Patten Gymnasium

Patten Gymnasium is a historic gymnasium located on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, United States. The gymnasium has been home to various Northwestern Wildcats teams, including Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball and Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball, and has hosted numerous events, such as concerts featuring Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan. Patten Gymnasium has also been used for events like the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament and has been a popular venue for NCAA games, including those featuring University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan, and Ohio State University. The gymnasium is named after James A. Patten, a former Northwestern University trustee and Chicago, Illinois businessman who was involved with Chicago Tribune and Wrigley Company.

● History

Patten Gymnasium was built in 1940 and has a rich history of hosting various events, including NCAA basketball games, concerts, and Big Ten Conference tournaments, featuring teams like University of Wisconsin–Madison, Purdue University, and University of Minnesota. The gymnasium has been home to the Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team, which has competed against teams like University of Iowa, Michigan State University, and Indiana University Bloomington. Patten Gymnasium has also hosted events like the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and has been a popular venue for ESPN-televised games, including those featuring Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Kentucky. The gymnasium has been used for events like the Chicago Tribune-sponsored McDonald's All-American Game and has been a popular venue for CBS Sports-televised games, including those featuring University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and University of Arizona.

● Architecture

Patten Gymnasium was designed by James Gamble Rogers, a renowned architect who also designed other notable buildings on the Northwestern University campus, including University Hall and Lunt Hall. The gymnasium's design is a mix of Art Deco and Modernist styles, featuring a distinctive brick and stone façade, similar to other buildings designed by Rogers, such as Yale University's Sterling Memorial Library and Columbia University's Butler Library. The gymnasium's interior features a large basketball court with a wooden floor, surrounded by bleachers that can seat up to 8,000 spectators, making it an ideal venue for events like the ACC–Big Ten Challenge and the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The gymnasium's design has been influenced by other notable architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Eero Saarinen, who designed buildings like the Guggenheim Museum and the TWA Terminal.

● Facilities

Patten Gymnasium features a range of facilities, including a weight room, a training room, and locker rooms for the Northwestern Wildcats teams, which are also used by teams like University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, and Syracuse University. The gymnasium also has a concession stand and a ticket office, making it a convenient venue for events like the NIT Season Tip-Off and the Preseason NIT. The gymnasium's facilities have been used for events like the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament and have been a popular venue for NCAA games, including those featuring University of Florida, University of Georgia, and University of Tennessee. The gymnasium is also equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, making it an ideal venue for concerts and other events, such as those featuring Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Lady Gaga.

● Events

Patten Gymnasium has hosted a wide range of events over the years, including NCAA basketball games, concerts, and Big Ten Conference tournaments, featuring teams like University of Oklahoma, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Kansas. The gymnasium has been a popular venue for ESPN-televised games, including those featuring University of Louisville, University of Connecticut, and University of Cincinnati. Patten Gymnasium has also hosted events like the Chicago Tribune-sponsored McDonald's All-American Game and has been a popular venue for CBS Sports-televised games, including those featuring University of Oregon, University of Washington, and University of California, Berkeley. The gymnasium has been used for events like the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and has been a popular venue for FOX Sports-televised games, including those featuring University of Southern California, University of Arizona, and University of Colorado Boulder.

● Renovations

Patten Gymnasium has undergone several renovations over the years, including a major renovation in 1983 that added new bleachers and improved the gymnasium's sound and lighting systems, similar to renovations done at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's State Farm Center and University of Michigan's Crisler Center. The gymnasium has also undergone renovations to improve its seating capacity and to add new concession stands and restrooms, making it a more comfortable venue for events like the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament and NCAA games, including those featuring University of Wisconsin–Madison, Purdue University, and University of Minnesota. The gymnasium's renovations have been influenced by other notable venues, including Madison Square Garden, United Center, and Staples Center, which have hosted events like the NBA Finals and the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. The gymnasium's renovations have been designed to improve the overall fan experience, making it an ideal venue for events like the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament.