View source for Ramsey Center

{{Short description|Arena in Cullowhee, North Carolina}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name        = Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center
| nickname            = "The Lair"
| image               = Ramsey Regional Activity Center in Cullowhee, NC.jpg
| caption             = Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center
| image_map           = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|zoom=15|type=point}}
| coordinates         = {{coord|35.3037|-83.1823|type:landmark_region:US-NC|display=it}}
| location            = 92 Catamount Road<br>Cullowhee, NC 28723 USA
| broke_ground        = October 1982
| built               = 
| opened              = April 10, 1986
| closed              =
| demolished          =
| owner               = [[Western Carolina University]]
| operator            = Western Carolina University
| surface             = Multi-surface
| construction_cost   = [[United States dollar|$]]16.3 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|16300000|1986}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect           = Crain & Anderson, Inc.<br>Foy & Lee Associates<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees Meeting|url=http://www.wcu.edu/24359.asp|publisher=Western Carolina University|date=August 26, 1981|access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref>
| structural engineer = [[Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants|Walter P Moore]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Arenas|url=http://www.walterpmoore.com/proj2_2.htm|publisher=Walter P Moore|access-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000708022900/http://www.walterpmoore.com/proj2_2.htm|archive-date=July 8, 2000}}</ref>
| former_names        =
| tenants             = [[Western Carolina Catamounts]]<br>(men's and women's basketball & volleyball)
| seating_capacity    = 7,826 (basketball)<br>8,556 (concerts)
}}
The '''Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center''' is a 7,826-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Cullowhee, North Carolina|Cullowhee]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]], and is home to the [[Western Carolina University]] [[Western Carolina Catamounts|Catamounts]] [[basketball]] and [[volleyball]] teams. It is also named "The Lair". It is a state owned facility (by the University) and offers the largest [[seating capacity]] inside the [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]–[[Atlanta]]–[[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] triangle.<ref>{{cite web |title=Entertainment|url=http://ramsey.wcu.edu/entertainment.htm|publisher=Western Carolina University|access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref>

In addition to the arena, the Ramsey Center includes five racquetball courts, two basketball courts, a walking/jogging track, and lighted outdoor rollerblade/skateboard facilities for students.

Features not in use at this time include an indoor firing range and an outdoor-lighted [[ice skating]] facility.

==History==
The Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center was completed in April 1986 and was dedicated on December 6 of that same year before a standing-room only crowd of 8,114 as Western Carolina hosted North Carolina State on the men's basketball hardwood. The first official game in the new building took place two-days prior as the women's squad downed Mars Hill on December 4, 1986, by a score of 65–61. In 1999, the Ramsey Center also became the home venue for the WCU volleyball team.<ref name="lbrrac">{{cite web |title=Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center|url=http://www.catamountsports.com/facilities/ramsey-regional-center.html|publisher=Western Carolina University Athletics|access-date=February 7, 2014}}</ref>

==Notable events==
Such entertainment acts as Aerosmith, Alabama, Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Eric Church, The Band Perry, Tim Mcgraw, The Gaither Homecoming, Billy Currington, Chicago, Fabolous, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Lorrie Morgan and Nappy Roots have played at the Ramsey Center. Other featured events include the Harlem Globetrotters, WCW Wrestling, Monster Jam, appearances by the New York City Opera, Los Angeles Ballet and the Acting Company. Lectures from famous personalities like Pat Summitt and former presidential candidate, Bob Dole have taken place at the Ramsey Center.<ref name="lbrrac"/>

[[Bon Jovi]] performed at the Ramsey Center on September 23, 1986 during their [[Slippery When Wet Tour]], and the arena is featured in the music video for the song [[Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi song)|Wanted Dead or Alive]].

In 2006, it hosted the free [[Monster Jam]] Monsters on Mainstreet show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news-prod.wcu.edu/2006/06/monsters-on-mainstreet-coming-to-ramsey-center/|title=Western Carolina University}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://ramsey.wcu.edu}}

{{Western Carolina University}}
{{Western Carolina Catamounts men's basketball navbox}}{{Western Carolina Catamounts women's basketball navbox}}{{Southern Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{North Carolina NCAA Division I women's college volleyball venues navbox}}
{{WNC sports venues}}

[[Category:Western Carolina Catamounts basketball]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Jackson County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1986]]
[[Category:College volleyball venues in the United States]]


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