Sport Court at Brophy Hall
RECENT FACILITY IMPROVEMENT ARTICLES
Leatherneck Volleyball Installs New Scoreboards at Brophy Hall (July 25, 2011)
New Volleyball Wall Clings Highlight Brophy Hall Makeover (Sept. 22, 2010)
In July 2008, the Western Illinois volleyball program unveiled Sport Court flooring, the NCAA official volleyball playing surface in Brophy Hall. Western Illinois is the only volleyball program in The Summit League to have the playing surface and is only one of two Illinois Division I Athletic programs with Sport Court, with Northwestern being the other. Since the 2008-09 season, the Leathernecks have played all conferences matches in Brophy Hall and all non-conference opponents in Western Hall.
The Sport Court is a total of 5,000 square feet with the actual court containing 1,800 square feet and the outside playing surface occupying the final 3,200 square feet. The volleyball court playing area is a simulated maple with the surrounding floor in purple with gold court lines. It is made of a polypropylene copolymer and has a locking system to integrate the tiles together. Each square tile is 9.8 inches, a half inch thick and weighs .62 pounds. The court was funded through private sources. Brophy Hall holds roughly 800 with fans tightly surrounding the court sides.
Waste Management Court at Western Hall
The playing surface has undergone several changes. Originally a wooden floor, the regulation-size court was replaced with a tartan floor in 1973 and, prior to the 1993-94 basketball season, upgraded with a parquet floor similar to that in the old Boston Gardens. The court was repainted during the summer of 2011 and the endlines took on the same look with the Leathernecks logo as in the endzones of Hanson Field. The court is surrounded by a Chem-turf jogging track.
During the summer of 2010, new lighting was installed. The University Physical Plant staff secured a grant through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to upgrade the fixtures throughout the facility. All 20 Leatherneck sport programs utilize Western Hall in some capacity - whether for practice, workouts or home events including men and women's basketball games. The lighting upgrade will also enhance the televised broadcasts on WIU TV3.
In the summer of 2008 the court received a face lift with a new floor design featuring the Western Illinois logo and mascot Rocky.
Besides serving as the home for varsity athletics, Western Hall houses numerous physical education activities and all major Bureau of Cultural Affairs events, including concerts, musicals and multi-cultural entertainment events for all ages.
Completed in 1964, the building underwent massive construction in 1997 with the addition of the $8 million Student Recreation Center.
