• STOKELY ATHLETICS CENTER •

Stokely Athletics Center was the home to both the offices of the Women's Athletics Department and the Lady Volunteer basketball team from 1976-87.  The team no longer plays any games in Stokely, but it is used as a back-up practice facility when Thompson-Boling Arena had a scheduling conflict until the 2007 construction of the Pratt Pavilion. It was formerly home to the Lady Vol volleyball team, which moved its games to Thompson-Boling Arena in the fall of 2008.  The bulk of the offices of the Women's Athletics Department are still housed in Stokely--Athletic Training, Compliance, Games Management, Golf Coaches, Media Relations, Rowing Coaches, Softball Coaches, Strength Training, Track & Field Coaches and Volleyball Coaches.

The Stokely Arena, which is encircled by a four-lane Tartan indoor track, seats 12,700, while the building houses men’s and women’s athletics department offices. The building was originally called the UT Armory Field House in 1958 and seated just over 7,000 spectators. Through the generosity of the late William B. Stokely, Jr., further construction was completed and on Dec. 1, 1966, the facility was renamed to honor the Stokely family.

In 1986, Stokely took on a new look as a wood playing surface replaced the old tartan court. The Horner “Pro King” hardwood is painted with the traditional outline of the state of Tennessee in the center of the floor and the familiar end line markings. The court was special-made for the University by the same manufacturer who supplied the basketball court to the Forum for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Stokely Athletics Center was the site of some historic games for the Lady Vols. The first women’s contest played in SAC pitted Tennessee vs. Kentucky on Nov. 13, 1976. The Lady Vols not only trounced the Lady Kats, 107-53, but UT’s Patricia Roberts tossed in a Field House record 51 points. Along the way, Tennessee hosted the great gold medalist USSR Olympic Team in 1979, the USA All-Star team in 1979, and the first Southeastern Conference Championships in 1980.

The last Lady Vol game in Stokely, before moving over to the Thompson-Boling Arena, was a 77-61 win over Auburn in the finals of the NCAA Mideast Regionals on Mar. 21, 1987. A week later, the Lady Vols returned to Stokely to celebrate UT’s first NCAA basketball title with thousands and thousands of fans in attendance.

Although no formal attendance figures were kept prior to 1982, Tennessee most-assuredly was among the nation’s elite in fan support.

• ALUMNI GYM •
Constructed in the 1930’s, Alumni Gym was the first real home to Pat Summitt’s inaugural Lady Vol team in 1974. The court in the tiny arena (seating 3,000) is the centerpiece of an encircling tri-balcony seating arrangement.

YEAR-BY-YEAR IN
STOKELY ATHLETICS CENTER
AND ALUMNI GYM

TOP 20 ALL-TIME LARGEST STOKELY HOME CROWDS