Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons has made a donation of $25 million to help fund a new basketball arena for Missouri St. University. The total cost of the project will cost $60-million and will be additionally funded by other donations and bonds.
The facility, which will be called JQH Arena, will seat around 12,500 fans and will be located just east of the current home of the men and women’s basketball teams, the Hammons Student Center. The HSC opened in time for the 1976-1977 basketball season and seats 8,846. Construction will begin this fall and the arena is expected to be ready in time for the 2008-2009 basketball season. The men and women’s basketball teams will play at the arena.
Hammons is no stranger to funding athletic facilities in the Springfield area. His name adorns the current basketball and volleyball arena and their baseball stadium, which is also used by the Springfield Cardinals.
The $25 million is the largest donation of any kind to Missouri St. University.