Sixth in a series highlighting DePaul’s campus and how it has changed through the years.

Alumni Hall once stood where the Student Center is located today. Dedicated on December 16th, 1956, this building ushered DePaul into a new era in its sports history, since, before it was built, DePaul’s sports teams had to make do with the old and out-of-date facilities at “The Barn.” The two million dollar Alumni Hall boasted such amenities as a fully equipped training room with “modern whirlpool baths,” two basketball courts, a 5300 person seating capacity, space for the DePaul College of Physical Education, a cafeteria, and a student and alumni lounge. In addition to becoming the home for DePaul’s sports teams, Alumni Hall offered much needed campus space for lectures, assemblies, commencement, academic conferences and concerts by DePaul’s School of Music.

Through the years, Alumni Hall played host to many well-known guests. The Bulls used Alumni Hall as a practice stadium in the 1960’s and 70’s, Muhammad Ali fought an exhibition there in 1979, and Dick Vitale debuted on ESPN there the same year. Mike Tyson also fought an exhibition at Alumni Hall in 1987. And in 1975, the Iranian Student Association paid $10,000 (enough for a new coat of paint for the building) to hold their national convention at Alumni Hall. For four days, four years prior to the fall of the Shah, they discussed and rallied for an overthrow of his government.

Most importantly for DePaul, Ray Meyer coached and won many of his games from the confines of the building. As Ray Meyer and the DePaul Basketball team won more and more victories, attendance at the games swelled. Eventually the Blue Demons began playing most of their games at Allstate Arena to accommodate their rapidly growing fan base, where they still play today. In June 2000, Alumni Hall was demolished to make way for the new Student Center.