Eastern Michigan Athletics
Gervin GameAbove Center
Men's Basketball
Gymnastics
Volleyball
Women's Basketball
Directions to the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
View a 360-degree Tour of the Facility.
Book an Event at the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The George Gervin GameAbove Center, formerly the Convocation Center, is Eastern Michigan University’s premier multi-purpose athletic and event facility, opened in December 1998. The 204,316-square-foot arena, constructed at a cost of $29.6 million, was developed as part of a broader campus initiative to upgrade EMU’s infrastructure and followed closely after the $41-million Bruce T. Halle Library. Construction began in 1996 under Barton-Malow Company, with Rossetti Associates and The Argos Group serving as architects.
The facility hosts men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and other athletic competitions, as well as commencements, concerts, esports tournaments, trade shows, and community events. The arena seats approximately 8,800 for basketball and up to 9,512 for concerts and center-stage events, with three primary levels including arena, concourse, and office space, maximizing flexibility for event use.
The center was renamed on Dec. 11, 2021, in honor of NBA legend George “Iceman” Gervin, who played at EMU from 1970-72 before embarking on a Hall of Fame professional career. The renaming was made possible through a partnership with GameAbove, which provided $2.7 million in additional funding for technology and facility upgrades. In 2023, a statue of Gervin was unveiled outside the arena, creating a lasting tribute to his legacy. GameAbove’s continued philanthropic support has contributed more than $30 million to EMU, funding athletic programs, facilities, and student-focused initiatives.
The arena has undergone extensive technological and facility upgrades to maintain its status as a premier venue. In October 2022, the center-hung videoboard and LED fascia were retrofitted with 3.9mm technology, a first in collegiate sports, including a four-sided center-hung videoboard, 80 feet of LED tables, 240 feet of LED fascia, and a 1.9mm atrium video wall. The roadside marquee was upgraded to a 6.67mm high-bright outdoor display, making the arena suitable for esports, athletic events, and entertainment.
In addition to audiovisual enhancements, the GameAbove Center has received a wide range of facility improvements across recent fiscal years. These include a weight room renovation, office-level flooring replacement and furniture upgrades, exterior painting and signage updates, and the addition of a lacrosse locker room and rowing training suite with coaches’ offices and a student-athlete lounge. The Hall of Fame was relocated and enhanced, the atrium and concourse refreshed, and the auxiliary gym updated with new equipment and technology. Recent improvements also include the George Gervin statue and plaza, a student-athlete lounge, film room, broadcast studio, concourse Ring of Honor, women’s and volleyball locker room renovations, technology upgrades to videoboards, ribbon boards, and scorer’s tables, competition court replacement, courtside seating upgrades, arena Wi-Fi and 5G, Ben Braun Court dedication, and suite enhancements including furniture, carpeting, paint, countertops, technology, and Dreamseats.
The GameAbove Center has been central to EMU’s athletic success, hosting six Mid-American Conference championships, NCAA tournament games, and professional basketball events, including the 2008 WNBA Eastern Conference Finals and Championship. It has also served as a venue for concerts featuring Bob Seger, Ludacris, Indigo Girls, Jay-Z, and Dave Chappelle, among others. The facility includes offices for EMU coaching staff across multiple sports, athletic training and strength facilities, and administrative offices, providing an integrated environment for athletics, entertainment, and community engagement.
With its extensive renovations and cutting-edge technology, the George Gervin GameAbove Center continues to serve as a versatile, world-class venue for Eastern Michigan University, honoring George Gervin’s legacy while supporting student-athletes, faculty, and the broader Ypsilanti community.
Tale of the Tape
Cost - $29.6 million
Square Feet - 204,316
Seating Capacity (Basketball) - 8,784
Seating Capacity (Other Events) - 9,512
Construction Started: 1996
Dedication: December 12, 1998
Design/Build Team - Barton-Malow Company
Architects - Rossetti Associates of Birmingham/The Argos Group
View a 360-degree Tour of the Facility.
Book an Event at the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The George Gervin GameAbove Center, formerly the Convocation Center, is Eastern Michigan University’s premier multi-purpose athletic and event facility, opened in December 1998. The 204,316-square-foot arena, constructed at a cost of $29.6 million, was developed as part of a broader campus initiative to upgrade EMU’s infrastructure and followed closely after the $41-million Bruce T. Halle Library. Construction began in 1996 under Barton-Malow Company, with Rossetti Associates and The Argos Group serving as architects.
The facility hosts men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and other athletic competitions, as well as commencements, concerts, esports tournaments, trade shows, and community events. The arena seats approximately 8,800 for basketball and up to 9,512 for concerts and center-stage events, with three primary levels including arena, concourse, and office space, maximizing flexibility for event use.
The center was renamed on Dec. 11, 2021, in honor of NBA legend George “Iceman” Gervin, who played at EMU from 1970-72 before embarking on a Hall of Fame professional career. The renaming was made possible through a partnership with GameAbove, which provided $2.7 million in additional funding for technology and facility upgrades. In 2023, a statue of Gervin was unveiled outside the arena, creating a lasting tribute to his legacy. GameAbove’s continued philanthropic support has contributed more than $30 million to EMU, funding athletic programs, facilities, and student-focused initiatives.
The arena has undergone extensive technological and facility upgrades to maintain its status as a premier venue. In October 2022, the center-hung videoboard and LED fascia were retrofitted with 3.9mm technology, a first in collegiate sports, including a four-sided center-hung videoboard, 80 feet of LED tables, 240 feet of LED fascia, and a 1.9mm atrium video wall. The roadside marquee was upgraded to a 6.67mm high-bright outdoor display, making the arena suitable for esports, athletic events, and entertainment.
In addition to audiovisual enhancements, the GameAbove Center has received a wide range of facility improvements across recent fiscal years. These include a weight room renovation, office-level flooring replacement and furniture upgrades, exterior painting and signage updates, and the addition of a lacrosse locker room and rowing training suite with coaches’ offices and a student-athlete lounge. The Hall of Fame was relocated and enhanced, the atrium and concourse refreshed, and the auxiliary gym updated with new equipment and technology. Recent improvements also include the George Gervin statue and plaza, a student-athlete lounge, film room, broadcast studio, concourse Ring of Honor, women’s and volleyball locker room renovations, technology upgrades to videoboards, ribbon boards, and scorer’s tables, competition court replacement, courtside seating upgrades, arena Wi-Fi and 5G, Ben Braun Court dedication, and suite enhancements including furniture, carpeting, paint, countertops, technology, and Dreamseats.
The GameAbove Center has been central to EMU’s athletic success, hosting six Mid-American Conference championships, NCAA tournament games, and professional basketball events, including the 2008 WNBA Eastern Conference Finals and Championship. It has also served as a venue for concerts featuring Bob Seger, Ludacris, Indigo Girls, Jay-Z, and Dave Chappelle, among others. The facility includes offices for EMU coaching staff across multiple sports, athletic training and strength facilities, and administrative offices, providing an integrated environment for athletics, entertainment, and community engagement.
With its extensive renovations and cutting-edge technology, the George Gervin GameAbove Center continues to serve as a versatile, world-class venue for Eastern Michigan University, honoring George Gervin’s legacy while supporting student-athletes, faculty, and the broader Ypsilanti community.
Tale of the Tape
Cost - $29.6 million
Square Feet - 204,316
Seating Capacity (Basketball) - 8,784
Seating Capacity (Other Events) - 9,512
Construction Started: 1996
Dedication: December 12, 1998
Design/Build Team - Barton-Malow Company
Architects - Rossetti Associates of Birmingham/The Argos Group
Bringing the Energy! Thank You to the Crowd vs. No. 21 Miami
Wednesday, February 25
Addison Patterson Dunk vs. Akron
Wednesday, February 04
Cinematic Recap: Jan. 24 Basketball Doubleheader
Saturday, January 24
Thank You from EMU Men's Basketball!
Monday, December 01
