North Michigan News

Northern Michigan University (NMU) will hold a rededication ceremony for Vandament Arena, which has been newly renovated to serve as the home court for both Wildcat volleyball and basketball. The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, followed by a reception and the volleyball team's first home game of the season at 5 p.m. against Findlay.

NMU began renovating the arena in November 2023. The project expanded the court area, added four-sided stadium seating for about 1,400—including some courtside—and modernized the facility's appearance.

Wildcat fans will be closer to the action, particularly for basketball. Previously, the men's and women's teams practiced in Vandament but competed in the Berry Events Center, sharing it with the hockey program.

"I'm very excited for the official opening of Vandament," said NMU Athletic Director Rick Comley. "When I came back, one of my goals was to make situations better for multiple teams, and the new Vandament is an opportunity for us to reward volleyball and put basketball in an environment that better suits them. There's a benefit to hockey with this whole change as well. It's not very often you get a win-win-win. The look is great, the environment will be tremendous, and our student-athletes will be the ones to benefit the most."

"The new Vandament Arena will provide an excellent and needed opportunity for our basketball athletes to practice where they compete in a first-class venue," said Matt Majkrzak, head coach of the men's team. "It's a beautiful building that will make NMU one of the premier atmospheres in DII basketball. We are all really appreciative of all the hard work that has gone into this project by so many throughout the Northern Michigan administration and can't wait to get in front of our fans."

Moving basketball to Vandament not only creates an elevated experience for athletes and fans but also alleviates issues related to transitioning between ice and wooden floors at Berry Events Center—sometimes twice on weekends.

NMU Vice President for Finance and Administration Gavin Leach previously informed NMU Board of Trustees finance committee that frequent floor changes made it more prone to damage. He also cited challenges related to labor availability and costs associated with these transitions. While converting from ice to wood flooring, NMU lost ice rental revenue and incurred additional costs for relocating hockey practices.

Originally named NMU Volleyball Arena when it opened before the 1995 season, it was officially dedicated as Vandament Arena in November 1997 after former NMU President William Vandament retired following his six-year tenure during which Wildcats won back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships in 1993 and 1994.