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Jennies Women's Basketball Camps
Facility
Considered
one the finest facilities of its kind in the nation, the Multipurpose
Building is in its 32nd year of service to the university. The $5.5
million facility was built at no expense to the State of Missouri, as
financing was accomplished solely through student fees.
The
“Multi” truly lives up to its name, as it is one of the busiest places
on campus. In addition to being the home of Mules and Jennies
basketball and indoor track and field, Jennies volleyball, and Mules
wrestling, the facility is used by university students, faculty, and
staff, as well as the general public.
Designed primarily for
recreational use, the building features a spacious main arena with a
six-lane track, a swimming pool, five indoor and two outdoor
handball/racquetball courts, areas for free and universal weights, an
activities area, locker rooms, meeting rooms, and offices for UCM's
Intercollegiate Athletics staff. The main arena can accommodate four
basketball or six volleyball courts at one time or all of the events
for an indoor track meet.
Seating capacity in the Multipurpose
Building is 8,500 for basketball and volleyball, making it the largest
such facility in the MIAA. It also seats 1,640 fans for indoor track
meets and 11,000 people for concerts.
Numerous
special events take place in the Multi each year. It has hosted the
Missouri State High School Activities Association’s state volleyball
tournament since 1988, while state high school playoff games for
basketball are also played annually in the building. Multipurpose Building Track
In
addition, the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships are contested
in the Multipurpose Building. The facility is also used for Central’s
annual commencement ceremonies and for major concerts.
The Multi
underwent a major renovation during the summer of 1998. An inlaid-wood
floor was installed in the main arena, replacing most of the original
Tartan surface and eliminating the need for the portable-wood floor
that had been used for basketball since 1988, while the running track
was resurfaced and new jumping and vaulting pits were created for track
and field.
Previous improvements include the addition of a new
scoreboard, containing a four-color message center manufactured by
Daktronics, in 1986 and the purchase of two Sport Courts for volleyball
in 1995 and 1998.
The
first basketball game was played in the Multi on Nov. 27, 1976, when
the Mules defeated Midland Lutheran College 92-75. The Jennies played
their first contest in the building on Dec. 8 of that season, dropping
a 66-44 decision to Tarkio College.
The Jennies posted their
first win in the facility on Jan. 7, 1977, with a 76-42 victory over
Grand View College. The Multi was formally dedicated eight days later
as the Mules beat Southwest Missouri State 90-62.
The Multi was designed by the architectural firm of Mantel and Teeter of Kansas City, Mo., and is managed by Karen Hibdon.
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