Crisler Center

SIZE: 378'x313'x107' (Court: 94'x50')
AREA: 97,260 sq. ft, 8,469,365 cu. ft.
CAPACITY: 13,684 (1967); 13,609 (1968-91); 13,562 (1991-2001); 13,751 (2001-2011); 12,721 (2011-present)
CONSTRUCTED: 1967
RENOVATED: 1998, 2001
FIRST BASKETBALL GAMES:
    Men: Dec. 2, 1967 (Kentucky 96, U-M 79)
    Women: Feb. 4, 1974 (Western Michigan 54, U-M 28)

• Photo Gallery
• Information Guide
• Safety at the Crisler Center (Prohibited Items)
• Game Day Parking
• Guide for Guests with a Disability
• Seating Chart:  JPEG (119 KB)
• Seating Chart (PDF): Men's Basketball (331 KB) | Women's Basketball (350 KB)

For the remainder of the 2011-12 season, the following will be in effect:

    • Gates E and B will be closed

    • There will be a construction fence along the northeast corner of Crisler Center/Blue Lot

Fans, please be aware that gate closures due to the Crisler Center renovation project will likely affect your exit from the arena. In order to alleviate congestion on the concourse, we encourage you to exit the gate nearest your section and travel outside of the arena to get to your vehicles. Event Staff located on the concourse and at the exit doors will assist in directing you to the nearest gate and the shortest route to your parking location. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation during this time. Please consult the detailed map of the construction zones to assist with future visits to Crisler Center. [ Construction Zone Map ]

Crisler Center, formally known as Crisler Arena, has been the location for Michigan athletic events for more than 40 years. The men's basketball team has called Crisler its home since the arena opened in 1967, and the women's hoops team has used the arena since its inaugural season as a varsity sport in 1973-74. In addition to hosting the Wolverines on the hardcourt, Crisler Center has hosted several wrestling and gymnastics events over the years as well, becoming a second home on campus for those teams.

Three years in the making at a cost of $7.2 million, Crisler Center stands as a tribute to Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler and his outstanding contributions to Michigan Athletics. Crisler, a Wolverine football coach for 10 years, served 27 years as the Michigan athletic director before retiring in 1968. Crisler Center opened Dec. 2, 1967, with its formal dedication on Feb. 27, 1968.

Dan Dworsky, a linebacker on Crisler's undefeated 1947 and 1948 football teams, was the architect. The building stands at 107 feet with telescopic seating encircling the arena floor and bringing the total seating capacity to 13,751. Over two million Michigan basketball fans have been treated to Crisler Center performances by some of the nation's top men's and women's basketball talent, including the Wolverines' 1990, 1998, 2000 and 2001 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament teams as well as the 1989 NCAA men's basketball national champion team.

Crisler Center has affectionately come to be known as "The House that Cazzie Built," for Michigan's greatest player, Cazzie Russell, a two-time consensus All-American and the first player selected in the 1966 NBA draft. On Dec. 11, 1993, Russell became Michigan's first basketball player to have his number retired, and the banner commemorating that honor hangs from Crisler Center's rafters.

On Feb. 8, 2003, another banner joined Cazzie Russell's in the south rafters of Crisler Center, this time honoring the second Michigan player to have his jersey retired. Rudy Tomjanovich was a center for the Wolverines from 1967-70, earning All-Big Ten honors during each of his playing years, as well as All-America honors in 1970. Joining Russell and Tomjanovich's jerseys are Phil Hubbard (Jan. 11, 2004), Glen Rice (Feb. 20, 2005) and Bill Buntin (Jan. 7, 2006) as well as numerous other banners honoring Big Ten champion, NCAA Tournament and NIT teams.

The facility has undergone a number of renovations in the past 12 years, from modernizing and re-modeling the court, men's and women's locker rooms and training rooms, to building a state-of-the-art production studio.

The arena underwent several renovations in 2001. The court itself was redesigned and refinished. Several rows of bleacher seats were installed on the east side of the arena behind the team benches to accommodate the Maize Rage student section. Along the opposite side, courtside seating was added to help benefit Michigan's endowed athletic scholarship program in addition to a refurbished court with a traditional look.

The most comprehensive renovation involved the men's locker room. The hallway leading up to the locker room now features maple paneling with photos of Michigan's All-Americans lining the way. Just outside the locker room door is a tribute to the famous free throw made by Rumeal Robinson that clinched the 1989 NCAA national championship. The locker room itself features new maple lockers, a dry white board wall, and individual shower and bathroom stalls.

In 2002, the women's locker room underwent major renovations, more than doubling its size and getting a complete facelift. The locker room, featuring maple walls, is highlighted by a dome detailing the team values -- passion, trust, unity, discipline and dedication. Each locker has its own bench seat, as well as a leather desk chair. Individual shower stalls were installed, as well as a kitchenette. The team area has a smart board, which doubles as a dry-erase board and a projector screen. A computer for video editing is also new in 2002. The coaches also have their own locker area with their own bathroom.

The weight room went through a renovation prior to the 2004-05 season, a year after the athletic medicine training room sported a new look. Enlarged and completed renovated, it now includes a physician's office.

In 1998, Crisler Center underwent its largest renovation, adding a full-service production studio in the press lounge and a video replay system on the overhead scoreboard. The state-of-the-art digital production facility hosts "Michigan Replay," the football coach's show, and "Wolverine Sports Magazine," a weekly program showcasing all 25 Michigan varsity sports. Press conferences, pregame meals and other special events are also held in the Crisler Press Lounge.

The arena has long been the showcase of Michigan Athletics, housing memorabilia and trophies from all Wolverine varsity athletic teams in the concourse showcases. Several showcases display Michigan's storied basketball tradition, as well as Michigan football's Tom Harmon's "old 98" and the numerous conference and national honors bestowed upon Michigan athletics every year.

Throughout its existence Crisler Center has been the site of numerous postseason events. The Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Conference Championships were held in Crisler in 1993, 2001 and 2008, and the venue hosted NCAA Regional Championship events in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Crisler was the host venue for the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Championships in 1999 and the 2009 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championships. The venue has also been the site of concerts, commencements, and numerous other activities.

In addition to being an outstanding competition facility, Crisler Center is a place where Michigan's student-athletes can train, study or simply relax. Both basketball teams and the wrestling team practice at Crisler. Weight room facilities are open to all Michigan varsity athletes. The athletic training room area and locker rooms are located off the arena's tunnel entrance. The availability of conference and study areas within the arena aid Michigan's commitment to academic excellence among its student-athletes.

Crisler Center Interesting Facts

• Crisler Center was the home for three other Michigan athletic teams prior to the opening of Cliff Keen Arena: women's gymnastics (1978-89), men's gymnastics (1978-89) and wrestling (1967-89). Women's gymnastics returned to Crisler for competition in 2001.

• Ten supply fans can filter a maximum of 350,000 cu. ft. of air per minute. This means that the entire air content of the arena can be changed every 14 minutes.

• The roof is made up of two plates, weighing approximately 160 tons each. The bridge-like construction of the plates allows them to expand or contract given the change of seasons or the weight of snow.

Crisler Center 333 E. Stadium Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Google Directions/Map

From Detroit Metro Airport and points east: Take I-94 west to Ann Arbor-Saline Road (exit 175). Turn right and follow Ann Arbor-Saline Road as it turns into Main Street, going north for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Crisler Center is located near the northeast corner of Main and Stadium Boulevard next to Michigan Stadium. The parking lot for Crisler can be entered from two locations. Turn right immediately after Michigan Stadium onto E. Keech Avenue and turn right into the lot just past Michigan Stadium, or turn right onto Stadium Boulevard and turn left into the parking lot immediately after Crisler Center.

From Chicago and points west: Take I-94 east to Ann Arbor-Saline Road (exit 175). Turn left and follow Ann Arbor-Saline Road as it turns into Main Street, going north for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Crisler Center is located near the northeast corner of Main and Stadium Boulevard next to Michigan Stadium. Turn right immediately after Michigan Stadium onto E. Keech Avenue and turn right into the lot just past Michigan Stadium, or turn right onto Stadium Boulevard and turn left into the parking lot immediately after Crisler Center.

From Toledo and points south: Take U.S. 23 north to I-94 west. Follow directions from Detroit Metro Airport.

From Flint and points north: Take U.S. 23 south to I-94 west. Follow directions from Detroit Metro Airport.

• Email this article
• Printer-friendly format