The Stokely Athletic Center is a historic on-campus facility at the University of Tennessee.
Prior to the opening of Thompson-Boling Arena in 1987, it was home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the Lady Vol volleyball team. It replaced Alumni Gymnasium, a 3,200-seat arena-auditorium built in 1931 which had hosted the SEC basketball tournament four times (1936, ’37, ’39 and ’40).
Originally named the Armory-Fieldhouse, Stokely was built in 1958 to accommodate larger on-campus crowds. It originally housed 7,800 people in the elongated building, with permanent seating in the west end and temporary seating lining the rest of the arena, which was also used for the ROTC, indoor track, and other events.
However, by the mid-1960s the fieldhouse was already becoming obsolete for its size. A $500,000 gift from industrialist William B. Stokely was the impetus for an expansion to the final size of 12,700 in 1966, when the building was renamed for Mr. Stokely and his family.
Stokely was the home of many great UT teams, including several SEC titles. It also served as the home of the women’s basketball team from midway through the 1976-77 season until the end of the 1986-87 season, which was also the year of their first NCAA women’s basketball championship. The NCAA Mideast regionals were also hosted in the arena.
Probably one of more memorable basketball games played at Stokely didn’t even involve a Tennessee team. The NCAA Mideast Regional Final (AKA “The Dream Game”) was played there on March 26, 1983, with Louisville beating Kentucky 80-68 in overtime. It was the first game between the two since the 1959 NCAA tournament.
Stokely was also one of Knoxville’s premier concert venues during its heyday. The “King” Elvis Presley appeared at Stokely on April 8, 1972, March 15, 1974 and May 20, 1977.
Send in your fondest memory of Stokely for a chance to win a Stokely Single Arena Chair.
I have many fond memories from Stokely Athletic Center. My dad would take me to a game a year starting when I turned 10. I saw Dale Ellis, Michael Brooks, Reggie Johnson, Howard Wood, and many other Vol greats. One game that sticks out would be Gary Carter’s steal and near half court shot to win a game in the Vol Classic. I miss the Vol Classic and tell my son about the many great opposing players like Karl Malone(La Tech).
A few years later I was fortunate to see the Police/Fixx concert in Stokely.
But my fondest memory was strangely two years ago when I took my oldest son to the UT/AL basketball game in TB Arena. The Vols got beat by a half court 3 pointer and my son was upset so on the way back to the car I took him into Stokely. We walked around the building and I would point out player photos hanging on the wall. We talked about the athletes I saw when I was his age and then we went in to the seating area. We sat in the old chairbacks and took in the atmosphere. I told him how loud the place would get and the home court advantage it game UT. I will miss SAC
Comment by Jeff — March 5, 2011 @ 1:23 am
We have enjoyed those Lady Vols over the years.George and I have been married for 55 years.Have 3 children and we are all Tennessee FANS for many years.Unfortunately work and school shedules ,we were only at one live football game.PAT in our book you are the greatest.Love to all your team.GO VOLS.
Comment by Frances Miller — March 23, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
During my years at UT (79-83) I always enjoyed the Vols and Lady Vols games at Stokely. As nice as TBA is, the size of Stokely I always thought was perfect. The crowds were always great, especially when Dale Ellis was dominating a game or Michael Brooks was hitting a long jumper.
But my favorite memory of Stokely is actually the last of many concerts I attended there – The Police in 1983. The whole experience, which started by spending the night in line for tickets at the University Center, was unbelievable. To this day i think that was one of the best concerts I have seen. Sting was tremendous in a multi colored shirt belting out all of the songs from Synchronicity. Maybe there are better venues acoustically, but The Police show was a great way to end my “regular” time in Knoxville, as I graduated the next month.
Comment by Bert Edwards — March 28, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
My favorite memory was when I went to UT in 1992 and my Dad took me over to Stokely and told me some familiar stories about his years at UT. He told me how he would go to Stokely and catch a few games while Mom watched us kids. As he tells these stories, you can see him go back in time with a big smile on his face. It doesnt matter what time of day or what is going on at the moment—if you bring up Stokely, my Dad will smile and the memories start to pour out about the many games he was blessed to attend. “A Stokely Seat”—what a treasured memory I would Love to add to my Dads collection.
Comment by Robert Hamilton — March 29, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
My freshman year was 87 so I never saw the men play in Stokely (I was at the “construction helmet” first game in T-B) but I have many fond memories. I love old field houses and we used to go watch the Mens practices and Lady Vols games just because they were in this in dark old wood stained barn of history and memories that was Stokely.
Of course I had Military Science class in the basement and thoroughly enjoyed wandering the halls looking at the old pictures of Mears teams and players action shots.
Comment by Joel Burt — March 30, 2011 @ 4:16 pm
My father was a member of the 1916 VOLS undefeated basketball team as well as the 1917 team. Combined, the two teams beat Kentucky 5 times in a row! In 1982 Coach Mears invited the1917 team back for a dinner and put the team picture on the cover of the program for a game in Stokely. Only UT has class like that! I will never forget that night.
Comment by john davidson — March 31, 2011 @ 5:54 pm
My husband and daughter sat in seats 107-7&8 for a number of years befor his passing and she and I for4 or five years after. We will alays be fans of the Ladies and all Vol programs.
Vol Fans The Arrington Family
Comment by Barbara A Arrington — April 3, 2011 @ 2:38 pm
My fondest memories of Stokely include going to many games with my daddy. He LOVED the UT basketball games and would cut business trips short in order to get back in times for games. He would cheer until he lost his voice if the game was a close one. The Ernie and Bernie years were so much fun! When I started at UT as a student, I had so much fun watching games from the student section. Go Big Orange!
Comment by Julie Rose — May 16, 2011 @ 6:11 pm
It’s a shame that UT let Stokely become a run down, fire hazard of a building. Way to preserve the past!
Comment by Dave — July 15, 2011 @ 11:46 am
I have many fond memories of Stokely Athletic Center, like when I went with my family to see Elvis Presley in Concert in 1974. Our seats were in the last row but you could still see and hear the concert very well. i remember watching ‘The Ernie and Bernie show’ many times in the ’70′s and also the lady vols!
Comment by Suzette H. Linfonte — November 5, 2011 @ 10:58 pm
I have two wonderful memories of the Stokely Athletic Center. I attended the Lady Vol summer basketball camps back in 2000 and 2001 when I was 12 and 13 years old. I can remember walking around campus with the group of girls I had been assigned to a team with and walking into Stokely. I was still overwhelmed by it because, even though I had already been in TBA and cried when I saw it, I knew the large amount of history, blood, sweat, and tears that had happened in Stokely. I loved that there was no air conditioning going even though Knoxville reportedly had two of its hottest summers between those two years. Being able to interact with Pat Summitt, Holly Warlick, Mickie DeMoss, and all of the players on the team those years when I was so young are memories that I will always cherish and treasure. Playing in the Stokely Athletic Center just further cemented the deep Tennessee tradition and spirit into my soul!
Comment by Jennifer Davis — November 8, 2011 @ 11:47 am
I saw Elvis Presley all three times he was there. I saw tons of basketball games, and my blood runs orange, but you can not top the KING. I could probably take you to the seats I sat in each time I saw the king and that has been a year or two.
Comment by D. Moore — November 13, 2011 @ 8:59 pm
I have been following the Lady Vols for more years than I can remember but for the past seven years my wife and I haven’t missed more than 3 or 4 home games. We can’t afford season tickets bur feel we have some of the best seats in the arena. We always sit in the general admission seats in the west end. I remember reading about the Lady Vols and Vols (never was a Vols football fan) when I was in the service and only attended a couple of games at Stokely, but my most memorable moments there were at concerts where I was able to take my Mama. My Mama was a widow and raised me and my siblings on a housekeepers pay so I was privileged to have the honor of taking her to see Loretta Lynn and Kenny Rogers a few years before she passed away. That is probably my most gratifying memory of SAC.
Comment by W. T. Tommy Harper — November 21, 2011 @ 12:06 am
I can’t remember the year, but it was likely the early 70′s that I traveled all night from a great distance with my Dad to see the Vols win a football game on the Astro Turf in Neyland Stadium in the afternoon following by a basketball game on the Tartan floor in SAC following by the Vols also winning a wrestling match on mats at center court. We walked around SAC looking at the old photo’s. He pointed out Clifton Cates and Austin Shofner who he knew from football and WWII with the Marines in the Pacific. To me SAC was the hallowed halls of old UT. Years later as Vol myself I remember walking through SAC on my way to practice everyday and seeing my Dad’s photo (#16) and touching it to say hello. I miss him and I will miss the SAC.
Comment by D. Coggins — December 19, 2011 @ 8:08 pm