Zorn Arena, along with Brewer Hall, Kjer Theatre, and part of the former Campus School, is set for demolition and redevelopment into green space and pedestrian walkways. The total area involved is approximately 84,000 square feet. Demolition is expected to begin on June 23 at Kjer Theatre, followed by Brewer Hall and Zorn Arena. Completion of the demolition, cleanup, and seeding is planned for September.
Sarah Beer, associate university archivist in McIntyre Library, highlighted the historical significance of Zorn Arena. She noted that when it opened as a fieldhouse in 1952, Schofield Hall was the only permanent academic building on campus. “It symbolized the growing needs of the university and the growth of the university itself,” Beer remarked. The arena underwent name changes from University Arena in 1969 to Willis “Bill” Zorn in 1987 to honor a longtime basketball coach.
Zorn Arena served as a venue for Blugold men’s and women’s basketball until these programs moved to The Sonnentag in 2024. It hosted five men’s basketball coaches over its history, including Hall of Fame Coach Ken Anderson who achieved over 600 wins during his tenure at UW-Eau Claire. Former player Paul Mattiacci recalled the lively atmosphere: “Zorn Arena always was rocking.”
The arena also witnessed significant achievements by four women’s basketball coaches. Under coach Lisa Stone, it hosted the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1994. Current coach Tonja Englund has won more than 350 games there.
Beyond sports, Zorn Arena played a crucial role in both campus and community events. According to Beer, “It gave us the capacity to invite iconic names from across the world to our campus.” Over its history, it hosted more than 150 commencement ceremonies alongside The Forum and Artists Series events featuring notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, and Tony Bennett.
Political rallies at Zorn attracted speeches from future presidents including Richard Nixon and Barack Obama. During COVID-19 in 2021, it functioned as a mass vaccination clinic managed by FEMA for northwest Wisconsin.
