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Cassell Coliseum
From the north or east, take Interstate 81 south to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg.
From the south, take Interstate 81 north to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg.
From West Virginia, take Interstate 77 south (West Virginia Turnpike) to exit 9. Exit and turn left onto 460 east. Follow 460 east to Blacksburg.
Once in Blacksburg, use the 460 bypass around the downtown area. Follow 460 to the signal at Southgate Drive (Va. 314). Turn right onto campus. Take the second left onto Spring Road, Cassell Coliseum will be on your right.
Cassell Coliseum has always proven to be a tough arena for opponents, especially over the past 11 seasons and Virginia Tech's record during that span illustrates that. The Hokies are 128-38 (.771) at home.
Tech's best season at this venerable arena came during the 1998-99 season. The campaign gave Hokie fans plenty of drama and excitement, as Tech roared to a 15-0 mark in the friendly confines of Cassell. Going back two games into the 1997-98 season and extending through the 1999-2000 opener, Tech won 18 in a row at home.
Over the past seven seasons, the Hokies have posted an 82-26 record in Cassell, with 23 of the losses coming against teams that advanced to the postseason. Tech has been especially tough at home versus non-conference foes defeating 51 of the last 55 and 57 of the last 62. Two of the non-conference losses ironically occurred on March 23, a 77-72 overtime defeat in 2002 against Houston in the WNIT semifinals and a 61-48 loss to Penn State in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Equally as impressive as Tech's record at home is the tremendous number of people who have come to watch the Hokies play. Averaging 5,221 fans per game in 1998-99 and having a sellout at the 10,052-seat arena, Tech shattered its women's basketball attendance marks. In the past 10 years, Tech has played before 515,536 fans at home, an average of 3,370 per game. Last season, the Hokies averaged 2,999 for 17 home contests, which ranked 38th in the nation.
Cassell Coliseum was the site of a sub-regional in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. In that marquee event, the Hokies played in front of packed houses and picked up wins over St. Peter's and Auburn to advance to the NCAA's Sweet 16. The Cassell also served as a venue for the 2004 NCAA Tournament first and second rounds, with the Hokies defeating Iowa 89-76 in the first round before falling 61-48 to Penn State in the second round in front of 7,128 fans, the eighth-largest crowd for a women's game in Blacksburg.
In the past 15 years, Virginia Tech has posted a 170-49 (.776) mark in home games. Overall, the Hokies have compiled a 300-123 record in Cassell Coliseum for a winning percentage of 70.9 in the 32 years they have played in the campus arena.
The Coliseum has undergone many upgrades and renovations over the course of the years. Prior to the 1988-89 season, a spring-loaded playing floor was installed in the Coliseum. During 1996-97, the facility was upgraded with a new roof and paint application. During the 2000-01 season, new video boards were added at both ends of the Coliseum, which are used for live action and video replays during all games. A seating renovation project was undertaken following the 2001-02 season. All of the seats were dismantled and shipped to a plant in Michigan, where the old paint was stripped off and refinished with a clear wood finish.
Through new projects, renovations and maintenance reserve projects, Cassell Coliseum has undergone approximately $2.5 million in improvements over the past five years.
Prior to the 2003-04 season, the ambulatory was renovated and now features more accessible concession areas, new flooring, and video monitors that allow fans to watch the action when not in the arena. Also, the addition of Hokie Stone to many of the entrances to the seating area helps the arena blend in with the rest of the campus.
On Sept. 17, 1977, Virginia Tech officials and friends dedicated the Coliseum in honor of the late Stuart K. Cassell. Cassell became a member of the University administration in 1945 after 17 years as a student and teacher at Tech. He successfully convinced the Board of Visitors of the need for a modern basketball facility.
Construction for the main portion of the Coliseum began in 1961. It was completed in December of 1964, at a cost of $2.7 million. Built by T.C. Brittain and Company of Decatur, Ga., it houses the basketball arena, locker rooms, two auxiliary gymnasiums, offices and a large equipment room.
The Jamerson Athletics Center, connected to the rear of Cassell Coliseum, was completed in 1982 and dedicated in the fall of 1983. It is named in honor of J.E. Jamerson and his son, William E. Jamerson, owners of the firm that constructed the building.
The complex contains administrative and coaches offices, athletic department accounting and business offices, team and coaches' meeting rooms, a weight room and the Gordon D. Bowman Memorial Club Room on the top floor for Hokie Club members.
