(You can tell we’re really getting into the holiday spirit here because this post begins to the first lines of the tune, “Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer:”)
You know St. John Arena and Schottenstein Center
Where watching OSU hoops just doesn’t get better
But do you recall?
The first place Ohio State played basketball?
Armory, 1918
The program’s first home was actually the Armory, a massive brick building that used to stand just about where the Wexner Center is, but was razed in 1959 after a huge fire. The Armory was home to OSU’s men’s basketball team from 1898 until 1919.
Also known as Drill Hall or the Gymnasium, the Armory was built in 1897 at a cost of $115,000. For many years the Armory was home to the Department of Military Science and the men’s gymnasium, and it hosted events such as campus dances, commencement and intermural sports. The exterior was designed much like a medieval castle, including turrets at each corner of the building.
Men's physical education class in the Armory, 1908
In 1918 the University received an official order to allow the military to take over the entire building because of World War I, and the basketball team was left without a place to practice or hold home games. A few home games were then held at Indianola Park (a long-gone amusement park located on High Street just north of the Giant Eagle in Clintonville). In 1919 the basketball team continued to have complications with its use of the Armory and started the season late in January continuing until March. During the team’s time in Armory, the Buckeyes had an overall record of 178-104.
In 1920 the team moved to the Coliseum at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Built in 1918, the Coliseum was also known as “the Barn” and continues to be the site for high school basketball playoff games. With the ability to seat more than 6,000 fans, the Coliseum drew the largest crowds ever to watch Ohio State Basketball games.
Basketball game in the Coliseum, 1948
It is also noted that school interest and spirit in basketball grew immensely.
During its stretch at the Coliseum, the team played in five national title games, including the first-ever such matchup in 1939 against the University of Oregon in which the Buckeyes lost 33-46. With an overall record of 403-334 and six Big Ten Conference titles, the Buckeyes stopped playing at the Coliseum in 1956, after St. John Arena was built.
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