Bartow Arena is an 8,508-seat multi-purpose arena in Birmingham, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team. The arena is named after Gene Bartow, the coach who built the school's men's basketball program from scratch over the last quarter of the 20th century. UAB initially played their games at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, but moved its games to the on-campus facility beginning with the 1988–89 season.HistoryBetween 1978 and 1988, the Blazers played their home games at the off-campus Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, located just north of downtown Birmingham. On December 3, 1988, the men's team defeated Vanderbilt 76–69 in the first game played at the then named UAB Arena. Following the retirement of Gene Bartow in December 1996, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees voted to officially change the name of UAB Arena to Bartow Arena. Its rededication as Bartow Arena occurred on January 25, 1997, with the Blazers defeating rival Memphis 51–48.
