I just wanted to be first.

(12-03-2013 09:11 AM)Smaug Wrote:  A smaller, on-campus facility making financial sense and creating a real home field advantage?

Maybe we ought to think about that for football.

Somebody was going to. I just wanted to be first.

But we should focus on basketball and the medical school.

(12-03-2013 09:11 AM)Smaug Wrote:  A smaller, on-campus facility making financial sense and creating a real home field advantage?

Maybe we ought to think about that for football.

Somebody was going to. I just wanted to be first.

I don't believe the UA BOT will make that mistake again.

Happy 25th Birthday Barlow Arena!!! See you on December 29th!

Will the Wu Tang Clan be performing at Barlow on the 29th as well or whatever that group was?

December 3, 1988, was also the night I got married, which makes today my 25th wedding anniversary.

It was a tough call, but I decided to go to my wedding instead of going to the inaugural game at Bartow Arena. Lol.

(12-03-2013 01:04 PM)BlazerGrad88 Wrote:  December 3, 1988, was also the night I got married, which makes today my 25th wedding anniversary.

It was a tough call, but I decided to go to my wedding instead of going to the inaugural game at Bartow Arena. Lol.

Congratulations!

(12-03-2013 01:27 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  

(12-03-2013 01:04 PM)BlazerGrad88 Wrote:  December 3, 1988, was also the night I got married, which makes today my 25th wedding anniversary.

It was a tough call, but I decided to go to my wedding instead of going to the inaugural game at Bartow Arena. Lol.

Congratulations!

What he said. Congrats on 25! Now, go celebrate at the Barlow. Just take her in and remind her of what you chose to miss, and that both things are still standing strong, tall, and proud. Kind of a cool take on your family history and UAB basketball history, IMO.

the dip$hi+$ on the BOT should have allowed it to be called Bartow Arena on opening day

(12-03-2013 01:04 PM)BlazerGrad88 Wrote:  December 3, 1988, was also the night I got married, which makes today my 25th wedding anniversary.

It was a tough call, but I decided to go to my wedding instead of going to the inaugural game at Bartow Arena. Lol.

That's what we call "bad planning."

(12-04-2013 12:45 AM)Grammar-Nazi Wrote:  

(12-03-2013 01:04 PM)BlazerGrad88 Wrote:  December 3, 1988, was also the night I got married, which makes today my 25th wedding anniversary.

It was a tough call, but I decided to go to my wedding instead of going to the inaugural game at Bartow Arena. Lol.

That's what we call "bad planning."

Yeah, I seem to be pretty good at that when it comes to UAB basketball milestone events. I was out of town when 58-56 happened in '93.

Opening day at Bartow introduced us to a couple of players that would make it into the record books Jack Kramer and Andy Kennedy.