Walter Pyramid facts for kids
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| Full name | Walter Pyramid |
|---|---|
| Former names | The Pyramid |
| Location | 1250 Bellflower Boulevard Long Beach, CA 90840 |
| Coordinates | 33°47′14″N 118°6′51″W / 33.78722°N 118.11417°W |
| Owner | Long Beach State University |
| Capacity | 4,200 (With additional seating, a record attendance of 6,912 occurred on November 16, 2012 versus North Carolina) |
| Surface | Beechwood |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 17, 1992 |
| Opened | November 30, 1994 |
| Construction cost | $22 million ($43.4 million in 2025 dollars ) |
| Architect | Don Gibbs |
| General contractor | Nielson Construction Company |
The Walter Pyramid is a cool building on the campus of Long Beach State University in Long Beach, California. It's a big indoor sports arena that can hold about 5,000 people. It's famous for its unique pyramid shape!
Contents
History of the Pyramid
The Walter Pyramid first opened its doors on November 30, 1994. The very first event held there was a men's basketball game. The Long Beach State 49ers played against the University of Detroit Mercy. Lots of people came to watch, and the game was even shown live on ESPN! Long Beach State won the game 71-64.
The building was designed by an architect named Don Gibbs. It was built by the Nielson Construction Company from San Diego. Building this amazing pyramid cost around $22 million!
A True Pyramid Shape
The Walter Pyramid is special because it's a "true" pyramid. This means each side of its base is exactly the same length. Each side measures 345 feet (about 105 meters).
It's one of only three buildings in the United States that are shaped like a true pyramid. The other two are the Luxor Hotel Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Walter Pyramid stands very tall, about 18 stories high, in the Long Beach skyline. Its outside walls are covered with dark-blue metal sheets.
Why the Name Changed
The building was originally just called "The Pyramid." But on March 5, 2005, its name was changed to the Walter Pyramid. This was done to honor Dr. Mike and Arline Walter. They gave a very generous donation of $2.1 million to the university.
Dr. Mike Walter was not only a vice-president at Levi Strauss & Co., but he also worked at Long Beach State. He was the dean for the College of Business Administration from 1993 to 2000.
What Happens at the Walter Pyramid?
The Walter Pyramid is a busy place! It hosts many different events.
One big event held there is the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships. This is a huge competition for the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu. In Portuguese language, this event is called Mundiais.
The Walter Pyramid is also home to the Los Angeles Reign. This is a team from the National Pro Grid League, which is a unique sport combining weightlifting and gymnastics.
See also
In Spanish: Walter Pyramid para niños
