OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University athletic fans will see a new Abe Lemons Arena floor when the 2011-12 season begins.
Abe Lemons Arena recently underwent its most extensive facelift since the court became the home of the Stars in 2000. The floor has been redesigned and repainted.
Kevin Miller and Rod Jones in the university communications department created a new design for the floor. The new look includes a bold OCU Stars logo at center court and vibrant royal blue colors.
Joe Rollins Hardwood Floors spent five days sanding the floor down to the bare wood – something that had not been done since Abe Lemons Arena was built. The company performed the refurbishing from July 15-Aug. 1. The final coat of finish was applied Aug. 1.
OCU student-athletes will use the floor during preseason practices. The new floor will be showcased for the first time in competition during the Oklahoma City-Southern Nazarene volleyball classic on Aug. 26-27 at Abe Lemons Arena.
“I'm really impressed with how the floor came out and think that our fans, coaches and student-athletes will be as well,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “This project is a natural step as we continue to strive to provide our students with the best possible facilities.”
Abe Lemons Arena provides the home court to OCU's basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.
The arena is named for legendary basketball coach Abe Lemons, who won 599 games in 35 years as a head coach from 1955-90. Lemons is the school's all-time leader in basketball coaching wins with 427 and also coached at Texas and Texas-Pan American. Lemons, known for his wit, was credited by USA Today with the coaching quote of the century: “Doctors bury their mistakes, mine are still on scholarship.”
The arena seats 3,360 for basketball and can be expanded to more than 4,000 seats for graduation ceremonies and other activities. Approximately 250,000 visitors attend events at the arena each year.
The facility has been host to world-renowned figures such as author Kurt Vonnegutt and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Top tennis players Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati squared off in the 2001 IGA Superthrift Tennis Classic final. The facility recently hosted speaking engagements featuring Colin Powell and Chris Harrison, host of the TV show “The Bachelor” and an OCU alum. OCU has also hosted the NAIA Wrestling Championships, Women's College Wrestling National Championships, USA Junior National Wrestling Duals, the Mid-America Youth girls basketball national tournament and Sooner Athletic Conference basketball and volleyball tournaments at the arena.
Abe Lemons Arena is located inside the $10 million Freede Wellness and Activities Center. The building boasts of multiple basketball and volleyball courts, athletic training facility, locker rooms, an indoor jogging track and lounge. The locker rooms have recently undergone renovations. It is a multipurpose facility accomodating recreation, intramurals, performances and conferences as well as intercollegiate competition. The building is named for the late Dr. Henry J. Freede, an Oklahoma City orthopedic surgeon and sports enthusiast.
Also inside the Freede Center is the Leichter Reunion Room, the Naifeh Reception Center and the Jim Wade Athletic Office Suites.
The building opened with a ceremony attended by Hall of Fame baseball catcher Johnny Bench, Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas and broadcaster Curt Gowdy on Jan. 27, 2000.
OCU has captured 41 national championships in all sports, including six championships in men's basketball, five titles in women's basketball and three crowns in women's wrestling.
