UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
	Interactive map of UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
Former names	A.J. Palumbo Center (1988–2021)
Location	600 Forbes Avenue; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282
Coordinates	40°26′15″N 79°59′16″W / 40.4374°N 79.9879°W
Owner	Duquesne University
Operator	Duquesne University
Capacity	3,500
Surface	Hardwood
Construction
Opened	1988
Renovated	2006; 2010–2011; 2019–2021
Architect	DRS Architects
Tenants
	Duquesne Dukes (NCAA) (1988–present); Pittsburgh Piranhas (CBA) (1994–1995)

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is a 3,500-seat multipurpose arena on the campus of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally opened in 1988 as the A.J. Palumbo Center, it is the home venue of the men's and women's basketball teams and the university's women's volleyball program.^[3] Following a major renovation from 2019 to 2021, the arena was renamed for Duquesne alumnus and Basketball Hall of Famer Chuck Cooper, the first African American selected in an NBA draft.^[4]

History

A.J. Palumbo Center

Construction of the A.J. Palumbo Center began in 1986, and the arena opened in 1988.^[5] It was named for businessman and Duquesne benefactor Antonio J. Palumbo. The arena gave the university an on-campus home for its basketball programs, which had previously played extensively at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena and other venues around the city.

Duquesne undertook a $2 million renovation of the Palumbo Center in 2006, adding new basketball offices, training and conditioning areas, a recruiting suite, and video facilities. A second phase completed in 2010 added chairback seating and new video and scoreboard systems, reducing basketball capacity from 5,358 to 4,406. Locker rooms for men's and women's basketball and volleyball were subsequently renovated as the Janice and James Schaming Athletic Center.^[6]^[7]

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse

In October 2018, Duquesne announced a $45 million renovation and expansion of the Palumbo Center. The project began in March 2019 and included a new exterior façade, wider concourses, premium seating, practice facilities, and expanded athletic training and academic-support spaces.^[4] The interior of the existing arena was extensively rebuilt while retaining portions of the original structure.^[8]

The renovated facility opened on February 2, 2021, after a 22-month project. Its first event was a men's basketball game against Dayton, which Duquesne won 69–64.^[9]

The new name recognizes Chuck Cooper, who played for Duquesne from 1947 to 1950 before becoming the first African American selected in the NBA draft. The A.J. Palumbo name was retained for the arena's main atrium.^[3]

Facilities

The fieldhouse has 3,500 permanent seats, with standing areas allowing attendance of more than 4,200. It contains six suites, 55 club-level seats, two high-definition video boards, and four lower-level ribbon boards.^[10]

The facility also houses the Folino Sports Performance Center, which contains approximately 10,000 sq ft (930 m²) of training, performance, and nutrition space, and the Joe and Kathy Guyaux Player Development Center, which contains two regulation-size practice basketball courts. Other spaces include the Gilliand Pavilion, the Duquesne Sports Hall of Fame, and academic-support facilities for student-athletes.^[3]

Sports

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is the home arena for Duquesne men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball.^[3] The men's basketball team played its first game in the original Palumbo Center on December 3, 1988, defeating Saint Joseph's 73–69.

The arena was also home to the Pittsburgh Piranhas of the Continental Basketball Association during the 1994–95 season. The Piranhas reached the CBA championship series before losing to the Yakima Sun Kings.^[11]

While the Cooper Fieldhouse renovation was underway, Duquesne played home games at the UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris University, PPG Paints Arena, and the Kerr Fitness Center at La Roche University.^[1]

Other events

During the Palumbo Center era, the arena was also used for concerts and other university and public events. It became a prominent mid-sized Pittsburgh concert venue during the late 1980s and 1990s and hosted performers including Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, and Elvis Costello.^[12]

References

1 2 Wilborn, Nubyjas (January 29, 2021). "Duquesne to debut new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse against Dayton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "AJ Palumbo Center Renovation Project Tour". DRS Architects. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
1 2 3 4 "UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse". Duquesne University Athletics. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
1 2 "Duquesne's A.J. Palumbo Center getting $45 million makeover". NBC Sports. Associated Press. October 23, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ Armstrong, Sean (October 26, 2017). "Palumbo Center's history as a concert hotspot". The Duquesne Duke. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "A.J. Palumbo Center To Receive Facelift". Duquesne University Athletics. May 12, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "Duquesne Announces Plans for the Janice and James Schaming Athletic Center". Duquesne University Athletics. December 21, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "KDKA Exclusive: Duquesne University To Announce $45 Million Palumbo Center Overhaul". CBS Pittsburgh. October 22, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Set to Open February 2". Duquesne University Athletics. January 28, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "UPMC Cooper Field House Unveiled". DRS Architects. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ "Piranhas make Palumbo Center their home". The Duquesne Duke. November 17, 1994. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
↑ Armstrong, Sean (October 26, 2017). "Palumbo Center's history as a concert hotspot". The Duquesne Duke. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

External links

Official website

[PG2021-1] 1 2 Wilborn, Nubyjas (January 29, 2021). "Duquesne to debut new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse against Dayton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[2] "AJ Palumbo Center Renovation Project Tour". DRS Architects. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[facility-3] 1 2 3 4 "UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse". Duquesne University Athletics. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[renovation-4] 1 2 "Duquesne's A.J. Palumbo Center getting $45 million makeover". NBC Sports. Associated Press. October 23, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[5] Armstrong, Sean (October 26, 2017). "Palumbo Center's history as a concert hotspot". The Duquesne Duke. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[6] "A.J. Palumbo Center To Receive Facelift". Duquesne University Athletics. May 12, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[7] "Duquesne Announces Plans for the Janice and James Schaming Athletic Center". Duquesne University Athletics. December 21, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[8] "KDKA Exclusive: Duquesne University To Announce $45 Million Palumbo Center Overhaul". CBS Pittsburgh. October 22, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[9] "UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Set to Open February 2". Duquesne University Athletics. January 28, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[10] "UPMC Cooper Field House Unveiled". DRS Architects. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[11] "Piranhas make Palumbo Center their home". The Duquesne Duke. November 17, 1994. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

[12] Armstrong, Sean (October 26, 2017). "Palumbo Center's history as a concert hotspot". The Duquesne Duke. Retrieved August 7, 2026.

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v t e Duquesne Dukes men's basketball
Venues	Duquesne Gardens (1914–1956) Fitzgerald Field House (1956–1957, 1963–1964) Pittsburgh Civic Arena (1964–1988) UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse (1988–present)
Rivalries	Pittsburgh
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26
NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

v t e Duquesne Dukes women's basketball
Venues	Campus Gymnasium (1973–1984) Pittsburgh Civic Arena (1984–1988) UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse (1988–present)
Rivalries	Pittsburgh
Culture & lore	History
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26

A page that knows where it met you.

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse

History

A.J. Palumbo Center

UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse

Facilities

Sports

Other events

See also

References

External links