Bender Arena
The American University's Washington College of Law Graduation Ceremony in Bender Arena
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| Location | 4400 Massachusetts Avenue Washington, DC, United States |
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| Owner | American University |
| Operator | American University |
| Capacity | Basketball and Volleyball: 4,500 Concerts: 6,000 |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1985 |
| Opened | January 23, 1988 |
| Renovated | 1998 |
| Construction cost | $20 million ($40.5 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Daniel F. Tulley and Associates |
| Tenants | |
| American University Eagles Basketball, Volleyball and Wrestling | |
Coordinates: 38°56′16″N 77°5′24″W / 38.93778°N 77.09000°W
Bender Arena is a 4,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Washington, DC. The arena opened in 1988. It is home to the American University Eagles basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.
The arena, named for Washington DC philanthropists, Howard and Sondra Bender, is also the primary campus venue for concerts, commencement and speakers, seating up to 6,000.
The arena's main court is named for the late former American University athletic director and coach Stafford H. "Pop" Cassell, another AU alum. Bender Arena's current main scoreboard, installed prior to the 2001-02 season, includes a 7-by-9-foot animation and video display and advertising signage for corporate sponsors. At the same time new chairback seating for the west bleachers was installed and new back-lit scorers tables surrounding the playing surface were added.
Bender Arena is the flagship facility of the American University Sports Center, which also includes a fitness center, the Reeves Aquatic Center, a mini-mall, the campus store, and a 470-car, seven-level parking garage.
The 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) building is adjacent to the Mary Graydon Center, a design intended to increase campus interaction. AU students are able to go to class, have dinner, attend a game or concert and stop by the Tavern or The Eagles Nest convenience store for refreshments without ever leaving the confines of the building. In addition, the facility houses the athletics department and health and fitness offices. Both buildings virtually mark the geographic center of the American University campus.
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