Gallagher-Iba Arena
| "The Rowdiest Arena in the Country" "The Madison Square Garden of The Plains" "Mr. Iba's House of Horrors" |
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| Former names | 4-H Clubs and Student Activities Building (1938–c.1939) Gallagher Hall (1939–1987) |
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| Location | 1046 West Hall of Fame Avenue Stillwater, OK 74078 |
| Coordinates | 36°07′33″N 97°3′54″W / 36.12583°N 97.06500°WCoordinates: 36°07′33″N 97°3′54″W / 36.12583°N 97.06500°W |
| Owner | Oklahoma State University |
| Operator | Oklahoma State University |
| Capacity | 13,611 (2000–present) 6,381 (1986–2000) 6,750 (1983–1986) 7,200 (1959–1983) 9,000 (1938–1959) |
| Surface | White Maple basketball court (original 1938 court) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 25, 1938 |
| Opened | December 9, 1938 |
| Renovated | 1986, 2000 |
| Construction cost | $1.5 million (original) ($25.5 million in 2017 dollars) $55 million (Renovation) |
| Architect | Crafton Tull Sparks (Renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls (NCAA DI) (1938–present) | |
Gallagher-Iba Arena, also once known as "The Rowdiest Arena in the Country" and "The Madison Square Garden of the Plains”, is the basketball and wrestling venue at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. Originally completed in 1938 and named the 4-H Club and Student Activities Building, it was soon renamed Gallagher Hall to honor wrestling coach Ed Gallagher. After renovations in 1987, the name became Gallagher-Iba Arena, as a tribute to longtime basketball coach and innovator Henry Iba.
The first basketball game was played on December 9, 1938 when Iba's Oklahoma A&M Aggies beat Phog Allen's Kansas Jayhawks, 21–15, in a battle between two of the nation's early basketball powers. In its original configuration, seating was limited to 9,000. The original maple floor, still in use today, was the most expensive of its kind in America when it was installed in 1938.
The first wrestling dual in the newly renamed Gallagher Hall was held on January 27, 1939 against Indiana with A&M winning 18–6. The distinction of being the first A&M (Oklahoma State) wrestler to compete in Gallagher Hall goes to three-time NCAA champion Joe McDaniel of Sulphur, OK. McDaniel defeated Donnacher of Indiana, 13–2.
On February 3, 1989, the Oklahoma State Cowboys hosted the Hoosiers in a celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the first Gallagher Hall dual. The Cowboys defeated the Hoosiers, 28–6.
Former wrestling coach Myron Roderick claimed that during the 1978 Big 8 Conference Finals, over 9,000 fans packed the old barn and saw unranked Daryl Monasmith beat the defending national champion from Iowa State, Frank Santana. According to Roderick, "It got so loud, a lot of the lights busted in Gallagher. And that ís the loudest I've ever heard it. It was unbelievable."
The Pokes set a new wrestling attendance record in the first season after expansion, packing in 10,802 for Bedlam on February 18, 2001. Previously, the largest crowd was estimated at 8,300. Since wrestling began in Gallagher-Iba Arena, the Cowboys have won 34 NCAA titles and have had 34 unbeaten and untied campaigns at home. One of their longest winning streaks ran with the arena’s opening in 1939 and lasted until February 16, 1951. During that period, Oklahoma State won 37 straight home duals, including no ties. From the final dual of 1959 through the first five home duals of the 1967 season, Oklahoma State wrestled 61 duals without a loss, finishing with an impressive 60–0–1 record before the streak was broken by Bedlam rival Oklahoma 19–13. On February 3, 1939, Oklahoma A&M wrestled for the first time inside the arena, defeating Indiana 18–6. On February 3, 1989, the Oklahoma State Cowboys hosted the Hoosiers in a celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the first Gallagher Hall dual. The Cowboys defeated the Hoosiers, 28–6, in the 1989 dual. OSU’s latest home winning streak of 50 consecutive duals was the second-longest such streak without a loss or tie (it began near the end of the 1986 season). That streak came to an end on January 30, 1993, when Penn State handed the Pokes a sound 38–7 defeat, Oklahoma State’s worst loss ever on its home mat. In only five seasons have OSU teams lost more than one home dual during the season, including the 1992–93 season when OSU finished below .500 for the first time ever in Gallagher-Iba Arena. In contrast, six Cowboy teams have won at least 10 home duals during a single season.
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