History
Paramount to the success of an intercollegiate program is a first-class facility, and the Tigers have just that in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
For 42 years the “PMAC” has been home to some of the finest gymnastics competitions in the nation, and LSU has been nearly unbeatable in the facility as the Tigers have earned a 267-55-3 record since the program first started in 1975 for a winning percentage of 83 percent. The Tigers finished 5-0 inside the Maravich Center in 2016, including a victory over eventual national champion Oklahoma. The Tigers are 21-0 at home over the last three seasons.
The Maravich Center has served as the host site for three SEC Championships and nine NCAA Regional Championships, the last of which came in 2014.
Tiger fans have come out in droves to the Maravich Center to watch LSU gymnastics. The 2016 season was no different as LSU shattered the home attendance record for the fourth-straight season as an average of 9,906 fans attended each meet. Three of the Top-5 most-attended meets took place in 2016, including the No. 1 most-attended meet.
A school-record 13,296 fans packed the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 4 to watch LSU defeat Alabama, 197.925-196.225. Another 10,177 fans were in attendance to watch LSU beat Auburn on Feb. 19, and 10,052 fans saw LSU knock off Kentucky on Jan. 22.
All 10 of the most attended meets in the Maravich Center have come in the last four seasons as the Tigers have reached new heights with NCAA Super Six Appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Seating 13,215 spectators, the massive $11.5 million building has competed with neighboring Tiger Stadium as the most visible structure on the LSU campus since its completion in 1971.
Originally named, “The Assembly Center,” in 1988 Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer signed legislation changing the official name of the building to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in honor of the former LSU basketball legend who had died earlier that same year.
The Maravich Center also serves as home to both the LSU men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the volleyball program.
In addition to the normal seating configuration, a proscenium stage can be lowered into place at the north end allowing some 4,500 seats for theatrical productions. An additional 1,000 seats can be placed on the floor for graduations, convocations, lectures, concerts or other special events.
Several renovations have recently been completed to keep the Maravich Center as one of the top facilities in the Southeastern Conference. In 2004, the upper concourse was remodeled to include exhibits, displays and interactive kiosks documenting LSU sports history in the PMAC. In 2008, a new multi-million dollar high definition video replay system was installed in the scoreboard, and in 2006 and again in 2010 new seating was installed to make fans more comfortable and bring them closer to the action.
LSU Gymnastics Practice Facility
In February 2016, the LSU gymnastics program and head coach D-D Breaux officially opening the state-of-the-art gymnastics training facility on campus. At 38,000 square feet, it is a stand-alone facility that contains approximately 18,143 square feet of practice space in the gym area. The practice area features four competition-style beams, three vault runways with various surfaces for landings, four sets of uneven bars and an oversized floor exercise area to ensure safe training.
In addition to the expansive practice area, the facility houses a team locker room, coaches locker rooms, training room, cardio area, dance studio, team squad room, a video review room with theater seating that also serves as the team meeting room, facility equipment storage and laundry area, a multi-purpose room that can host dinners and team functions and a roof-top terrace complete with an outdoor kitchen.
Amenities
- 18,143 square feet of training space
- Private locker room
- Squad meeting room
- Self-contained training areas for each apparatus
- Trench bar
- 3 sets of uneven bars
- Tramp-bar
- Foam pit landing from uneven bars
- Conditioning/Aerobic room