Oakland University

Athletics Center O'rena

Home of the Oakland basketball and volleyball teams is the Athletics Center O'rena.  The newest and most modern facility of its kind in The Summit League, it is a part of Oakland University's Recreation and Athletics Center Complex located in the heart of the OU campus.

Site of some of the most enthusiastic crowds in the league, the atmosphere in the O'rena starts with OU's student section, the Grizz Gang, one of the most vocal groups among Summit League student sections.  With great sight lines from every seat, a brand new state-of-the-art video board, concession areas and a merchandise center, the O'rena is truly a great atmosphere to watch collegiate basketball. 

Athletics Center O'rena (3,000)
Rochester, Mich.
Mascot	(L-R): Grizz and Clawzz
Nickname	Golden Grizzlies
First Game	November, 1998
Largest MBB Home Crowd	4,055 vs. Missouri (11/29/03)
Largest WBB Home Crowd	2,505 vs. Oral Roberts (1/12/08)
Largest VB Home Crowd	1,163 vs. ND State (10/15/10)
MBB All-Time Home Record	131-50 (.724)
WBB All-Time Home Record	129-57 (.694)
VB All-Time Home Record	55-99 (.357)
First MBB Home Win	UM-Dearborn, 81-54 (11/24/98)
First WBB Home Win	Morehead State, 95-61 (11/24/98)
First VB Home Win	Chicago State, 3-0 (9/25/98)
First MBB Home League Win	Kansas City, 88-81 (1/16/99)
First WBB Home League Win	Southern Utah, 80-70 (12/4/99)
First VB Home League Win	Chicago State, 3-0 (11/6/99)
Most MBB Home Points Scored	114, vs. Kansas City (12/6/07)
Most WBB Home Points Scored	108 (2 times), Most Recently vs. UM-Dearborn (12/6/07)
Most MBB Opponent Points Scored	108 by Kansas City (2/24/00)
Most WBB Opponent Points Scored	91 by Oral Roberts (2/6/10)

Groundbreaking for the facility was in the fall of 1996, with the first game occurring on Nov. 17, 1998, when OU hosted No. 5 Michigan State in front of a packed house of over 4,000 fans and a regional television audience.  In addition to the arena, the facility also includes locker rooms for all of OU's 18 intercollegiate sports, a modern athletic training room, office space for the athletic department, a media room, booster room, weight room, equipment room and a 1,000-seat top-of-the-line natatorium.

Part of the campus recreation complex, the recreation side of the facility includes a three-court gym, weight training and fitness area, multipurpose/aerobic rooms, racquetball and squash courts, a wellness center and classrooms and meeting areas.

▪ Some of the top teams in the nation have visited the O'rena for men's and women's basketball, including Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Purdue and Texas A&M.  Always a tough place to play for Golden Grizzlies' opponents, Oakland has won more than 70 percent of its games in the 14 seasons that the facility has been in operation, including big wins over Florida State, Illinois, Michigan and Texas A&M.

▪ The men's basketball team is 68-12 (.850) over the last six seasons (2006-12) inside the O'rena. OU is 49-7 over its last 56 games at home.

▪ The women's basketball team is an impressive 28-8 against Summit League opponents at home over the last four seasons. The Golden Grizzlies have not had a losing season inside the O'rena in program history.

▪ The volleyball team is 17-6 over the last two seasons at home, including a program-best 10-2 in 2011. The Golden Grizzlies also picked up their first-ever win over a Big Ten opponent at home in a five-set thriller over Iowa (9/1/12).