Redbird Arena is a 10,200-seat multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. The arena opened in 1989 and has been home to the Illinois State Redbirds men’s and women’s basketball teams ever since.
With a seating capacity of 10,200 for basketball, Redbird Arena is considered a mid-sized arena relative to other college basketball venues. It provides an intimate yet energetic atmosphere for ISU’s basketball programs and fans. The arena hosts all home games for the Redbirds men’s and women’s teams during the season.
In addition to Illinois State basketball games, Redbird Arena is also used for a variety of other events throughout the year including concerts, commencement ceremonies, conferences, and more. The versatility of the arena with its convertible seating design allows it to accommodate different types of events.
Seating Capacity
The total seating capacity of Redbird Arena is 10,200 for basketball games. This provides ample seating for ISU fans and visitors while still maintaining an intimate environment compared to larger arenas.
The seating breaks down as follows:
- Lower level seating: Approximately 7,000 seats
- Club level seating: Approximately 1,500 seats
- Upper level seating: Approximately 1,700 seats
The lower bowl features all chairback seating while the upper sections have bench seating. There are also luxury suites and club seats available for season ticket holders and special guests.
Flexible Capacity
One of the benefits of Redbird Arena is its flexibility to accommodate different capacities depending on the event type.
For concerts or other stage shows, the arena floor and lower sections can be converted to provide seating for over 12,000 attendees. The removable basketball floor allows flat floor seating to be added on the arena floor level.
Graduation ceremonies are another common event held at Redbird Arena. When set up for commencements, the capacity ranges from 7,000-8,000 seats to accommodate families and guests.
Arena Dimensions
In addition to seating capacity, the physical dimensions and size of Redbird Arena are also important factors.
Here are some key dimensions for the arena:
- Arena floor space: 17,110 square feet
- Height to ceiling: Approximately 72 feet
- Basketball court length: 94 feet
- Basketball court width: 50 feet
The ample arena floor size provides a spacious playing surface for basketball and the ability to hold concerts, exhibits, and other events. The height to the roof and lighting grids allows for rigging and hanging lighting/speaker systems.
Backstage Facilities
Behind the scenes, Redbird Arena has extensive facilities to support major events and productions.
These include:
- Star dressing rooms
- Team locker rooms
- Media interview rooms
- Large loading docks
- Production offices
Having these backstage facilities allows major acts and productions to efficiently load in and set up for events at the arena.
History and Facts
Here are some key facts about the history and construction of Redbird Arena:
- Construction began in 1987
- The first event held was an ISU basketball game vs. Purdue on December 3, 1988
- The arena cost approximately $13 million to build in late 1980s dollars
- It was designed by architects Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (HOK)
- The flooring consists of parquet wood to withstand heavy usage
- It underwent major renovations in 2008-2009 including new seating, club areas, concessions, etc.
Over its 30+ year history, Redbird Arena has hosted numerous concerts including artists such as Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and many more. It continues to be a premier venue for the Bloomington-Normal area.
Notable Games & Events
Redbird Arena has been home to many notable basketball games and historic moments in ISU history. Some highlights include:
- ISU’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998. The 22nd-ranked Redbirds upset #7 Tennessee State in the first round.
- The Redbirds have advanced to three NCAA Tournaments at home in Redbird Arena (1998, 2006, 2016)
- Defeating #13 Creighton in 2014 when ISU was unranked. The win propelled ISU to their first ever national ranking.
- Indiana State vs Illinois State games. The intrastate rivalry matchups regularly draw capacity crowds.
In addition to basketball, Redbird Arena has hosted NCAA Volleyball Tournament matches, gymnastics meets, WWE wrestling events, and graduation ceremonies for both ISU and nearby Heartland Community College among other notable events.
Conclusion
With a capacity of 10,200 for basketball games along with its flexible design, Redbird Arena has been a hugely impactful venue for Illinois State Athletics and the Bloomington-Normal community at large. The arena provides an intimate yet energetic environment for Redbird home games and hosts numerous concerts, shows, and special events each year. Some of the most memorable moments in ISU history have occurred in front of packed houses at Redbird Arena.
