New arena is planned at University of Idaho

The University of Idaho unveiled plans Friday to construct the Idaho Arena, a 4,700-seat, 70,000-square-foot, $30 million athletics facility that will be home for the Vandal men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and a university community gathering place for academic events, concerts and meetings.

Slated for construction on the north side of the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center, university officials said the Idaho Arena has the potential to take the Vandal basketball and volleyball teams to a new level of national attention and interest.

“This much-needed project is an investment in our student-athletes, in a great student experience and in an exciting campus environment for alumni, fans and the entire community,” UI President Chuck Staben said. “It is an investment in Vandal excellence.

“A modern, stand-alone arena puts our athletics program on a better footing in Division I athletics. It will allow us to recruit student-athletes that help us consistently contend for championships in basketball and volleyball. An adaptable facility also provides the flexibility for a wide range of other functions, including concerts, conferences and other programming for students and the community.”

The arena project has been on the drawing board for nearly 50 years. When Staben joined UI nearly three years ago, UI Athletic Director Rob Spear introduced him to the project and it quickly became a presidential priority.

“After 47 years of discussion, it is so refreshing to hear President Staben announce the university’s commitment to construct an arena on campus,” Spear said. “The Idaho Arena will be one of the most impactful projects in the history of our athletic department.”

The Idaho Arena not only will be a home for Vandal court sports, but also a gathering space for a variety of events — including concerts, academic conferences and other student activities, to enhance student life on UI’s Moscow campus. The arena also is a priority for students, with the UI student body agreeing to assess a student fee to help financially support the project.

“We have a longstanding tradition as the Associate Students of the University of Idaho in supporting new buildings and areas for students to congregate,” said ASUI President Cruz Botello. “It’s really exciting that the Idaho Arena will be for our athletics teams, as well as several programs for students.”

Plans call for the arena to be constructed using Idaho’s natural, renewable wood resources. Forest industry partners and architects have shown support for the plan to use engineered wood in the construction. So far, donors have committed about $13 million of the $30 million needed to construct the arena.

For decades, home play for Vandal court sports has been in the Cowan Spectrum, a temporary venue inside the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center. Scheduling conflicts with home football games and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival often force basketball to relocate to the much smaller Memorial Gym facility.

For more information about the Idaho Arena, go to uidaho.edu/idahoarena.