Anderson High School Wigwam is an indoor arena in Anderson, Indiana. The current version hosted home games for the Anderson High School Indians and was home to the Indiana Alley Cats of the Continental Basketball Association and the Anderson Champions of the American Basketball Association. The previous arena hosted Anderson Packers, a founding member of the National Basketball Association.
The complex is being redeveloped while preserving the gymnasium, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. It is currently under renovation and preparing for reopening in the near future.
History
The original arena opened in 1927 behind the original high school building, bound by the high school, West 13th & West 14th Streets, and the railroad tracks (just east of John Street). (The site is now mostly covered by the new Wigwam's parking lot; West 13th Street has been rerouted.) The 6,073 seat arena hosted the Anderson High School Indians from 1927 to 1948, as well as the NBA's Anderson Packers from 1946 to 1950. It burned down in 1958. The replacement arena opened up in November 1961 and has a capacity of 8,996. It was considered the second largest high school basketball arena, after New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle, Indiana.
However, recent statistics show that the Wigwam was actually always likely the largest. Fans of Seymour basketball, Seymour high school and a local newspaper hired a statistician who estimated new castle at a maximum capacity of about 7500 which effectively put the long time largest gym New castle Chrystler High School Fieldhouse into the spot of the 3rd largest gym in history. Sitting just Behind Seymour high schools gymnasium complex and last but not least (pun intended) the silent hero, the Anderson Wigwam. With The Wigwam being out of service as this occurred New Castle still only set as the second largest gym for 1 season before renovating and taking back the top spot. (Which it still holds) Nevertheless, both gyms are at least 1000 seats smaller than the now closed but soon to be updated Anderson Wigwam.
Had this information been common knowledge in 2015, Anderson school district probably wouldn't have closed the doors to the rightly crowned largest high school gym in the world. [1] Before the construction of Market Square Arena, the Indiana Pacers played several games at the Wigwam.[2]
On March 18, 2008, U.S. Secret Service agents met with members of Anderson Police Department for a tour at the Wigwam, where Hillary Clinton was due to speak. Her speech at the Wigwam occurred on March 20, 2008, and lasted about an hour. The school district netted $335 from the rental for this event.[1]
Facing a budget crisis, on March 8, 2011, the Anderson School Board voted six to one to close the Wigwam to save an estimated $700,000 annually.[3] In August 2014, the school board accepted a plan that would allow for redevelopment of the site while maintaining the gymnasium through at least 2030. One section of The Wigwam is currently home to the Jane Pauley Community Health Center–Wigwam, a non-profit clinic that offers primary and behavioral health care. There are plans to add more businesses in the future. When renovations are complete, the school district will have rent-free access to the arena for at least 12 event days per year, plus practices.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b Newkirk, Barrett (February 8, 2009). "Anderson's Wigwam: Are its days numbered?". Indiana Economic Digest. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ^ Bailey, Jim (March 19, 2011). "Lame-duck Wigwam's 50-year ride has been eventful". The Herald Bulletin. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ Ryckaert, Vic (March 8, 2011). "Anderson School Board votes to close Wigwam in budget cutting plan". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ Hirsch, Stuart (August 28, 2014). "Wigwam saved from wrecking ball". The Herald Bulletin. Retrieved October 25, 2015.