Athletics Center O'rena

Athletics Center O'Rena

Home of the Oakland men’s and women’s basketball 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. 

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.

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• 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 13 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 carries a 29-game home court league winning streak, dating back to 2008.  Oakland is 46-7 over the last four seasons and has won 37 of its last 39 games inside the O’rena.

• The women’s basketball team is an impressive 23-4 against Summit League opponents at home over the last three seasons. The Golden Grizzlies have not had a losing season inside the O’rena.
• 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.

Grizz Gang

• The Grizz Gang is a main stay at all Golden Grizzly home games. Made up of Oakland students, the Grizz Gang is another reason why Oakland holds the nation's third-best home court league winning streak.

Golden Grizzly Pep Band

• The Golden Grizzly Pep Band is present at every home game inside the O'rena. They provide the Golden Grizzlies with even more of a home court advantage and are located right next to the student section.

O'rena Superlatives
Opened: November, 1998
Capacity: 3,000

Largest Men's Basketball Crowd: 4,055 vs. Missouri on Nov. 29, 2003
Largest Women's Basketball Crowd: 2,505 vs. Oral Roberts on Jan. 12, 2008
Largest Volleyball Home Crowd: 1,163 vs. North Dakota State on Oct. 15, 2010
First Game: Nov. 17, 1998, men's basketball vs. Michigan State

First Men's Basketball Win: Nov. 24, 1998, vs. UM-Dearborn, (81-54)
First Women's Basketball Win: Nov. 24, 1998, vs. Morehead State (95-61)
First Volleyball Win: Sept. 25, 1998, vs. Chicago State (3-0)

First Men's Basketball League Win: Jan. 16, 1999, vs. UMKC (88-81)
All-Time Men's Basketball Record: 119-45 (.726)
All-Time Men's Basketball League Record: 74-23 (.763)
Most Men's Basketball Points Scored: 114 vs. UMKC on Dec. 6, 2007

First Women's Basketball League Win: Dec. 4, 1999, vs. Southern Utah (80-70)
All-Time Women's Basketball Record: 121-52 (.699)
All-Time Women's Basketball League Record: 76-22 (.775)
Most Women's Basketball Points Scored: 108 (2 times), most recently vs. UM-Dearborn on Nov. 22, 2000

Most Opponent Points Scored
108 by UMKC on Feb. 24, 2000 (Men's Basketball)
91 by Oral Roberts on Feb. 6, 2010 (Women's Basketball)

All-Time Volleyball Home Record: 45-97 (.317)
All-Time Volleyball Home League Record: 31-57 (.352)

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