View source for CU Events Center

{{Short description|Arena in Boulder}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name        = CU Events Center
| nickname            = ''"The Keg"''
| image               = CU Events Center 2020.jpg

| image_size          = 250
| caption             = Against [[2019–20 Oregon Ducks men's basketball team|Oregon]] in January [[2019–20 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team|2020]]
| location            = 950 Regent Drive<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cubuffs.com/sports/2005/5/4/118241.aspx|title = Facilities}}</ref><br>[[Boulder, Colorado]], U.S.<!-- 80302 -->
| coordinates         = {{coord|40.0047|N|105.2606|W|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map         = USA Colorado#USA
| pushpin_relief      = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Colorado##Location in the United States
| broke_ground        = October 1977
| built               = 
| opened              = November 8, 1979<br>{{Years or months ago|1979|8}}
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = [[University of Colorado]]
| operator            = University of Colorado
| surface             = Hardwood
| construction_cost   = [[United States dollar|$]]7,579,756<ref>{{cite web|title=2011-2012 Colorado Buffaloes Women's Basketball Info Guide|url=http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/wbb/2011-12_Info_Guide/193-195_coors_events_center_traditions.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600|publisher=Colorado Athletics|access-date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113213015/http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/wbb/2011-12_Info_Guide/193-195_coors_events_center_traditions.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600#|archive-date=2013-11-13|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|7579756|1979}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}<!--dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect           = Sink Combs Dethlefs
| structural engineer = John A. Martin<br>& Associates<ref>{{cite web |title=Entertainment |url=http://www.jamanv.com/projects/entertainment/ |publisher=John A. Martin & Associates |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204221149/http://www.jamanv.com/projects/entertainment/ |archive-date=February 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| former_names        = Coors Events Center (2008–2018);<br>Coors Events/Conference<br>Center (1990–2008);<br>CU Events/Conference<br>Center (1979–1990)
| tenants             = [[Colorado Buffaloes]] (Basketball & Volleyball)
| seating_capacity    = 11,064
}}

The '''CU Events Center''' is an 11,064-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in the [[Western United States]], on the main campus of the [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado]] in [[Boulder, Colorado]]. Opened {{Years or months ago|1979|8}} in 1979, it is home to the [[Colorado Buffaloes]] [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|men's]] and [[Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball|women's]] [[basketball]] teams and women's [[volleyball]] of the [[Big 12 Conference]]. The playing surface is named the '''[[Sox Walseth]] Court''' in honor of the former Buffaloes men's and women's basketball head coach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Max |title=Pac-12 Basketball: Colorado Buffaloes Auctioning off Walseth Basketball Court |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1207681-pac-12-basketball-colorado-buffaloes-auctioning-off-coors-basketball-court |publisher=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>

The building is an eight-sided concrete structure, with three levels: arena floor, service level, and the concourse level.<ref name="history" /> Single-tiered inside, it replaced [[Balch Fieldhouse]], the current home of the indoor track and field team located directly adjacent to [[Folsom Field]].  The approximate [[elevation]] at street level is {{convert|5400|ft}} above [[sea level]] making it the college basketball arena with the 5th highest elevation in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Against Colorado, Vols ready to 'see what we're about' in first road game |url=https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Basketball-Colorado-First-Road-Game-Watch-Stream-CU-Events-Center-Boulder-177159802/#:~:text=At%20an%20elevation%20of%205%2C400,basketball%20arena%20in%20the%20country. |website=247sports.com}}</ref>

==History==
The venue was initially called the '''CU Events/Conference Center''' and was renamed to the '''Coors Events/Conference Center''' in September 1990 after the Coors family, in recognition of a $5 million gift from the Adolph Coors Foundation.<ref name="history">[http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=119110 "Coors Events Center History"]</ref>  In 2008 with the addition of the basketball offices to the building on the service level, the "Conference" was removed from the name as there were no longer conference rooms in the building. Although the naming agreement with the Coors Foundation had long expired, the Coors name remained on the building until 2018, when it was renamed the CU Events Center. At the time, the CU athletic department announced it was actively seeking a new naming rights partner.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.buffzone.com/basketball/ci_31804006/cu-buffs-nearing-removal-coors-name-from-events |title=CU Buffs nearing removal of Coors name from events center |first=Brian |last=Howell |newspaper=[[Boulder Daily Camera]] |location=Boulder, CO |date=April 18, 2018 |access-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701055126/http://www.buffzone.com/basketball/ci_31804006/cu-buffs-nearing-removal-coors-name-from-events |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 9, 1981, the Grateful Dead played their last Boulder show at the then-named "CUC."

It is the highest indoor arena in the Big XII Conference, approximately {{convert|600|ft|-1}} above the [[Jon M. Huntsman Center|Huntsman Center]] {{nowrap|at [[Utah Utes|Utah]].}} It is one of only three basketball arenas in a major conference that uses roof-mounted retractable goals: the other arenas that are also equipped with this style of basket are [[Cameron Indoor Stadium]] at Duke and Maples Pavillion at Stanford

==Improvements==
The most dramatic changes since the building was opened have come since 2008. After the 2007-08 basketball seasons, the CEC underwent a $200,000 "Floor Lift", in which a permanent maple surface with technology to reduce injuries and fatigue was installed.<ref name="history" />

In April 2008, the men's and women's basketball offices were relocated to the CEC from Folsom Field second level where the conference rooms were previously located.

In the summer of 2010, two new video boards were installed in the southwest and northeast corners. Along with the new video boards and as part of the new practice facility, a new production suite was built for the department's BuffVision office. The production room controls the video boards at both the Coors Events Center and Folsom Field.

A new {{convert|44000|sqft|adj=on}} practice facility was opened in August 2011 for volleyball and basketball. The building was just the second athletic facility in the nation and third on CU's campus to earn LEED Platinum Certification, the highest possible by the internationally recognized system developed by the [[U.S. Green Building Council]].<ref name="history" />

In August 2013, a video room for the men's and women's basketball teams was opened for the first time, giving both teams additional meeting space and the ability to watch film more efficiently.

In February 2014, a new weight room was finished in the remaining space on the second level where the conference rooms were once located, adjacent to the basketball offices that were relocated in 2008.

In August 2017, a new high-definition video and scoreboard was installed at the center of the ceiling of the CEC. The scoreboard has shown a live feed of games as well as statistics and replays.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Curtis |title=Coors Events Center To Get Center-Hung Scoreboard |url=https://cubuffs.com/news/2017/5/15/general-coors-events-center-to-get-center-hung-scoreboard.aspx |publisher=University of Colorado Athletics |date=May 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rooney |first1=Pat |title=New central video screens unveiled at Coors Events Center |url=https://www.buffzone.com/2017/08/19/new-central-video-screens-unveiled-at-coors-events-center/ |work=BuffZone |agency=[[Digital First Media|MediaNews Group]] |date=August 19, 2017}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=118241 Coors Events Center Home - CUBuffs.com]

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[[Category:Colorado Buffaloes basketball venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1979]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Colorado]]