The Tennessee athletic department is beginning the process of leaving Stokely Athletic Center, Tiffany Carpenter, UT athletic department public relations director said today.
Stokely, opened in 1958, was the home of Tennessee basketball for decades, and until recently was still used for volleyball and indoor track and field.
“Right now we are looking at where to place some of the offices housed in Stokely,” said Carpenter, who said there is no timetable for leaving the building.
She said Stokely will be turned over to the academic campus for use.
“We have been talking about it (leaving the building) for years, but plans were sped up this fall,” said Carpenter.
It was during the fall that the fire marshal ordered the building no longer be used to hold athletic or other spectator events. The volleyball team played in the facility last fall, but a youth track meet annually held there was moved to Johnson City.
During its heyday in the late ’70s, Stokely rocked with the Ernie and Bernie Show, when colorful coach Ray Mears directed a team that featured All-Americans Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King. But, with the move to Thompson-Boling Arena in 1987, Stokely became a much calmer place. It still houses numerous staff offices and the University’s ROTC program.
Carpenter said the university will decide whether to convert the building for other use or demolish it.
More details as the story develops online and in Saturday's News Sentinel.
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Comments » 48
FLVol writes:
I have some fond memories of stokely. Ran a high school track meet there and saw my first UT basketball game in 1986 and an REM concert there.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Chicago, War/Ohio Players, and Jackson Browne ... guess when was I in K-town?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Me and my cousins walked right into Stokely on Christmas night a few years ago. Played ball for a few hours. It was a really cool feeling. I'm glad we didn't get arrested.
Couldn't believe the place wasn't locked though. I'm not sure how that worked out.
xd9x19 writes:
Remember Dale Ellis doing a double-pump slam against KY (I think) when I was there in 82 or 83.
hopalong writes:
Time moves on, things change and progress dictates that memories are all that is left for facilities such as Stokely. It is really sad that a place like Stokey, with a rich history of events, is finally sent off into the sunset and will never again host the sort of athletic competition that many of us remember so well.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
orangblood, ditto, same concerts including Boston, Doobies and Fleetwood Mac.
utchris writes:
I will be curious to see what they do with building. Sometimes you hate to see history torn down, but space is becoming a premium on campus. I have a lot of great memories in that building. I was a student trainer for 4 years, thus spending almost everyday in the training room at Stokely. I assume that the Volleyball team will move to TBA for now. I think that plans were already in the works to build a new indoor track facility anyway. Expanded Neyland Thompson Facility, TBA, and Pratt should have enough room to house the few offices that need to move. They will also have to move the Training Room and Women's Weight Room(which was long overdue).
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I was told down by the creek they were considering moving to the Halls Wal-Mart. Not comfirmed, yet.
dfreeman writes:
pdhuff - walmart is to expensive... they might be moving to kmart!! Maybe an unused old Food Lion building!! That was funny!!
Couchdummy writes:
Dionne Warwick-circa 1973.
jonathan012 writes:
TouchdownTN... you have the most negative attitude I think I've ever seen. Every single one of your posts that I've read have been negative. It must suck to be you.
dfreeman writes:
sorry, for the spelling bees I meant - too expensive!!
dfreeman writes:
jonathon012 - his post above was not negative. Stokely was louder back in the day!! It was smaller as well so it had to be louder!!
pms151 writes:
Elton John doing Crocodile Rock and Yellow Brick Road to masses of crazed fans in "smoke" filled Stokely was a high light of my days at UT.
dfreeman writes:
Hey on another note did 12times quadruple wide trailer in G-burg get repoed?? He went from 200mph to 0mph in like no time!!
PRNDL writes:
How about a 25 story parking garage! ha, talk about ample parking for any event on campus, plus convenient for any student at virtually any building on campus!
superk#226173 writes:
Actually, the crowds may be as loud (or louder) than they were at Stokely. The difference today is much better acoustics, higher ceilings, bigger area, thus allowing more sound to escape the confines of an older arena like Stokely. If you don't agree with me you can kiss my A**. Just kidding on the last sentence.
Chainsaw writes:
The loudest crowd I ever heard in Stokley was the NCAA regional game there (in what, '79 or '80? I can't remember) between Louisville and Kentucky. Seriously, I thought the place was gonna come crashing down.
bk555 writes:
1972..2 of my best friends and me went to the men's restroom open up 3 windows and dragged as many guys and gals thru them to get into the Jethro Tull concert..plus saw Dr J and Larry Bird mix it up there too...
billnewton#588776 writes:
The BEST Eagles concert ever and some wonderful basketball memories for sure.
TommyJack writes:
Saw indoor track, many roundball games, Heck, I remember when the A.D. was in S. Stadium.
CoverOrange writes:
tenniskid, it is against university policy to provide parking to anyone that contributes less than a jizillion a year. Student parking is an abomination to be ticketed and towed to raise funds for distinguished alumni Outback Steakhouse bowl parties.
Saw The Police (when Sting sung that they "would come back no more no more no more"), Moody Blues, John Mellencamp in Stokely. Had the top most row for the Blues where the acoustics off the back wall and ceiling caused my ears to ring for two days.
FWBVol writes:
As a student assistant in Sports Information I spent many hours in Stokely. Before that, I spent much of my freshman year watching Ernie and Bernie with all the other greats of that last Ray Mears' team.
One of my favorite Stokely stories happened in the fall of 1976 the week of the Kentucky football game. The ticket office was still in Stokely back then, and the beer barrel trophy had yet to be retired. Usually they kept it right behind the ticket window in plain few.
That year a few UK students came down, walked up to the ticket window, and asked the person working the window for the barrel. They didn't try to grab it. They were very polite about it.
The ticket person contacted Gus Manning and they gave the UK kids the run around before finally arresting them. They couldn't arrest them for being in Stokely because it was a public building and they had come in an unlocked door. They couldn't arrest them for asking for the barrel, because they didn't try to steal it.
What did they charge them with? Parking in a faculty lot without the proper sticker.
After detaining them a few hours, the UT cops sent them back to Lexington.
They would have saved themselves some trouble if they had waited a few days as Kentucky won 7-0 and nailed the final nail in Bill Battle's coffin.
N2Motorsports writes:
Never got to see a game in that building. I remember one time when I was little my dad and my uncle took me in there while they were having a card show in the concourse. They still had the bball floor down in the middle of the floor (just like it would be for a game). I remember standing at halfcourt and just looking around. BTW- the half court had the outline of the state of Tennessee and that's how it should be today. Not TENNESSEE in block letters. I can't believe that recruits can't figure out where a game is being played so we have to spell out "TENNESSEE" at halfcourt in hopes of helping with exposure. Bring back the state to the half court!!!
frye#217701 writes:
Basketball camp in the 80s with Dyron Nix, Tyrone Beaman, Willie Burton, Fedderman and Dale Ellis coaching the teams. That's good memories man!
Also hearing Joe B Hall cursing like mad, too funny. Still remember my granddad covering my ears!
vintonvol writes:
I remember seeing Howard Wood nail one from the corner at the buzzer to beat Sam Bowie and Kentucky 49-47. Kevin Nash completely dominated Bowie. Also saw UT vs. Louisville that year with the Doctors of Dunk (L-Ville won the NCAA that year) and the Vols gave them all they could handle. And billnewton, was that Eagles concert in 1980? I saw them then and they rocked the house.
arkyvol writes:
was it 71 or 72 that elvis did a show there? whenever, i was there.
adimatteo#261830 writes:
Its one of those things we complain about when were using the place (comfort, etc), then when its replaced and time to go,we complain again. Everyone who went to UT in past has great memories of the place.Its a shame it cant be kept for something.
I took my daughter on recent visit back,and she was amaazed at the place, the wooden seating, etc.
Hopefully they will figure out way to save something, the seats, etc, what else do we have to do as we get older but look back at the crazy things we did, and where we did them. Hopefully UT will do something to preserve something...
gillblog writes:
hopalong said it right. This is the way of things and we all eventually experience the bittersweet emotions of parting with the pleasures of youth.
(it's been so long now, but didn't Bill Justice and Bill Hahn have about 2 years in Stokely?? and Ron Widby?)
bleed_orange writes:
I miss the great seats my dad had in the Orange Tie Club. I believe he had about 7th row Center Court. I saw my first TN game back about 1975. I really don't remember much about Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Mike Jackson,Doug Ashworth, or Johnny Darden. The first players I really remember are Reggie Johnson,Terry Crosby, Bert Bertelkamp, Howard Wood, Gary Carter, Dale Ellis,Michael Brooks, Willie Burton, Tyrone Beaman, Rob Jones, Tony White, Fred Jenkins, Dan Federmann, Anthony Richardson, Dyron Nix, Doug Roth, Elvin Brown and Greg Bell to name a few. I wonder how many points some of the players like Michael Brooks would of scored with the 3-pt line. If I remember correctly, he used to shot it from about the NBA 3-pt line. GO BIG ORANGE! BEAT THE MSU BULL DOGS! GO VOLS!
FatherVol writes:
The James Gang, The Carpenters, Bette Midler, Elton John, Doobie Brothers....ah, the memories.
rudydog1#205592 writes:
1969.... Janis Joplin..... Stokely Athletic Center.. Need I say more....
THE_VOL writes:
They could convert it to a prison for football players and then FOOLmer's crew would never have to leave campus!
1974Vol writes:
Man did that place Rocked in the 60's & 70's for the Ray Mears basketball show! We had a little buzz headed guard that Mears used in a box and 1 when we played Pete Maravich & LSU one year. Held Pete to like 17 or 18 and beat them. Anyone rememeber that kids (probably 60 now) name?
GreenbackMike writes:
the_vol... Are you even a UT fan, cause you sound more like a closet Bama goon than a Tennessee fan!! Go back to Tuscaloser and take TDTN with you!!!
You must blame misspelled words on your pencil. How is it CPF fault if a player does something stupid and gets arrested? Did Fulmer force them to buy the weed or ignore a cops orders? Get a clue...
GreenbackMike writes:
On second thought leave TDTN he makes me laugh... You just annoy me!
rudydog1#205592 writes:
1974 Vol.. I that guard was Billy Justus..
drone#208075 writes:
Jimmy Buffet, Steve Martin, Larry Holmes & fantastic BBall.
1974Vol writes:
rudydog1 The guy I'm thinking of was more of a roll player than a star like Justus, Tom Hendrix, Bobby Guinn, I also keep thinking the name Billy Kahn but don't know if that's right. The guy was 6' maybe 6 1" blonde buzz cut. Anyway... long time ago but great times.
TommyJack writes:
1974: Hahn, not Kahn
gillblog writes:
One thing I do remember, Billy Hahn (Kahn???) was a guard. I remember he was a dead shot from 30ft could dribble rings around anybody in the SEC, had Bob Cousy moves to the basket, and he played alongside Bill Justus(Justice???)his whole career at UT.
OH, this spelling problem and old age... OH!!
brokebackvol writes:
Gosh, so many memories of Stokely...remember the days there before the Lady Vols won their first title - place was mostly empty, Pat and the refs could hear us yelling without a problem! Saw Tina Turner on the "Private Dancer" tour back in 85...
Once tried to stomp on a popcorn fed roach there - it was like trying to crush a matchbox car!
Goodbye Stokely - but agreed, it is time to move on, and that space is MUCH too valuable.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TJ- they're breaking up that ol' gang of mine. Stokely, RV parking at the foot of the stadium,
used to come off onto 17th at 75mph. At least Vandy still has the 1920's gym with teams under the goal.
No more fill-ups for 15 dollars. What's next?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
tngeoff,
I never thought of it till now but you're right!
Madkels writes:
I remember beating KY in Stokely. The place was very loud and we were all chanting "Sit Joe Sit" at Joe B. Hall!! One of many great memories there. Please don't tear it down.
zehduck#647159 writes:
Stokely Athletic Center = Our Cameron Indoor Stadium...
rockyknox writes:
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
middlegavol writes:
I remember watching Ernie and Bernie there. We would sit as close behind the home bench as possible and I had made it my goal in life to heckle Austin Clark into an early grave. Stu Aberdeen would give me the nastiest looks at times but it was great fun. I also took a racquetball class taught by a young assistant professor/coach named Pat Head. Good old days for sure.
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