G. B. Hodge Center
G. B. Hodge Center is an 878-seat multi-purpose arena in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is home to the University of South Carolina Upstate Spartans basketball and volleyball teams. It was opened in 1973 and is named for one of the University's founders.[4]
Coordinates | 34.996696°N 81.968774°W |
---|---|
Owner | University of South Carolina Upstate |
Operator | University of South Carolina Upstate |
Capacity | 878 |
Surface | Hardwood |
Construction | |
Broke ground | February 14, 1972[1] |
Opened | January 10, 1973[2] |
Renovated | 2000, 2010 |
Construction cost | $1 million[1] ($5.76 million in 2019 dollars[3]) |
Architect | Lockwood, Greene & Co.[1] |
General contractor | Threatt–Maxwell Construction Company[1] |
Tenants | |
USC Upstate Spartans |
The Hodge Center is the smallest arena in Division I men's basketball in terms of seating capacity.
History
The G.B. Hodge Center hosted its first-ever top-25 ranked opponent when it welcomed the No. 25-ranked Furman Paladins on December 8, 2018. The matchup between the Spartans and the Paladins is also the first time that USC Upstate has hosted a top-25 opponent since becoming an NCAA Division 1 program during the 2007–08 season. With 353 teams currently competing in NCAA Division I men's basketball, it will also marked the first time that the division's smallest arena has hosted a ranked opponent. Although leading 34–30 at halftime, the Spartans ultimately fell to the Paladins 74–60.
Renovations
In October 2009, it was announced that the G. B. Hodge Center would undergo a large renovation thanks to the $4 million donation from alumnus Dolores Anderson. Anderson is a longtime fan of the University of South Carolina Upstate basketball team, particularly the men's team. She is the former co owner of Anderson Hardwood Company. This gift is the largest donation to the university athletic department and second largest ever to the university. Plans for the new arena include brand new floors, lighting, scoreboards, locker rooms, and seating. The university believes that the new renovation will help move into a second renovation later that would create a new entrance and new athletic department offices.[5]
The newly renovated facility was dedicated on December 5, 2010, against East Tennessee State.[6]
References
- "Gov. John West to Visit USC-S for Groundbreaking Ceremonies". The Carolinian. University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. February 8, 1972. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- "The Rifles Open the Hodge, 1973". University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics. May 28, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- Hodge Center - Facilities USC Upstate Spartans website
- "USC Upstate Announces $4 Million Gift For Hodge Center Renovation". University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics. October 14, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- Rothschild, Will (December 5, 2010). "Spartans Dedicate Hodge Upgrade, Honor Donor". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2014.