View source for Allen Arena

{{Short description|Indoor arena in Nashville, Tennessee, US}}
{{ infobox venue
| name                = Allen Arena
| nickname            = The Arena
| image               = Allen Arena, Lipscomb University.jpg
| image_size          = 300px
| image_map           = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|zoom=15|type=point}}
| fullname            = 
| location            = One University Park Drive<br>[[Nashville, Tennessee]], [[United States]] 
| coordinates         = {{coord|36|6|13.80|N|86|47|55.81|W |type:landmark_region:US-TN |display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground        = September 2000
| built               = 
| opened              = October 28, 2001
| renovated           = 
| expanded            = 
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = [[Lipscomb University]]
| operator            = [[Lipscomb University]]
| surface             = Hardwood court
| construction_cost   = [[United states dollar|$]]16.5 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|16500000|2001}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect           = Tuck-Hinton Architects
| structural engineer = Devine deFlon Yaeger, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.louisberger.com/|title=Louis Berger &#124; Solutions for a better world|website=Louis Berger}}</ref>
| services engineer   = Lee Company<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leecompany.com/|title=Lee Company: Serving TN, AL and KY Since 1944|website=Lee Company}}</ref>
| general_contractor  = D.F. Chase Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dfchase.com/projects/lipscomb-university-arena-and-parking-garage |title=Lipscomb University Arena and Parking Garage &#124; DF Chase |access-date=2011-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402104848/http://dfchase.com/projects/lipscomb-university-arena-and-parking-garage |archive-date=2012-04-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| project_manager     = 
| main_contractors    = 
| former_names        = 
| tenants             = [[Lipscomb Bisons]] ([[NCAA]]) (2001&ndash;present)<br>Nashville Rhythm ([[American Basketball Association (2000&ndash;present)|ABA]]) (2004&ndash;2005)<br>[[Music City Stars]] ([[American Basketball Association (2000&ndash;present)|ABA]]) (2009&ndash;2010)
| capacity            = 5,028 (Basketball)<br>3,845-5,584 (Concerts)
| dimensions          = 
| scoreboard          = 
}}

'''Allen Arena''' is an [[List of indoor arenas|indoor arena]] at [[Lipscomb University]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. The [[arena]] was named in honor of James C. and Linda Allen, the facility's primary benefactors. James Allen is a member of the board of trustees for the university and worked for the university at one time. The arena is primarily used for basketball and volleyball athletic events and is also used for daily chapel services and occasional concerts.<ref name="facil">[http://www.lipscombsports.com/facilities/allenarena/ Allen Arena Facilities] at lipscombsports.com, URL accessed November 6, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025153139/http://www.lipscombsports.com/facilities/allenarena/ |date=2009-10-25 }} 11/5/09</ref>

==Facilities==
Other than hosting athletic events and on campus convocations, the arena hosts many events such as dinners, concerts, area-wide worship services, and graduations (the university and Nashville surrounding high schools). The facility has been host to events such as the annual [[Minnie Pearl]] Cancer Foundation Concert, bringing entertainers such as former Vibe host [[Sinbad (actor)|Sinbad]], [[Dana Carvey]], and [[Jay Leno]].

Besides being the home of Lipscomb sports teams, it served as the home of the now-defunct Nashville franchise, the [[Nashville Rhythm]], in the revived [[American Basketball Association (2000-)|American Basketball Association]]. It was also the home of the [[Music City Stars]], an [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|American Basketball Association]] team during the 2009–10 season.<ref name="facil"/>

==History==
The Allen Arena opened on October 28, 2001, with a local worship service called "In His Hands". The Arena and adjacent parking garage was the site for the school's old McQuiddy Gym name after J.C. McQuiddy Part of the McQuiddy Gym was retained along with the adjacent Student Activities Center (SAC). Yearwood Hall, a women's dormitory, was torn down for construction of the arena.

In the first Lipscomb Bisons home game at Allen Arena, Bison Clayton Osborne made an inbounds shot from three-quarters of the court away. With no time remaining, the ball fell through the net, giving the Bisons a 78–77 victory over the North Texas Mean Green.

The arena hosted the 2008, 2009, 2019 and 2025 [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] men's basketball tournaments.<ref name="facil"/>

Due to the damage incurred to the [[Grand Ole Opry]] House during the [[May 2010 Tennessee floods]] and because the [[Ryman Auditorium]] was unavailable, Allen Arena hosted the June 5 and June 15, 2010, editions of the Grand Ole Opry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://search2.opry.com/home|title=Home|website=Grand Ole Opry}}</ref> In October 2013, the arena held the nationally televised [[44th GMA Dove Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|title=44th Annual GMA Dove Awards|url=http://www.ticketsnashville.com/websales/pages/TicketSearchCriteria.aspx?evtinfo=58263~b8848ad3-00db-4563-927e-996af53ac6db|publisher=Tickets Nashville|access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref>

==Capacity==
Arena [[seating capacity]] is between 4,000 and 5,000 depending upon the purpose for which it is being used, and is officially given as 5,028, which is the capacity in the format typically utilized.<ref name="metro">[http://nashville.metromix.com/theater/theater/lipscomb-university-allen-arena-green-hills/527644/content Lipscomb University, Allen Arena] at nashville.metromix.com, URL accessed November 6, 2009. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117123609/http://nashville.metromix.com/theater/theater/lipscomb-university-allen-arena-green-hills/527644/content|date=2011-01-17}} 11/6/09</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120125103403/http://www.lipscomb.edu/allenarena Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091025153139/http://www.lipscombsports.com/facilities/allenarena/ Facilities - Allen Arena]

{{Lipscomb Bisons men's basketball navbox}}
{{Lipscomb University}}
{{Atlantic Sun Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{Nashville landmarks}}

[[Category:College basketball venues in Tennessee]]
[[Category:College volleyball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Nashville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Lipscomb Bisons basketball]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2001]]