March 19, 2004

Arena Facts

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri's new basketball arena will be named Paige Sports Arena, as announced today by the institution. Currently under construction south of the Hearnes Center, the Paige Sports Arena is a $75 million project, the largest construction project in the history of the University of Missouri. It is scheduled for completion on October 1, 2004, in time for the 2004-2005 basketball season. The arena is named for Paige Laurie, the daughter of Nancy and Bill Laurie of Columbia. The Lauries donated $25 million toward the project.

"Nancy and Bill Laurie - Columbia residents and longtime University supporters - made this project possible with the largest private gift ever to the University's Department of Athletics, earmarked for the construction of this magnificent sports facility," University of Missouri-Columbia Chancellor Richard Wallace said. "We are grateful for the Lauries' generosity and we are delighted to name the building for their daughter, Paige."

"As supporters of education and athletics, we are proud of our association with the University of Missouri," said a statement from Nancy and Bill Laurie. "As parents, we are very proud of our daughter, Paige. So we could not be happier that the University would combine those two important parts of our lives in naming this new facility the Paige Sports Arena.

"As residents of Columbia, we are especially pleased to be able to help Mizzou provide this new arena to be enjoyed by students, faculty, alumni, fans and area residents," the statement continued.

"Certainly, the Paige Sports Arena will be the most visible component of the Mizzou Sports Park," Mizzou Director of Athletics Mike Alden said. "We thank the Lauries for their unprecedented support, and look forward to many successful seasons of Mizzou Basketball in this wonderful arena."

The Paige Sports Arena was designed in partnership between CDFM2 Architecture and HOK Sport, both of Kansas City, Mo. The state's largest commercial contractor, J.E. Dunn Construction, is the contractor on the project. Current schedules call for the facility to finish on time and on budget.

Financial backing for the project involves a unique public-private partnership featuring a $35 million contribution from the State of Missouri's General Assembly through general revenue bonds along with the $25 million private gift. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, through private gifts, has raised the additional $15 million for the project. No University of Missouri general operating appropriations were used toward the financing of the Paige Sports Arena.

Nancy and Bill Laurie have been avid supporters of the University for many years. In addition to their support of the Tiger Scholarship Fund as well as numerous University academic programs, the Lauries are committed to a variety of charities and endowments in both the Columbia and St. Louis areas.

They are the benefactors of the William and Nancy Laurie Cancer Research Fund at Ellis Fischel Cancer Hospital, the Children's Hospital Neonatal Transport Team, and The Front Door center for abused women, all in Columbia, as well as St. Louis Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. In addition, the family has endowed the E. Paige Laurie Professorship for the Equine Center at the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine, and provided funding to build the Columbia Performing Arts Center.

The new basketball arena was designed to offer students and fans comfortable seating and a state-of-the-art spectator experience, including exceptionally well-developed sight lines from every seat in the house. When completed, it is expected to rank among the best on-campus college basketball facilities in the nation.

Paige Sports Arena will total 325,000 square feet, with a seating capacity of about 15,000 including private suites and 1,000 "club" seats. A major component of the Paige Sports Arena will be seating for Mizzou students. Plans call for more than 3,000 seats in the lower bowl of the arena to be dedicated to students. Currently, only about 1,000 comparable seats are available in the Hearnes Center. Also included in the Paige Sports Arena will be the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame and prominent displays celebrating the history of Missouri Basketball.

Project Timeline