Sobrato Center facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | 2335 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California 94118 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°46′37″N 122°26′58″W / 37.77694°N 122.44944°W |
| Owner | University of San Francisco |
| Operator | University of San Francisco |
| Capacity | 3,005 |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Tenants | |
| San Francisco Dons (NCAA) (1958–present) | |
The War Memorial at the Sobrato Center is a sports building in San Francisco, California. It is located on the campus of the University of San Francisco (USF). This building is home to the USF men's and women's basketball teams. It also hosts the women's volleyball team.
The center has offices for the sports department. It also has training areas for other USF sports teams. It is the oldest basketball venue in the West Coast Conference. People often call it "The Hilltop." This is because USF is on top of Lone Mountain. Sometimes, St. Ignatius College Preparatory also plays basketball games here.
Contents
History of the War Memorial Center
Why the Gym Was Built
Before 1958, the USF basketball team did not have its own home court. In 1955 and 1956, the USF teams won national championships. These teams, led by coach Phil Woolpert, had to practice and play games at other places. They used Kezar Pavilion or the gym at St. Ignatius High School.
Winning these championships helped raise money. This money made it possible to build a sports center on the USF campus. So, in 1958, the War Memorial Gym officially opened.
Early Years and Famous Players
At first, the War Memorial Gym was used for all of USF's sports needs. From 1962 to 1967, it even hosted some games for the San Francisco Warriors. This was a professional basketball team.
When women's sports became popular at USF, the gym also became home to the women's basketball and volleyball teams. Many great USF players played here. These included Bill Cartwright, Phil Smith, and Quintin Dailey. Some very big games were played at other large venues.
In 1989, a new health center was built. After that, the War Memorial became only a sports venue. However, many training areas for student athletes are still located under the gym.
Honoring Heroes
The War Memorial Gym is dedicated to USF students who died while serving in wars. The gym can hold 3,005 people. Above the court, you can see banners. These banners celebrate USF's championships in basketball. They also show retired numbers of famous players and coaches. These include Pete Newell and Phil Woolpert.
In the front area of the gym, there is a small hall of fame. It displays trophies and items from USF's sports history.
Fun Facts and Upgrades
In 1998, an episode of the TV show Teletubbies was filmed at the Sobrato Center. It was called "Basketball." In this episode, coach Phil Mathews and his son, Jordan, played basketball.
USF has made many improvements to the gym over the years. In 2008 and 2009, the old floor was replaced. New seating was added in the upper areas. The old basketball hoops were also updated. New banners were put up too.
In 2015, more big renovations were planned. This project cost $15 million. It was paid for by John and Susan Sobrato. That is why the gym is now named the Sobrato Center. These changes included new seating areas and updated restrooms. An elevator was also installed. The building was made stronger to be safer during earthquakes.
A museum about USF's sports history will also be added. In 2019, four large video screens were installed in the gym's corners. On November 9, 2019, the USF Dons played their first game at the Chase Center. They won against the Princeton Tigers.
The War Memorial Gym was also important for TV history. It was the site of CBS's first national college basketball broadcast in 1982. This game was between USF and the University of Georgia. The gym also hosted the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournaments in 1987, 1989, and 1993.
See also
In Spanish: War Memorial Gymnasium para niños
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
