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Crisler Center, 333 E Stadium Blvd, University of Michigan, July 13, 2022

Crisler Center, 333 E Stadium Blvd, University of Michigan, July 13, 2022 image
Year
2022
Month
July
Day
13
Description

"Crisler Arena -- now known as Crisler Center with the addition of the William Davidson Player Development Center -- has been the location for Michigan athletic events for 45 years. The men's basketball team has called Crisler its home since the arena opened in December 1967, and the women's basketball team has used the arena since its inaugural season as a varsity sport in 1973-74. U-M wrestling and gymnastics have also called it home, while a multitude of campus events and concerts have been held at the facility over the years.

Two years in the making at a cost of $7.2 million, the arena is a tribute to Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler and his many contributions to Michigan Athletics. Michigan's football coach from 1938-47, Crisler served 27 years as the Michigan athletic director before retiring in 1968.

Dan Dworsky, a linebacker on Crisler's undefeated 1947 (and 1948) football team, was one of two architects involved in the construction and was tasked with the design, preliminary drawings and selection of materials. The building stands at 107 feet with telescopic seating encircling the arena floor with an original seating capacity of 13,684.

Crisler Center is affectionately 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. Michigan hosted Kentucky on Dec. 2, 1967, for the first event held in Crisler Arena, which was formally dedicated on Feb. 27, 1968. On Dec. 11, 1993, Russell became Michigan's first basketball player to have his number retired, and the banner commemorating his No. 33 hangs from the arena rafters.

On Feb. 8, 2003, another banner joined Russell's in the south rafters, honoring Rudy Tomjanovich as his No. 45 became the second retired jersey. Tomjanovich was a center for the Wolverines from 1967-70, earning All-Big Ten honors each year, as well as All-America honors in 1970. Joining Russell and Tomjanovich's jerseys are Phil Hubbard (No. 35, Jan. 11, 2004), Glen Rice (No. 41, Feb. 20, 2005) and Bill Buntin (No. 22, Jan. 7, 2006) as well as numerous other banners honoring Big Ten champion, NCAA Tournament and NIT teams."

https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/facilities-crisler-center-html.aspx

 

Rights Held By
Steve Jensen