Hawkins Arena
| Location | 1730 Adams Macon, GA 31207 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°49′47″N 83°39′07″W / 32.82972°N 83.65194°WCoordinates: 32°49′47″N 83°39′07″W / 32.82972°N 83.65194°W |
| Owner | Mercer University |
| Operator | Mercer University |
| Capacity | 3,500 |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 12, 2001 |
| Opened | January 8, 2004 |
| Construction cost | $40 million ($50.7 million in 2016 dollars) |
| Architect | Cooper Carry Inc. |
| General contractor | Beck Group/New South |
| Tenants | |
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Mercer Bears men's basketball (2004-present) Mercer Bears women's basketball (2004-present) |
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The Hawkins Arena is the basketball arena on the campus of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, United States. The arena is located in the University Center, a large multi-purpose facility centrally located on the university campus.
The University Center opened in 2004. The $40 million, 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m2) center, houses Mercer's athletics department, a 3,500-seat basketball arena, an indoor pool, work-out facilities, intramural basketball courts, offices, a food court, and numerous meeting facilities. Mercer's baseball and softball fields are located adjacent to the center along with the university's tennis complex and football-lacrosse complex Moye Complex.
The University Center replaced Porter Gym, which stood on the Mercer campus from 1937 to 2004; Porter Gym was located on the central quadrangle and was razed when the University Center opened. The center is also located on the central quadrangle on the site of the university's original fraternity row, which was razed after a new Greek Village opened. In 2007, a 101-room Hilton Garden Inn opened on university-owned land adjacent to the University Center. Parking lots are available for visitors-spectators arriving via the Mercer University Drive exit off Interstate 75.
The University Center arena was named Hawkins Arena in 2012. The naming honors J. B. Hawkins, former high school athletic director and basketball coach in Crawford County.
Mercer is an NCAA Division I member competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference; the university's basketball teams play in Hawkins Arena. The men's team won the first game played at the center, a 73-55 victory over Georgia State University, on January 27, 2004. The women's team won the first game it played in the center, a 43-40 victory over Troy State University, on January 30, 2004.
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