Gates Sports Center - Facilities - Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics

Gates Sports Center

Named in honor of longtime area sportscaster Hilliard Gates, the 68,106 square foot, tri-level facility is located on the northeast end of the Purdue Fort Wayne campus. The historic Hilliard Gates Sports Center is home to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon athletic program. The facility features a multipurpose gymnasium with a 1,800-seat arena and three basketball/volleyball courts, a 1/9-mile indoor tartan-rubber track, two racquetball/handball courts, and a fitness center open to students and public members. Recent updates include a new court in 2024 and an ESPN+ control room.

The first event at the Gates Center was on Nov. 17, 1981, a men's basketball exhibition against an English touring team from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Per a Nov. 12, 1981 Communicator article, the game was played "under international rules, featuring a 30-second clock, dunking at anytime, and a "grab it and go" style of play in which officials do not handle the basketball."

The fitness center includes fitness bikes, treadmills, elliptical cross trainers, stairmasters, rowing machines, and bikes.

Another facility highlight is the strength and conditioning room, which features a Nautilus and Cybex training equipment along with free-weights. Fitness classes, personal training, fitness counseling, and nutrition consulting are available. Appointments for these services can be made at the customer service desk.

Overall Attendance Records
1. 2,246 - Men's Volleyball vs. Ohio State - February 9, 2007
2. 2,210 - Men's Volleyball vs. Long Beach State - January 11, 2002
3. 2,183 - Men's Volleyball vs. Loyola Chicago - April 7, 2006
4. 2,163 - Men's Volleyball vs. Ball State - April 7, 2007
5. 2,147 - Men's Volleyball vs. Stanford - January 27, 2007

Mastodon Men's Basketball Attendance Records
1. 1,919 - vs. North Dakota State - January 24, 2015
2. 1,856 - vs. South Dakota State - January 28, 2012
3. 1,839 - vs. Denver - January 26, 2019
4. 1,832 - vs. Omaha - February 20, 2016
5. 1,832 - vs. Omaha - February 11, 2017

Mastodon Women's Basketball Attendance Records
1. 1,827 - vs. Toledo - January 19, 2002
2. 1,801 - vs. Indiana - December 10, 2006
3. 1,536 - vs. Denver - January 26, 2019
4. 1,438 - vs. Bowling Green - November 19, 2004
5. 1,360 - vs. UIC - Nov. 7, 2019

Mastodon Men's Volleyball Attendance Records
1. 2,246 - vs. Ohio State - February 9, 2007
2. 2,210 - vs. Long Beach State - January 11, 2002
3. 2,183 - vs. Loyola Chicago - April 7, 2006
4. 2,163 - vs. Ball State - April 7, 2007
5. 2,147 - vs. Stanford - January 27, 2007

Mastodon Women's Volleyball Attendance Records
1. 1,017 - vs. IUPUI - November 3, 2006
2. 1,001 - vs. Ball State - September 17, 2014
3. 784 - vs. IUPUI - November 9, 2013
4. 762 - vs. Youngstown State - October 6, 2023
5. 737 - vs. Eastern Michigan - October 18, 2005