View source for E. A. Diddle Arena

{{short description|Sports venue in Bowling Green, Kentucky}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name     = E. A. Diddle Arena
| nickname         = 
| image            = [[File:DiddleArena.JPG|250px|center|E.A. Diddle Arena]] 
| image_map           = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| coordinates         = {{coord|36|59|9|N|86|27|27|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| location         = 1526 Avenue of Champions<br>Bowling Green, KY 42101 USA
| broke_ground     = November 15, 1961
| opened           = December 7, 1963
| renovated        = 2002
| expanded         = 1965, 1970
| closed           =
| demolished       = 
| owner            = [[Western Kentucky University]]
| operator         = Western Kentucky University
| surface          = Hardwood
| construction_cost= $3,089,538<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|3089538|1963}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect        = Frank Cain<br>R. Ben Johnson
| former_names     = 
| tenants          = [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers]] ([[NCAA]]) (1963&ndash;present)
| seating_capacity = 7,326 (2005–present)<br>7,368 (2003–2005)<br>7,381 (2001–2003)<br>11,300 (1991–2001)<br>12,370 (1980–1991)<br>13,164 (1979–1980)<br>13,508 (1970–1979)<br>12,500 (1965–1970)<br>8,500 (1963–1965)
}}
'''E. A. Diddle Arena''' is a 7,326-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]], [[United States]]. The arena, built in 1963, is home to the [[Western Kentucky University]] [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Hilltoppers men's basketball]] team and [[Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball|Lady Toppers basketball]] and [[volleyball]] teams.  It is also known as Academic-Athletic Building #1.  It also holds Military Science and Physical Education & Recreation classes and offices.

==History==
Diddle Arena was built in 1963 and is named after legendary WKU men's coach and [[List of coaches in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Basketball Hall of Famer]] [[Edgar Diddle|Edgar "E.A." Diddle]]. It hosted the [[Ohio Valley Conference]] men's basketball tournament in 1976, 1978 and 1980–1982 and has hosted the [[Sun Belt Conference]] men's basketball tournament four times. Dedicated on December 7, 1963, Diddle Arena has hosted some of the finest players and teams ever to play in the college ranks. Originally designed to seat 8,500 fans, the [[seating capacity]] has fluctuated over the years and by 1970 the arena had been adjusted to hold 13,508.

The utility and versatility of the arena throughout the years has included the facility being the site of NCAA Regional Tournaments in both men's (1980) and women's basketball, the [[Kentucky High School Athletic Association]]'s [[Sweet Sixteen (KHSAA State Basketball Championship)|Girls' Sweet Sixteen]] basketball tournament from 2001 to 2015, and an NBA exhibition game. (The KHSAA tournament moved to [[BB&T Arena]] at [[Northern Kentucky University]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://khsaa.org/051214-board-of-control-approves-future-championship-sites-football-alignment/ |title=Board of Control Approves Future Championship Sites, Football Alignment |publisher=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |date=May 12, 2014 |access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>) The facility has also hosted several Sun Belt Conference basketball tournaments, and was the site of the 2003 and 2009 SBC Volleyball Championship. Diddle Arena has staged numerous concerts, hosted WKU's annual spring and winter commencements, and has even welcomed the President of the United States during a 1988 visit by Ronald Reagan. The arena has hosted professional basketball, including [[List of players in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]] [[Dan Issel]] and [[Artis Gilmore]], as the [[Kentucky Colonels]] played two games there before the 1976 [[ABA–NBA merger]]. 10,453 fans saw the [[Carolina Cougars]] defeat the Kentucky Colonels, 94–82, on November 26, 1973<ref>[http://www.remembertheaba.com/ABAYearlyGameLogs/7374Part1.html 1973-74 ABA Game by Game Log at RememberTheABA.com]</ref> and 7,611 saw the Colonels defeat the [[San Diego Conquistadors]], 109–100, on November 30, 1974.<ref>[http://www.remembertheaba.com/ABAYearlyGameLogs/7475Part1.html 1974-75 ABA Game by Game Log at RememberThe ABA.com]</ref>

In addition to being one of the homes for WKU athletics, Diddle Arena also contains classrooms and activity areas for the Department of Physical Education and Recreation as well as the WKU Army ROTC program.

Some of the record crowds that the arena has hosted include 14,277 fans for a 1971 battle against former OVC arch-rival [[Murray State Racers men's basketball|Murray State]]; 13,000 for the 1984 Wendy's Classic Final versus [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball|Louisiana Tech]] and All-American and future Hall of Famer [[Karl Malone]]; and 13,300 for a 1986 showdown with former [[Sun Belt Conference]] rival [[UAB Blazers men's basketball|UAB]].

==Today==
In 2002, a $32 million renovation was completed which reduced [[seating capacity]] to 7,381. The renovation also included: 16 luxury suites, all-new seating, two video boards, new concession and restroom areas, new playing floor, elevator access to all levels, new sound and lighting systems, two new auxiliary gyms totalling {{convert|30000|sqft}}, new training and weight rooms, air-conditioning, and new locker and office space complex facilities.  The renovation has been the focal point of WKU's extensive athletic complex makeover which has also included numerous enhancements to baseball's Nick Denes Field, the construction of the softball and soccer complex on Creason Drive and the expansion to football's Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110509233225/http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1568757#diddle&DB_OEM_ID=5400&KEY==Facilities Official WKU Athletics Website - Facilities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060316115307/http://www.wkusports.com/page.cgi?page=tour 360 Degree Tour of Diddle Arena]
*[http://www.hilltopperhaven.com/arena/index.html Hilltopper Haven - Diddle Arena]

{{Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball navbox}}
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{{Kentucky NCAA Division I women's college volleyball venues navbox}}
{{Bowling Green, Kentucky}}
{{Western Kentucky University}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bowling Green, Kentucky]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers basketball]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1963]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in Kentucky]]