Beeghly Center facts for kids
| Beeghly Center | |
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| Location | One University Plaza Youngstown, Ohio 44555 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°6′29″N 80°38′56″W / 41.10806°N 80.64889°W ACoordinates: Extra unexpected parameters |
| Owner | Youngstown State University |
| Operator | Youngstown State University |
| Capacity | 6,300 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 27, 1972 |
| Opened | December 2, 1972 |
| Construction cost | US$5.5 million ($38.5 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Raymond J. Jaminet |
| Tenants | |
| Youngstown State Penguins (NCAA) (1972–present) Youngstown Pride (WBL) (1988–1992) |
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The Beeghly Physical Education Center, often called the Beeghly Center, is a large building in Youngstown, Ohio. It has 6,300 seats and is used for many different activities. This arena was built for about $5.5 million and opened on December 2, 1972. It was named after a local businessman, Leon A. Beeghly.
The Beeghly Center is the home for the Youngstown State University Penguins sports teams. These teams play basketball, volleyball, and have swimming competitions here. The very first event held in the arena was a basketball game. The Youngstown State team won that game against the Ohio University Bobcats.
Contents
A Look Inside the Beeghly Center
The Beeghly Center is a very busy place. It has many different areas for sports and learning.
Sports and Fitness Areas
The building includes a large swimming and diving area. This pool is an Olympic-sized pool, which means it's big enough for professional competitions. There are also courts for games like racquetball and squash. These are fun, fast-paced sports played in small rooms.
Offices and Classrooms
Beyond sports, the Beeghly Center also has classrooms. Students at Youngstown State University attend classes here. It also has offices for the university's sports teams, including the men's and women's basketball teams. Other sports offices are located here too.
History and Changes Over Time
When the Beeghly Center first opened, it could hold 6,000 people. Over the years, it has been updated many times to make it even better.
Early Updates
In the mid-1970s, the Youngstown State women's basketball team started playing their games at the Beeghly Center. In 1983, more seats were added. Permanent seats were put at both ends of the court. Also, 1,260 special chairback seats were added in the middle of the court for more comfort.
Honoring Veterans
On September 15, 1996, a special area called Veterans' Plaza was created right in front of the Beeghly Center. This project cost $500,000. It was built with donations from people who wanted to honor all United States Veterans.
Modern Renovations
In 2000, the basketball court was repainted with new designs. Two more scoreboards were added so everyone could easily see the game scores. The seating area for reporters was also made bigger. In May 2002, the building had even more big changes. Over $2.5 million was spent on renovations. This included new front and back lobbies, new hallways, and updated locker rooms for the athletes. A brand new sound system was also installed, costing $150,000, to make sure everyone could hear clearly during events.
Events and Activities
The Beeghly Center is used for many different events throughout the year.
University and School Events
Besides university sports games, the Beeghly Center hosts many other events. High school sports competitions are often held here. It's also the place for the Youngstown City School District's "All-City" Science Fair competition. At the end of every school semester, graduation ceremonies for Youngstown State University students take place in the arena.
Other Public Events
The Beeghly Center has also been a venue for professional entertainment. It has hosted World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) matches. Famous musicians have performed concerts here, and various trade shows have used the space. In February 2008, a rally for Barack Obama was held at the center.
Not to Be Confused With Beeghly Hall
It's important not to mix up the Beeghly Center with another building nearby called Beeghly Hall. Beeghly Hall is newer and is home to YSU's Beeghly College of Education. It also holds many university classes, but it's a different building from the Beeghly Physical Education Center.
Images for kids
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Interior 2008
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Interior 2006
