Kohl Center facts for kids
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"The Madhouse in Madison"
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A view from outside the Kohl Center
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| Location | 601 West Dayton Street Madison, Wisconsin 53715-1206 |
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| Coordinates | 43°04′10″N 89°23′49″W / 43.069420°N 89.396972°W |
| Owner | Wisconsin Badgers |
| Operator | Wisconsin Badgers |
| Capacity | 17,287 (basketball) 15,359 (hockey) |
| Surface | Multi-surface 200' x 97' (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 7, 1996 |
| Built | October 8, 1996 |
| Opened | January 17, 1998 |
| Construction cost | $76.4 Million |
| Architect | Venture Architects HOK Sport Heinlein Schrock Stearns |
| Project manager | Hammes Company |
| Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc. |
| General contractor | The Boldt Company |
| Tenants | |
| Wisconsin Badgers Men's Basketball, Wisconsin Badgers Dodgeball (1998-Present) Wisconsin Badgers Women's Basketball (1998-Present) Wisconsin Badgers Men's Hockey (1998-Present) Wisconsin Badgers Women's Hockey (1998–2012) WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament (1998-Present) WIAA State Girls Basketball Tournament (1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010–2012) WIAA State Wrestling Tournament (1998–2004) NCAA Men's Basketball Midwest Regional (2002) NCAA Men's Hockey Midwest Regional (2008) |
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The Kohl Center is a big sports building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States. It opened in 1998 and is home to the university's men's basketball and ice hockey teams. The women's basketball team also plays here.
The women's ice hockey team also played here until 2012. After that, they moved to the nearby LaBahn Arena. The building can change its setup for basketball, hockey, or concerts. It can hold up to 17,287 people for basketball games and 15,359 for hockey games.
The Kohl Center has three levels. The main floor holds about 7,500 people. The two upper sections each hold about 4,500. It is the second largest indoor sports place in Wisconsin. It is the biggest one outside Milwaukee. The arena is on the southeast side of the UW–Madison campus. It is at the corner of West Dayton and North Frances Streets.
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Why is it Called the Kohl Center?
This sports arena is named after Herb Kohl. He used to be a U.S. Senator and owned the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. He gave $25 million from his family's Kohl's department store fortune to build the center. At that time, it was the biggest single gift ever given to the University of Wisconsin System.
Because of his first name, some people jokingly call it the "Herb Garden." Another former Wisconsin Badgers basketball player, Albert Nicholas, and his wife gave $10 million. The practice area next to the main arena is named the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion and Plaza after them. Jack F. Kellner and his sons also donated $2.5 million.
The Hammes Company, based in Wisconsin, helped plan the arena in 1993. The Boldt Company was the main builder for the project. The Kohl Center is known for having the most fans at men's and women's college hockey games in the country.
History of the Kohl Center
Before the Kohl Center was built, the basketball teams played at the Wisconsin Field House. The ice hockey teams played at the Dane County Coliseum. Hockey teams might still play at the Coliseum if there's another event at the Kohl Center. This is because basketball games are usually scheduled first.
When the Kohl Center first opened, it used the old scoreboard from the UW Field House. This was because there wasn't enough money in the budget for a new one. The old scoreboard stayed for seven years. Then, enough money was raised, and a new, modern round scoreboard was put in before the 2004–2005 winter sports season.
At the same time, a ribbon board made of LED lights was added. This board goes all the way around the arena below the second balcony. It shows ads, messages, and scores. The Kohl Center's design is a bit like the Field House. It has balconies that stick out instead of being set back. This design helps make opponents feel nervous and brings all the fans closer to the action.
In 2005, a bar and restaurant were added on the second level. This area is for special gatherings before games. In 2006, a second study center for student-athletes was built. It is on the lower level of the Kohl Center. This helps student-athletes get academic help more easily.
Before the 2006 men's basketball season, the UW Athletic Department sold 48 seats right next to the court. These seats cost between $10,000 and $12,500 each. All the seats sold out, and a waiting list was made for future sales. These new seats were added by taking away some of the seating for media members. Adding these seats increased the maximum capacity for men's basketball from 17,142 to 17,190.
Before the 2008–2009 season, some seats in the upper section were also changed. This added even more seating to the arena. It brought the capacity for men's basketball to 17,230. The athletic department also planned to add a practice rink for ice hockey. This rink was built next to the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion. It is used by the men's hockey team for practice. It is also the game and practice facility for the women's hockey team. This new rink is called LaBahn Arena and opened in 2012.
The main entrance lobby has a cool wall sculpture. It is made of glass by artist Dale Chihuly and is called "Mendota Wall."
Other Events at the Kohl Center
Many other events happen at the Kohl Center besides sports. These include graduation ceremonies for the UW and Madison high schools. It also hosts concerts, ice skating shows, career fairs, political meetings, and big conventions.
The Kohl Center is where the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) holds its high school Boys' basketball championships. It also hosts individual wrestling championships. It has also hosted big college sports events. These include an NCAA women's volleyball national championship in 1998. It also hosted an NCAA men's basketball regional championship in 2002. And an NCAA men's hockey regional championship in 2008.
The Kohl Center also hosts the yearly Varsity Band Spring Concert. This event started in 1975. It has grown into a three-night show with professional staging, lights, sound, and fireworks. About 25,000 people attend this concert every year.
On February 12, 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke there. Over 17,000 people came to hear him speak before the Wisconsin primary. The 2008 Jeopardy! College Championship was filmed at the Kohl Center on April 11 and 12, 2008.
The opening and closing ceremonies for the 2011 Science Olympiad National Tournament were held at the Kohl Center. This was on May 20 and 21, 2011.
On October 8, 2016, the Milwaukee Bucks played a preseason basketball game there. They played against the Dallas Mavericks. On October 30, 2017, DJ Khaled had a concert at the Kohl Center. This happened after a UW student gave out 43,000 bottles of Mentos Gum. On September 2, 2018, the band Metallica played a concert at the stadium during their WorldWired Tour.
Images for kids
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View from the Grateful Red student section
See also
In Spanish: Kohl Center para niños
