Stuart C. Siegel Center is a 190,000-square-foot (18,000 m2) multi-purpose facility on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, United States. The facility's main component is the 7,500-(expandable to 8,000) seat Verizon Wireless Arena. It also served as a student recreational area until the new Cary Street Gym complex was built. It now is used purely for VCU athletics and includes a weight room, auxiliary basketball court, an aerobic studio, and a cafè. The Verizon Wireless Arena hosts Division I level NCAA inter-collegiate athletics and serves as a general-purpose assembly space for special events such as graduations, concerts, receptions, and a variety of competitions (both athletic and non athletic). It is named after Richmond businessman Stuart C. Siegel. Lastly, it is affectionately referred to the HavocDome by its fans, which comes from the name of VCU's style of play under head coach Shaka Smart known as "Havoc".
The "Stu" opened in 1999 and cost $30.1 million to construct. Its main tenant is the VCU Rams men's basketball team who enjoy one of the nation's best home court winning percentages since moving into the facility and has received the reputation as arguably the toughest place to play in the Atlantic Ten Conference. The VCU Rams men's basketball team holds the 13th-highest home court winning percentage in Division I basketball with a winning percentage of 85.23 The student section dubbed the "Rowdy Rams" is extremely loud and almost deafening. The "Rowdy Rams" won the 2012-2013 Naismith Student Section of the year award, which awards the most passionate student section in college basketball. In the 2012-2013 season every home game at the Siegel Center has been sold out and currently holds a 35 game sell out streak dating back to 2011. The "arena" has also hosted local and state high school basketball tournaments. It is also host to the annual Virginia Regional (formerly VCU/NASA) for the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Read more about Stuart C. Siegel Center: Expansion
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