Editing Gallagher-Iba Arena (section)

==The modern Gallagher-Iba==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:OSU Spirit Rider 4.JPG|thumb|right|OSU [[Bullet (mascot)|Spirit Rider]] in front of Gallagher-Iba Arena]] -->

In the 1990s, Oklahoma State was in desperate need of a larger basketball arena. Instead of building a new arena off campus, the decision was made to expand Gallagher-Iba Arena from a modest 6,381 seats to its current 13,611 seats. The structure of the new Gallagher-Iba Arena was built around the old arena during the basketball season to allow games to be played; essentially the new Athletics Center encapsulated the old gym. Once the exterior was nearly completed, the roof of the old arena was dismantled. The old sightlines and the original white maple floor were kept (it remains the oldest original basketball court floor still in use). The expansion, completed in time for the 2000 Cowboy basketball season, cost $55 million and was designed by [https://web.archive.org/web/20060529182744/http://www.sparks-aei.com/ Gary Sparks] and built by Manhattan Construction. The Cowboys opened the new Gallagher-Iba Arena with a 70–60 victory over the [[University of Arkansas at Little Rock|Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans]].

Gallagher-Iba Arena was named the best college gymnasium by [[CBSSports.com|CBS SportsLine.com]] in August 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cameron Indoor Stadium is Great, but the Best in the Land Is... |first=Dan |last=Wetzel |url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/b/page/pressbox/0,1328,4165358,00.html |work=[[CBS Sports]] |date=August 7, 2001 |access-date=April 8, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310233645/http://cbs.sportsline.com/b/page/pressbox/0%2C1328%2C4165358%2C00.html |archive-date=March 10, 2007 }}</ref>

On January 15, 2005, the court was officially named after [[Eddie Sutton]] as '''Eddie Sutton Court'''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores105/105015/20050115NCAABOKLAST----0nr.htm|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=March 10, 2004|access-date=April 22, 2008}}</ref>

On March 4, 2005, ESPNU held its debut, which was simulcast on ESPN2, at Gallagher-Iba Arena. To commemorate the event, [[3 doors down|3 Doors Down]] provided a free concert at the arena.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top-Selling Band 3 Doors Down to Perform at ESPNU Launch Pep Rally Friday|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_March_2/ai_n11838523|publisher=Business Wire|date=March 2, 2005|access-date=April 9, 2006}}</ref> The OSU Basketball team and coaches, including Eddie Sutton, were present at the event.

On January 12, 2008, Gallagher-Iba played host to the highest attended women's sporting event in the state of Oklahoma 13,611<ref>{{cite news |title=Ride 'Em, Cowgirl Riley Scores 45 Points as Cowgirls Fulfill Promise to Fans, End Bedlam Skid in Front of Record Crowd|first=John|last=Helsley|url=http://newsok.com/article/3192287/1200204585|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]]|location=Oklahoma City|date=January 13, 2008|access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref> (a sellout) as the OSU Cowgirls beat the Oklahoma Sooners in basketball 82–63.

Along with the expansion of the historic arena, the new Athletics Center has many features. A total of 14 luxury suites stretch across the west side of the facility, overlooking both the basketball court and the football field. Banners signifying the success of Oklahoma State Athletics are hung from the rafters, as well as a banner commemorating the loss of 10 members of the OSU basketball family when they were killed in a plane crash in Colorado and a banner commemorating the 4, including the women's basketball team coaches, who died in a plane crash over Arkansas in 2011. The pride of OSU athletic triumphs are also illustrated in photographic and trophy displays in "Heritage Hall", the west first floor hallway.

In the southeast concourse, two seats are permanently reserved for the arena's namesakes.