Bramlage Coliseum

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Fred Bramlage Coliseum
"The Octagon of Doom"
Bramlage Coliseum.JPG
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Location1800 College Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502
Coordinates39°12′01.3″N 96°35′37.8″W / 39.200361°N 96.593833°W / 39.200361; -96.593833Coordinates: 39°12′01.3″N 96°35′37.8″W / 39.200361°N 96.593833°W / 39.200361; -96.593833
OperatorKansas State University
Capacity12,528 (2007–present)
13,340 (2001–2007)
13,500 (1988–2001)
Record attendance13,762
(2/22/1992 vs. Kansas)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke groundOctober 18, 1986
OpenedOctober 21, 1988
Construction cost$17.5 million
($38.3 million in 2020 dollars[1])
ArchitectGossen Livingston Architects
General contractorJE Dunn Construction[2]
Tenants
Kansas State Wildcats (NCAA DI) (1988–present)

Fred Bramlage Coliseum is a 12,528-seat multi-purpose arena in Manhattan, Kansas. The arena's primary function is as home to the men's and women's basketball teams for Kansas State University. The building also holds offices for Kansas State Wildcats baseball, Intercollegiate Athletics, and Sports Information.[3][4]

Construction and usage[]

The arena is located in the northwest corner of the Kansas State campus, along with the rest of the school's athletic facilities, abutting the south end zone of Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium.

The arena was built to replace Ahearn Field House, K-State's basketball facility from 1950 to 1988. Construction of Bramlage Coliseum began with a groundbreaking on October 18, 1986, and was completed in 1988. The construction was funded entirely by student fees and donations from alumni and friends of the University.

It was named for Junction City businessman Fred Bramlage, who played a major role in raising the funds needed to build the arena.[5]

On November 26, 1988, Kansas State University officially opened Bramlage Coliseum with an 81–77 victory over Purdue University in a rematch from the Sweet 16 of the 1988 NCAA tournament. The first basketball game actually played in the arena, however, was an NBA exhibition game between the Dallas Mavericks, led by former K-State standout Rolando Blackman, and the San Antonio Spurs on October 21, 1988.

Entering the 2018-19 season, the Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team has posted a 366–116 (.759) record in Bramlage Coliseum. Over the previous 13 seasons, the home record is 165–36 (.821).

The facility hosted women's NCAA basketball tournament games in 2002 and 2003. Kansas State played in Bramlage Coliseum in both tournament years.

Bramlage has also been home to the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 2A boys and girls state championship tournaments since 1990.[6]

Historical displays[]

The concourse around the arena is decorated with pictures of Wildcat greats and trophies won by the men's and women's teams over the years. A painted border around the top of the walls inside the Coliseum shows the years the Wildcat basketball programs won conference crowns or participated in the NCAA Tournament or NIT (WNIT). Hanging from the rafters in Bramlage are the retired numbers of former Wildcat greats including: Ernie Barrett, Rolando Blackman, Mitch Richmond, Bob Boozer, Mike Evans, Dick Knostman, Lon Kruger, Jack Parr, Chuckie Williams, Nicole Ohlde, Kendra Wecker and Shalee Lehning.

Traditions[]

The unofficial nickname for Bramlage Coliseum is the "Octagon of Doom", due to the octagon shape of the arena. The nickname was popularized in the media during the 2009-2010 season, but it was first used in on-line internet forums in early 2007.[7][8] K-State students bring octagonal shaped signs with "Doom" written on them and wear "Doom" T-shirts to games.

Before every game, the crowd sings Wildcat Victory, the Kansas State fight song, and then rocks back and forth to the Wabash Cannonball. This had been touted as one of the best traditions in college sports by ESPN and other Sports Broadcasting outlets. As the K-State players make their way from the locker room to the court, the crowd chants, "Bring on the Cats, Bring on the Cats, Bring on the Cats." When the Cats hit the floor the crowd erupts and rises to their feet. While the opposing team's starting lineup is announced, the student section shakes newspapers, and after each name chants, "So What" "Who Cares" "Who's He?" "Big Deal" "Go Home," and then rips the papers and throws them in the air at the beginning of the introduction of the Kansas State starting lineup. Each time an opposing player commits a foul the student section chants the number of fouls that player has, and every time a K-State player sinks a three-point basket, the announcer says the name of the player followed by "for", and then the crowd echoes "three!" Following a K-State victory, the crowd performs a "K-S-U Wildcats" chant. If an opposing team's player fouls out of the game, the crowd chants "left, right, left" for each step. If he stands, they chant "standing, standing" until the player sits down, at which time the crowd yells "Sit down!"

Seating capacity[]

Seating capacity in Bramlage was originally 13,500. Adjustments for fire codes lowered this number to 13,340 in the 2000s, and construction prior to the 2007-2008 season eliminated another approximately 800 seats to add luxury boxes and bring handicap seating up to compliance.[9] The current capacity is 12,528.

Largest crowds[]

  • 13,762 - Kansas Jayhawks - February 22, 1992
  • 13,685 - Kansas Jayhawks - January 27, 1990
  • 13,597 - Missouri Tigers - March 1, 1989
  • 13,586 - Kansas Jayhawks - January 14, 1989
  • 13,584 - Kansas Jayhawks - January 18, 1993
  • 13,580 - Oklahoma Sooners - February 19, 1994
  • 13,573 - Missouri Tigers - February 8, 1990
  • 13,553 - Kansas Jayhawks - February 12, 1994
  • 13,536 - Oklahoma State Cowboys - February 25, 1989
  • 13,520 - Nebraska Cornhuskers - March 3, 1990

Non-sporting events[]

In addition to Kansas State basketball, Bramlage Coliseum also hosts musical and comical performances, speeches, trade shows, and undergraduate commencement ceremonies. The arena has seated up to 14,000 for concerts. It has featured performances by the following groups and individuals:

The arena has also hosted speaking events as part of the Landon Lecture Series by the following personalities:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1634 to 1699: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy ofthe United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700-1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How much is that in real money?: a historical price index for use as a deflator of money values in the economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Green, Brenda (July 20, 1987). "Bramlage Coliseum Construction on Target". The Junction City Daily Union. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  3. ^ Bramlage Coliseum - Kansas State University Wildcats Official Athletics Site Archived November 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Fred Bramlage Bio Archived June 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Fred Bramlage - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
  6. ^ "High school state Basketball sites". Newsgroup: State High School Activities Association Kansas State High School Activities Association Check |newsgroup= value (help). January 31, 2010. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  7. ^ "Kansas State Fans Delight in Their 'Octagon of Doom'". Kansas City Star. January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  8. ^ "The History of "The Octagon of Doom"". Newsgroup: goemaw.com. January 31, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  9. ^ "K-State Has Grand Plans". The Topeka Capital-Journal. June 26, 2007.
  10. ^ "Union Program Council presents Kevin Hart's 'What Now Tour'". www.k-state.edu. KSU. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

External links[]

Preceded by
Ahearn Fieldhouse 		Home of the
Kansas State Wildcats basketball
1988 – present 		Succeeded by
Current
Retrieved from ""