It may take some vintage alums a while to get used to the name of WSU’s new Charles Koch Arena.
Those who remember the original days of the Roundhouse and link Henry Levitt’s name to special sports memories may be sad to see the old title go.
But the entire expanded facility, called the Henry Levitt Athletic Complex, preserves tradition, and Levitt’s legacy still stands strong.
After four years of renovation, the arena is hardly recognizable. Shockers of all stripes — athletes, students, alumni — have been awestruck by the $25 million worth of spiffing up. Arena capacity remains at over 10,000, and all attendees can enjoy seats with chair backs. The state-of-the-art video scoreboard makes sure everybody’s part of the action.
New additions like the Geist Student Services Building and the Preferred Health Systems Multi-Purpose Center provide a dizzying range of services, from administrative offices, computers, tutoring rooms and the Champions Club, an upscale members’ restaurant and lounge, to Via Christi Sports Medicine Complex’s rehabilitation area, hydrotherapy and exam rooms. The bathrooms are top-notch. And the new locker rooms look far too swank to sweat in.
Most impressive of all, perhaps, is the 10-by-275-foot mural spanning the Southeast Concourse. Designed by Mike Skelton of Image Graphics, this “Wall of Fame” showcases outstanding Shocker athletics.
Just a few of the student-athletes pictured: softball player Patty Bautista ’87/92/95; All-American basketballer Antoine Carr fs ’83 (on hand at the arena’s open house in October); pitcher Braden Looper fs ’96, who played with the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins; and current volleyball player Sara Younes.
The new facility has already brought huge benefits to Wichita’s economy, as well as stirred up Shocker spirit for all its varsity sports, especially the MVC top-ranked men’s basketball program, coached by Mark Turgeon. Its continuing contributions to the college and the city will be far-reaching.
As Wichita State President Don Beggs says, “This is more than an athletics venue. Charles Koch Arena also will be a cultural, social and academic asset for the entire state and region.”
The arena will be dedicated Dec. 20 during the men’s basketball game against Tulsa.
