On a daily basis, the new $13.5 million O'Reilly Family Event Center on the Drury University campus moves further away from being a mere dream and speeds closer to becoming a reality.
Scores of existing Drury basketball boosters already have taken advantage of guided tours of the new home for the Panthers and Lady Panthers as it steams toward the October grand opening, as the excitement and anticipation among not just the DU fans - but the students, faculty and staff on campus as well - soars with each passing day.
Seats nearly fill the arena with a capacity of 3,100-plus, the scoreboard and video boards are in place and - for those long-time fans from the Weiser Gym days who've asked - the air condition blows strong and cold!
Work continues on the suites, the banquet facility, the Cox Health athletic training facility downstairs and the adminstrative offices nearby, as well as the plush locker rooms that will hold Drury basketball and volleyball teams expecting big things this fall and winter.
For those who haven't been able to make it over for a tour, we've attached a photo gallery of the O'Reilly Family Event Center as of Monday, June 28, and will add photo updates every two weeks as we head down the backstretch toward opening one of the premiere NCAA Division II facilities in the country.
The Drury volleyball Panthers will play their first-ever match in the O'Reilly Center when they play host to Missouri Science and Technology on Friday, October 8 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, one of three home matches for Coach Ashleigh Shear's squad in the new arena this season. Details will be released soon on the basketball Panthers and Lady Panthers early appearances in the OFEC, including a "meet the teams" event in October and an exciting and historic men's/women's, regular season-opening doubleheader in mid-November.
Current season ticket-holders who have not yet viewed the arena and want to reserve their seats for the exciting 2010-11 inaugural season in the OFEC can call Barb Cowherd, Drury's Associate Athletic Director, at (417) 873-7363 or email her at bcowherd@drury.edu.
Those interested in purchasing new season tickets may contact Myra Miller, the Director of the O'Reilly Family Event Center, at (417) 873-6381 or by e-mail at mmiller1@drury.edu.
O'REILLY FAMILY EVENT CENTER PHOTO GALLERY (6-28-10)