Charlotte Y. Martin Centre

Martin Centre
The Kennel
Map
Full nameCharlotte Y. Martin Centre
Former namesJohn F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion (1965–1987)
LocationGonzaga University
Spokane, Washington
Coordinates47°39′56″N 117°24′02″W / 47.6655°N 117.4005°W / 47.6655; -117.4005
OwnerGonzaga University
OperatorGonzaga University
Capacity4,000
Construction
Broke groundJune 3, 1964
OpenedDecember 3, 1965
59 years ago
Renovated1986
Construction cost$1.1 million
($10.6 million in 2024[1])
Tenants
Gonzaga Bulldogs (NCAA)
Men's basketball (1965–1979, 1980–2004)
Women's basketball (until 2004)
Women's volleyball
Website
Martin Centre
Spokane is located in the United States
Spokane
Spokane
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Location in the United States
Spokane is located in Washington (state)
Spokane
Spokane
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Location in Washington

Charlotte Y. Martin Centre is an athletics center in the northwest United States, on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Its multi-purpose arena has a seating capacity of 4,000.[2]

Ground was broken in June 1964 on the $1.1 million center, which opened in late 1965 as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion, with a capacity of 3,800 for basketball.[3][4] The center included a 6-lane 25-yard (23 m) swimming pool.[3] The dedication ceremony on November 21 was attended by 6,000 and included the late president's brother, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.[5][6][7] The first varsity event on December 3 was a basketball game against Washington State, won by the visiting Cougars 106–78 before an overflow crowd of 4,300.[8][9]

Charlotte Martin, the daughter-in-law of former governor Clarence D. Martin,[10] donated $4.5 million in 1987 for the renovation of the complex and it was renamed for her as part of Gonzaga's centennial celebrations on March 17.[4][11][12] Mrs. Martin died less than eight months later, at age 68.[10]

The Martin Centre is the home court of the women's volleyball team, and was home of men's and women's basketball teams until the fall of 2004, when the adjacent $25 million McCarthey Athletic Center (MAC) opened.[13] An exception was the partial hiatus in the 1979–80 season when the men's team returned to its former home of the Spokane Coliseum for WCAC home games only,[12][14][15] The Pavilion was affectionately known as The Kennel, a reference to the enthusiastic capacity crowds for Bulldog basketball,[4] a nickname which transferred to the MAC.

Prior to the Spokane Coliseum's opening in 1955, Gonzaga basketball games were played on campus at "The Cave," a gymnasium in the administration building.[3]

In late 1968, the English rock group Led Zeppelin played their fifth-ever American concert at the Kennedy Pavilion on December 30, opening for Vanilla Fudge and erroneously billed as "Len Zefflin";[16][17] the first known bootleg recording of the band originated from this performance.[4][18] The bands were welcomed to Spokane with frigid sub-zero temperatures.[19]

References

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  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Our region's arenas". Spokesman-Review. November 18, 2004. p. O8.
  3. ^ a b c Missildine, Harry (May 21, 1965). "Kennedy Pavilion heralds modern Gonzaga sports era". Spokesman-Review. p. 28.
  4. ^ a b c d Venue information and background
  5. ^ "GU names 3 to take part in dedication". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 20, 1965. p. 3.
  6. ^ "JFK edifice is dedicated". Spokesman-Review. November 22, 1965. p. 1.
  7. ^ "Assassination forced clearer thinking, says Edward Kennedy". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 22, 1965. p. 1.
  8. ^ Missildine, Harry (December 4, 1965). "New Pavilion big success - for Cougars". Spokesman-Review. p. 8.
  9. ^ Keidan, Bruce (December 4, 1965). "Cougars break point mark in drubbing 'Zags". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 8.
  10. ^ a b Wagoner, Richard (November 4, 1987). "Advocate of education Charlotte Martin dies". Spokesman-Review. p. A1.
  11. ^ Sparks, Jim (March 18, 1987). "Gonzaga dedicates center - with a flair". Spokane Chronicle. p. A3.
  12. ^ a b "Through The Ages – Homes of the Bulldogs". 2007 Gonzaga University Men's Basketball Media Guide. Gonzaga University Athletics. p. 108. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  13. ^ Bergum, Steve (November 18, 2004). "Welcome home". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. O2.
  14. ^ Missildine, Harry (February 15, 1980). "Zags are paying - for visiting teams, vacant Kennedy Pavilion". Spokesman-Review. p. 25.
  15. ^ "Year-by-Year Results". 2007 Gonzaga University Men's Basketball Media Guide. Gonzaga University Athletics. pp. 123–133. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  16. ^ "Shows: 1968, Spokane, Washington". Led Zeppelin. December 30, 1968. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  17. ^ "Concerts West presents:". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (advertisement). December 30, 1968. p. 18.
  18. ^ "Gonzaga '68". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  19. ^ "Cold easing: mercury hits zero". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 31, 1968. p. 1.
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