The University of Northern Iowa dedicated the 26 million dollar, seven-thousand seat McLeod Center with a ceremony over the weekend. Construction on the arena started two years ago and fund-raising began about nine years ago. The center is named Clark and Mary McLeod, who donated the lead gift of four million dollars.
The arena will be the new home for Panther men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. Until now, those sports used the UNI-Dome and the West Gym. U-N-I president Benjamin Allen says it completes an effort that began about ten years ago.
The Panthers won their first game in the new McCleod Center, 69-58 over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.