Half Acre Gym
RECORDS & HISTORY
OWBOYS Half Acre Gym (1924-25 through 1950-51) Construction of the Half Acre Gym began in 1923, at a cost of $150,000. Considered a massive facility, the gym was appoximately one-half acre in size, and the largest and most modern facility of the time between Syracuse University and California, according to a Branding Iron article from 1924. Half Acre had a capacity of over 4,000, nearly four times the size of the Little Red Gym. The Half Acre Gym was officially dedicated on January 23, 1925, when Wyoming beat Utah 31-29 in an overtime game.
A game in Half Acre Gym between Wyoming and Utah.
HISTORY ARENAS
The gym was also used by fans during away games. Play-byplay action was posted on the “Grid Board”, a grid-graph setup on the floor that flashed action by way of telegraph messages from a signal sent by the Western Union Telegraph Company. Crowds of 1,000 or more were reported to attend these events. Dubbed “Hell’s Half Acre” because of the difficulty for opponents to win there, Wyoming played eight perfect seasons in this gym. Coach Everett F. Shelton had three undefeated home seasons in a row in 1941, 1942 and 1943. Other spotless years were 1929, 1930, 1933, 1934 and 1947. In 26 seasons from January of 1925 to March of 1951, the Pokes won 222 games, losing only 44 in the Half Acre Gym.
The interior of Half Acre Gym, 1947.
“In those days Half Acre was the largest facilit y in the area. It was a good floor to play and dribble on, even compared to some of the largest arenas in the country. There was lots of room under the baskets so that I could finish my drives and not run into a wall like at some other gyms. Hellʻs Half Acre was a great place to play. “We bussed in folks from all over the state for games in that gym. Sometimes there were so many fans that there was no place to put them. Fans were hanging from the raf ters. Since they came from so far away UW officials squeezed in as many as they could and then put the rest in other buildings on campus so they could follow the games from there.”
— KENNY SAILORS
Halftime of a Wyoming/Utah game in Half Acre Gym, circa 1930.
UW Hall of Fame member, All-American, 1942-43, 1946, NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player and College Basketball Player of the Year, 1943
119
C O W B O Y S
OWBOYS Half Acre Gym (1924-25 through 1950-51) Construction of the Half Acre Gym began in 1923, at a cost of $150,000. Considered a massive facility, the gym was appoximately one-half acre in size, and the largest and most modern facility of the time between Syracuse University and California, according to a Branding Iron article from 1924. Half Acre had a capacity of over 4,000, nearly four times the size of the Little Red Gym. The Half Acre Gym was officially dedicated on January 23, 1925, when Wyoming beat Utah 31-29 in an overtime game.
A game in Half Acre Gym between Wyoming and Utah.
HISTORY ARENAS
The gym was also used by fans during away games. Play-byplay action was posted on the “Grid Board”, a grid-graph setup on the floor that flashed action by way of telegraph messages from a signal sent by the Western Union Telegraph Company. Crowds of 1,000 or more were reported to attend these events. Dubbed “Hell’s Half Acre” because of the difficulty for opponents to win there, Wyoming played eight perfect seasons in this gym. Coach Everett F. Shelton had three undefeated home seasons in a row in 1941, 1942 and 1943. Other spotless years were 1929, 1930, 1933, 1934 and 1947. In 26 seasons from January of 1925 to March of 1951, the Pokes won 222 games, losing only 44 in the Half Acre Gym.
The interior of Half Acre Gym, 1947.
“In those days Half Acre was the largest facilit y in the area. It was a good floor to play and dribble on, even compared to some of the largest arenas in the country. There was lots of room under the baskets so that I could finish my drives and not run into a wall like at some other gyms. Hellʻs Half Acre was a great place to play. “We bussed in folks from all over the state for games in that gym. Sometimes there were so many fans that there was no place to put them. Fans were hanging from the raf ters. Since they came from so far away UW officials squeezed in as many as they could and then put the rest in other buildings on campus so they could follow the games from there.”
— KENNY SAILORS
Halftime of a Wyoming/Utah game in Half Acre Gym, circa 1930.
UW Hall of Fame member, All-American, 1942-43, 1946, NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player and College Basketball Player of the Year, 1943
119
C O W B O Y S
