| George Gervin GameAbove Center | |
| Coordinates: | 42.2544°N -83.6472°W |
| Location: | 799 North Hewitt Road Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 |
| Broke Ground: | 1996 |
| Opened: | November 25, 1998 |
| Owner: | Eastern Michigan University |
| Operator: | Eastern Michigan University |
| Construction Cost: | $29.6 million ($ in dollars) |
| Architect: | Rossetti Architects |
| General Contractor: | Barton Malo |
| Former Names: | Convocation Center (1998–2021) |
| Tenants: | Eastern Michigan Eagles |
| Seating Capacity: | 8,824 |
| Suites: | 8 |
| Capacity: | 8,824 |
| Publictransit: | Trinity from EMU Student Center |
| Website: | http://www.EMUtix.com |
The George Gervin GameAbove Center, formerly known as the Convocation Center, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex located on Eastern Michigan University’s west campus. Opened in 1998 as part of a campus upgrade initiative, the George Gervin GameAbove Center is a 204316sqfoot structure that features three levels including arena, concourse, and office. The arena also has multiple seating configurations to maximize space usage.
The building serves as the home to EMU athletics and also hosts a wide variety of special events including concerts, conferences, graduations, fairs, trade shows, political rallies, and more.
On September 7, 2023, EMU unveiled a commemorative statue for George Gervin, built by artist Ben Victor. The ceremony was attended by Gervin.[1]
Construction began in 1996 and was completed in time for the 1998-99 winter sports season; its first men's basketball game was on November 25, 1998, against Boise State, who defeated EMU 54–53. The Convocation Center was officially dedicated before a near-sellout crowd on December 9, 1998, in an 86–63 loss to Michigan.[2] Since its opening, it has served as home court for the Eagles' men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. The EMU wrestling team has held several dual meets on the arena floor.[3] It has also served as the site for two Mid-American Conference Championships. EMU hosted the 2000 MAC Gymnastics Championship and the 2002 MAC Wrestling Championship. It has been the host site for four first-round MAC Women's Basketball Tournament games, three first-round MAC Volleyball Tournament games and one first-round game for the men's basketball squad. On December 11, 2021, the arena was renamed to the George Gervin GameAbove Center in honor of Basketball Hall of Fame member and EMU alumnus George Gervin.
Along with their commitment to EMU Athletics, it has hosted concerts. It is also the site for EMU's spring and winter commencement ceremonies. Other events have included youth sporting competitions, high school commencements, trade shows, job fairs, conventions, charity and community awareness events and a circus.[3]
The 204316square feet facility features three levels (arena, concourse, and office) and three seating configurations to maximize crowd capacity and space usage. The largest seating capacity is for center-stage entertainment activities, with 9,500 seats available. The capacity for basketball games is approximately 8,800.[4]
EMU's athletic administration is located on the office level, along with offices for the EMU football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball coaching staffs. The EMU Sports Information Office, as well as offices for the staff, are located on the office level.
The main athletic training room and office space for EMU's sports medicine staff is located on the arena level as are strength and conditioning facilities and equipment rooms.
On March 18, 2014, Eastern Michigan received national attention when a CollegeInsider.com tournament game at the Convo – EMU's first men's basketball postseason game in 16 years – drew 373 fans. Senior forward Glenn Bryant tweeted his frustration at the small crowd, which was picked up by national media.[5] Despite a 22-win season, EMU drew an average of 901 fans per home game in 2013–14 (10.2% of capacity). In 2014–15, EMU chalked up 21 wins and another postseason berth (at the College Basketball Invitational); however, attendance was even lower, just 776 per contest. Attendances have picked up since then, however: another 21-win season (and another CBI berth) in 2015-16 drew 1,228 per game; a 16–17 mark in 2016-17 averaged 1,245; and the 2017–18 season saw Eastern draw 1,513 fans per contest, including 4,767 for their home opener and 1,138 for a CIT victory over Niagara. (Eastern has never come close to selling out in its history; even the 1998 opener against Michigan featured over a thousand empty seats.)
Due to the unavailability of The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Detroit Shock moved three WNBA playoff games to the Convo Center in the fall of 2008: two games in the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 3 of the 2008 WNBA Finals, against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Shock won game 3 and the WNBA title, 76–60; the contest was broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The building serves as the home to EMU athletics and also hosts a wide variety of special events including concerts, conferences, graduations, fairs, trade shows, political rallies, and more. Some of our more notable events include Jay-Z, Bob Seger, Bernie Sanders, Ellie Goulding, The Killers, Stone Sour, Halestorm, Tiesto, St. Joseph Charity Ball, Harlem Globetrotters, and the WNBA Finals.[6]
The center was used for the graduation of the EMU class of 2000. The main speaker was William Jefferson Clinton with an intro from his Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, an EMU alumnus.