redbird arena

Redbird Arena is a 10,200-seat multi-purpose facility located on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Built in 1989, next to ISU's Hancock Stadium, the building is notable for its use of a Teflon-coated roof that gives off a "glow" during night-time events. The home of the Illinois State Redbirds' basketball team, it has hosted the Illinois High School Association's girls volleyball tournament since 1990 and the girls basketball tournament since 1992. The playing court is named in honor of former ISU basketball star Doug Collins, who later played and coached in the NBA. The proximity to the floor makes for up-close-and-personal viewing for fans of basketball and volleyball. ISU is one of only 10 college volleyball programs to draw more than 250,000 fans in the last decade. Bloomington-Normal is centrally located, allowing high school fans from all over the state to attend the state tournament events. Redbird Arena is easily accessible off Route 51 and provides ample parking for visitors. New scoreboards were installed during the 2006-07 basketball season. The center-hung scoreboard has four-sided HD video boards. High school volleyball and basketball fans are particularly enamored with the facility because they are seated so close to the action. Over the years, basketball-crazy communities such as Galesburg, Taylorville, Teutopolis and Morton filled the arena.