Murray State University Athletics
Gene W. Ray Center
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Gallery I Facilities Home Page I Men's Basketball Home Page I Women's Basketball Home Page
Gene W. Ray Center. ......................................................................................................................................................
The Gene W. Ray Center for Racer Basketball opened Feb. 26, 2013.
Through the generous gifts of Dr. Ray and his wife Taffin, the Morgan and Suiter families, Jim Thomas and his daughter Beth Williams, Proud To Be A Racer Publications and CFSB, the project became a reality at about a year after ground was broken. The new facility will be a great resource for the women's and men's Murray State basketball programs. The Ray Center is a spacious facility that is first-class in every way with comfortable office space and a full-size basketball court and six baskets.
Adjacent to the CFSB Center where the Racers have played their home games since 1998, the Ray Center has inside entrances from the CFSB Center from both locker rooms and the athletic training room. Visible from highway 121 that runs the north side of the building, there is also a front entrance on the east side with a comfortable lobby area leading to each team's office suites. Total space in the facility measures 180,000 square feet and features an open feel with ground-to-ceiling windows along the entire front of the building. The court area was also designed to let natural light filter in.
The Murray State Hall of Champions will also be housed in the Ray Center. The Hall of Champions will be a central location to showcase and honor the members of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Pinnacle, Inc. (Benton, Ky.) was the general contractor for the project. Dennis W. Smith is the President of Pinnacle and Craig Schwettman is vice president. MSU Chief Facilities Officer Kim Oatman, and Assistant Director David Brickeen served in their role for Murray State. The architectural firm of Hastings and Chivetta of St. Louis., Mo. designed the building.
