The home debut of the Badgers men's hockey against Robert-Morris Friday will kick off the 10th season anniversary of the Kohl Center.
Both men's and women's basketball teams used to play in the Field House prior to the Kohl Center,"" said John Chadima, associate assistant director for facilities and operations.
Chadima said men's and women's hockey played at the Alliant Energy Center, previously called the Dane County Coliseum, before the Kohl Center was built.
Home to UW-Madison's basketball and hockey teams, the building, named for 1956 UW-Madison graduate Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., opened Jan. 17, 1998.
Vince Sweeney, senior associate athletic director for external relations, said plans for a new facility were discussed for many years before Kohl announced a $25 million gift toward the construction.
""The first time I went to the Kohl Center was the first year it opened, and [my husband and I] went to a basketball game,"" said Stephanie Pusch, a UW-Madison 1993 graduate. ""It was just fantastic, and we were jealous.""
She said she had trouble seeing previous games at the Coliseum and Field House.
""The first time I went to the Kohl Center it was really cool because you could sit anywhere in that place and see perfectly.""
According to Sweeney, the upper two levels of the Kohl Center were built as close as possible to the rink or court.
""I think that's a distinction that probably sets it apart from some of the other facilities that house both hockey and basketball,"" Sweeney said.
He said an athletics facilities master plan has been completed to review athletic building projects in the next 20 years, which includes an indoor ice facility near the Kohl Center.
""[The indoor rink] would permit our men's and women's hockey teams to practice there, free up the Kohl Center for basketball practices, avoid some scheduling conflicts and also provide a home facility for our women's hockey team,"" Sweeney said.
The UW Athletic Department is planning events to celebrate the 10th anniversary this season, according to a preliminary event proposal. The event includes possible poster giveaways, website exclusives, video highlights and a celebration at the women's basketball game Jan. 17, 2008.
""I can't believe it's been 10 years,"" Pusch said. ""It still seems new to me when I go there.
