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Kohl Center
Location	601 W Dayton St Madison, WI 53715
Opened	January 17, 1998
Owner	University of Wisconsin-Madison
Operator	University of Wisconsin-Madison
Construction cost	$76.4 Million
Architect	360 Architecture (formerly Heinlein Schrock Stearns)
Tenants
Wisconsin Badgers (Men's & Women's Basketball and Hockey)
Capacity
17,190 (Basketball) 15,237 (Hockey)

The Kohl Center opened in 1998 in Madison, Wisconsin. It is the home of the UW-Madison men's and women's basketball teams and the men's and women's ice hockey teams. Seating capacity is variable, as the center can be rearranged to accommodate a basketball court, a hockey rink, or a concert. The maximum capacity is 17,190 in its basketball configuration, and 15,237 for ice hockey. The center has three levels, with the floor holding about 7,500 people, and the two upper balconies holding about 4,500 each. The arena is located on the southeast corner of the UW-Madison campus, at the intersection of West Dayton and North Frances Streets.

Contents 1 Naming 2 Home court advantage 3 Before the Kohl Center 4 Other events at the Kohl Center 5 Courtside seating 6 Since opening 7 See also 8 External links

The sporting arena is named after United States Senator Herb Kohl, who donated $25 million of his Kohl's department store fortune to the building project. It is the largest single donation in University of Wisconsin System history. Former Wisconsin Badgers basketball player, Albert Nicholas, and his wife donated $10 million towards the project, causing the adjoining practice pavilion to be named the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion and Plaza. Jack F. Kellner and his sons donated an additional $2.5 million to the project.

The arena has become exceptionally difficult for opposing teams to play in, especially in men's basketball, helped in part by the student section known as the Grateful Red. At the end of the 2005-2006 season, the men's basketball team had achieved a record of 106-11 at the Kohl Center, with only 5 losses between 2001 and 2006. The arena gained much fame thanks to the men's basketball team's 38-game home win streak, which came to end during the 2004-2005 season at the hands of the No. 1 ranked University of Illinois. The University of Illinois still remains the only Big Ten men's basketball team to beat the Badgers at home since the beginning of the 2001-2002 season (beating them twice in that span). The Badgers currently hold a 20-game winning streak there, dating back to the 2005-2006 season. The Kohl Center also boasts the highest attendance in NCAA Men's Hockey.

Prior to the Kohl Center, the basketball team played at the University of Wisconsin Field House, while the ice hockey team played at the Alliant Energy Center The hockey team still plays there if there is an event conflict since basketball has scheduling priority. Originally the overhead scoreboard from the UW Fieldhouse was brought over and installed in the Kohl Center because the cost of a new scoreboard unit wasn't included within the figure for the new arena. The old scoreboard remained in the Kohl Center for seven years, and after the money was raised, a new and modern circular unit was bought and installed in time for the 2004-2005 winter sports season. Also installed in the arena at the same time was a matrix board that surrounds the arena below the second balcony, displaying advertising, messages, and scores. The design of the Kohl Center is modeled somewhat after that of the Field House with overhanging balconies instead of a setback style. This was done to intimidate opponents and bring all fans close to the action.

Along with basketball and ice hockey, many other events are held within the Kohl Center during the school year and summertime; among these are commencement ceremonies for both the UW as well as Madison high schools. Other events have included concerts, ice skating shows, career fairs, political gatherings, and other conventions. The Kohl Center is also the site of the high school WIAA (Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association) boys' basketball and individual wrestling championships. The Kohl Center has also hosted an NCAA women's volleyball national championship and an NCAA men's basketball regional championship.

Prior to the 2006 men's basketball season, the UW Athletic Department sold 48 courtside seats, at a price of $10,000 to $12,500 each. The available seats not only sold out, but a waiting list was created for the sale of seats in the future, should they become available. [1] Space for the seats was created by eliminating a portion of the courtside seating for media. The addition of these seats has increased maximum capacity for men's basketball from 17,142 to 17,190.

A bar/gathering area was configured into the second level in 2005. The area is for pregame gatherings of basketball boosters who have paid an admission fee.

In 2006 a second campus study center for athletes was built in the basement of the Kohl Center. Coaches have indicated that having a closer academic center will allow the student-athletes to better access help for studying.

Within the next decade the Wisconsin Athletic department would like to add a practice rink for ice hockey. One location that has been considered for the rink has been the Nicholas-Johnson Pavillion. The current facility would be renovated to handle the rink while the basketball courts would be moved to an added second floor.

• Arena
• Wisconsin Badgers

• Official Site

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 43.069420° -89.396972°
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	Images Images University of Wisconsin-Madison
Athletics	Bucky Badger • Camp Randall • Crew • Field House • Football • Heartland Trophy • Kohl Center • Paul Bunyan's Axe • Wisconsin Badgers
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History	Alan Ameche • Charles R. Van Hise • Donna Shalala • Slab of Bacon • Sterling Hall bombing • Wisconsin Idea
People	Barry Alvarez • Bret Bielema • Mike Eaves • Michael Leckrone • Mark Johnson • Bo Ryan • Lisa Stone • John D. Wiley
Research	University Research Park • WiCell • Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation • WISCAPE
Student Life	The Badger Herald • The Daily Cardinal • Grateful Red • Marching Band • On, Wisconsin! • UW Press • The Wisconsin Union • WSUM

Current Basketball Arenas in the Big Ten
Assembly Hall (Illinois) • Assembly Hall (Indiana) • Breslin Student Events Center (Michigan State) • Bryce Jordan Center (Penn State) • Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa) • Crisler Arena (Michigan) • Kohl Center (Wisconsin) • Mackey Arena (Purdue) • Value City Arena (Ohio State) • Welsh-Ryan Arena (Northwestern) • Williams Arena (Minnesota)

Basketball Student Sections of the Big Ten
Barnyard, The (Minnesota) • Buckeye NutHouse (Ohio State) • Crimson Crew (Indiana) • Grateful Red (Wisconsin) • Hawk's Nest (Iowa) • Izzone (Michigan State) • Maize Rage (Michigan) • Nittwits (Penn State) • Orange Krush (Illinois) • Paint Crew (Purdue) • Wildside (Northwestern)

Current Western Collegiate Hockey Association Arenas
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) (Minnesota Duluth) • John MacInnes Ice Arena (Michigan Tech) • Kohl Center (Wisconsin) • Magness Arena (Denver) • Mariucci Arena (Minnesota) • Midwest Wireless Civic Center (MSU Mankato) • National Hockey Center (St. Cloud State) • Ralph Engelstad Arena (North Dakota) • Sullivan Arena (Alaska-Anchorage) • World Arena (Colorado College)