The Robert A. Mott Athletics Center (formerly Mott Gym) is a 3,032-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.
- Venue
- Robert A. Mott Athletics Center
- Town
- California, US
- Capacity
- 3,032
The Robert A. Mott Athletics Center (formerly Mott Gym) is a 3,032-seat, indoor multi-purpose arena on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. With Cal Poly officials looking for a larger alternative to the previously used Crandall Gym on campus, construction for the new multi-purpose arena was well underway by April 1959. The complex's cost totaled a reported $2 million as of September 1959 (covering not only the gym itself but also surrounding practice courts and a field), with construction contracted to Maino Construction Company of San Luis Obispo. (In years since, the surrounding practice surfaces have been remade into a parking garage, a beach volleyball court and a recreation center.) Costs ultimately totaled $2.2 million by the time of the complex's opening in January 1960. The arena officially opened on January 15, 1960 for a game between the Cal Poly men's basketball team and San Diego State. The gym was named after Robert A. Mott (at the time referred to as "Mott Gym") on September 24, 1988. Mott had been a physical education faculty member and department head at Cal Poly between 1946-1978. Following an elevation to Division I of the NCAA, the Cal Poly men's basketball team saw its attendance jump from an average of 926 fans in 1994-95 to 2,901 spectators by 1996-97, coinciding with season ticket sales skyrocketing from 36 in 1995-96 to 1,140 by 1997-98, prompting designs for a $1.2 million renovation to the building's seating. Soon after, the facility underwent major renovations beginning in the summer of 1998 by local construction firm Santa Margarita Construction Corp. The seating was completely redone and arena-style chairbacks were added to Mott Athletics Center in addition to upgraded heating and ventilation systems. On January 9, 1999, the first nationally televised game at Mott Athletics Center took place, as ESPN2 carried a game between Cal Poly and Idaho. Several games have since been broadcast regio