Hinkle Fieldhouse

Hinkle Fieldhouse is a historic basketball arena located on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. The fieldhouse has been the home of the Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team since its opening in 1928 and has hosted numerous NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games, including the 1928 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 1940 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. It has also been the site of several Indiana High School Athletic Association basketball state championships, featuring teams such as Ben Davis High School and Lawrence Central High School. The fieldhouse has been recognized by USA Today and ESPN as one of the top college basketball venues in the country, alongside Allen Fieldhouse and Cameron Indoor Stadium.

● History

The history of Hinkle Fieldhouse dates back to the 1920s, when Butler University president George W. Hinkle envisioned a new athletics facility for the university. The fieldhouse was designed by Ferguson & Shamley and constructed at a cost of $750,000, with funding provided by Butler University and the Indianapolis community, including donations from Eli Lilly and Company and the Lilly Endowment. It was officially dedicated on March 7, 1928, with a basketball game between Butler University and Purdue University, featuring players such as John Wooden and Ward Lambert. Over the years, Hinkle Fieldhouse has hosted numerous notable events, including concerts by Elvis Presley and The Beatles, as well as speeches by John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., who also spoke at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Butler University's Clowes Memorial Hall.

● Architecture

The architecture of Hinkle Fieldhouse is a prime example of Art Deco design, with a distinctive brick and stone exterior and a steel and concrete interior. The fieldhouse features a large dome-shaped roof, which provides excellent acoustics and a unique atmosphere for basketball games and other events, similar to the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University. The building's design was influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, and it has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, alongside other notable landmarks such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. The fieldhouse has also been featured in several films and television shows, including Hoosiers and Parks and Recreation, which also featured locations such as Conseco Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium.

● Facilities

Hinkle Fieldhouse features a variety of facilities, including a main basketball court with a seating capacity of 9,100, as well as several practice courts and training rooms. The fieldhouse is also home to the Butler University athletics department, which includes teams such as the Butler Bulldogs football and Butler Bulldogs baseball teams, which also compete at Butler Bowl and Bulldog Park. The fieldhouse has undergone several renovations over the years, including the addition of new scoreboards and sound systems, as well as the installation of new seating and flooring, similar to the renovations at Assembly Hall and Mackey Arena. The fieldhouse has also hosted events for other organizations, including the Indiana Pacers and the Indianapolis Colts, which also play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium.

● Events

Hinkle Fieldhouse has hosted a wide range of events over the years, including basketball games, concerts, and speaking engagements. The fieldhouse has been the site of several NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games, including the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, which featured teams such as Duke University and University of Kentucky. It has also hosted games featuring other notable teams, such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Kansas, as well as players such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who also played at Quicken Loans Arena and Chesapeake Energy Arena. The fieldhouse has also been the site of several high school basketball state championships, featuring teams such as Carmel High School and North Central High School, which also compete at Mackey Arena and Conseco Fieldhouse.

● Renovations

Hinkle Fieldhouse has undergone several renovations over the years, including a major renovation in 1989, which added new seating and scoreboards to the fieldhouse. The renovation was funded by Butler University and the Indianapolis community, including donations from Eli Lilly and Company and the Lilly Endowment, as well as support from Indiana University Health and St. Vincent Health. The fieldhouse has also undergone several smaller renovations, including the installation of new flooring and sound systems, as well as the addition of new concessions and restrooms, similar to the renovations at Allen Fieldhouse and Cameron Indoor Stadium. The fieldhouse has been recognized for its historic significance and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, alongside other notable landmarks such as the Indiana State Capitol and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

● Notable_features

Hinkle Fieldhouse features several notable features, including its historic Art Deco design and its unique dome-shaped roof. The fieldhouse is also home to a museum dedicated to the history of Butler University athletics, which features exhibits on notable basketball players such as John Wooden and Tony Hinkle, as well as other notable athletes such as David Letterman and Vince Carter, who also attended Ball State University and Maine Central Institute. The fieldhouse has been recognized as one of the top college basketball venues in the country by USA Today and ESPN, alongside other notable venues such as Rupp Arena and Pauley Pavilion, and has hosted events for other organizations, including the Indiana Fever and the Indianapolis Indians, which also play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Victory Field.