Alexander Memorial Coliseum Memorabilia Up For Auction

Ask any college basketball enthusiast to name some of the most famous arenas in the country and venues such as Rupp Arena (Kentucky), Pauley Pavilion (UCLA), Dean Smith Center (North Carolina) and Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke) are quick to come to mind.

However, from a local perspective, not too far behind is Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum. 

The beloved arena, which has been a staple of the Midtown community since it first opened in 1956, will undergo a $45 million facelift and will now be known as the McCamish Pavilion. Construction for McCamish Pavilion is already underway as 10th and Fowler Street will be fenced off for the next 18 months.

As the laborers renovate and rip up the arena, Georgia Tech fans can keep a physical piece of Alexander Memorial Coliseum in their homes. Currently, 12 memorabilia items from the famed arena are available to the highest bidder through an online auction. Among the keepsakes are an autographed program from the final game, autographed score sheet from the final game, Alexander Memorial Coliseum sign, autographed T-shirt from baseball coach Danny Hall as well as section signs 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14.

Named after Hank McCamish, who donated $15 million to the renovation project, McCamish Pavilion will give fans the feeling of being on top of the action by bringing them closer to the game. McCamish Pavilion also features club seating, eliminating the suites that were at the old arena.

Howard Wertheimer, the Director of Capital Planning and Space Management at Georgia Tech believes the dynamics of the new facility will enhance the new Yellow Jackets basketball viewing experience.

“It will change the entire fan experience of being closer to the court and improving sight lines and lighting,” said Wertheimer. 

The main entrance to McCamish Pavilion will be at the corner of 10th and Fowler Street and there will be a separate entrance for students on game day. There will also be a visible area for V.I.P. parking off of the current surface parking lot. The McCamish Pavilion will hold an approximate capacity of 8,900.

McCamish Pavilion is scheduled to open in October 2012, so the transition into this new facility will by no means be an over nigh project. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are scheduled to play their 2011-12 home games between the Philips Arena and the Gwinnett Arena in Duluth. 

Alexander Memorial Coliseum memorabilia is currently being auctioned on Georgia Tech’s website http://ramblinwreck.cstvauctions.com/gallery.cfm for a limited time only.