Stadium Information

thomas

assembly center

The Thomas Assembly Center recently experienced its 40th season of basketball as it has been home to the Louisiana Tech Bulldog and Lady Techster basketball teams since it opened in November of 1982. It has also served as the home arena for the Lady Techster volleyball program since the program’s inception in 1987. The 8,000-seat Thomas Assembly Center received a new state-of-the-art Maplewood floor in the summer of 2007 thanks to the generous donation of Bulldog legend Karl Malone. Aptly named Karl Malone Court, the hardwood is made of the same material that all NBA practice facilities boast. In the summer of 2021, the court was given a new design (the fifth one in the TAC’s history and the first since 2013). Some of the details of the one-tone, light-colored floor include Bulldogs and Lady Techsters wording along the baselines, as well as implementation of website and social media handles on the sideline. In a continuing effort to improve the game-day atmosphere, a high definition video display board -- known as Paul Millsap Vision presented by Origin Bank -- was installed by Daktronics in the fall of 2013. The $1.2 million project also included four LED center hung video displays (7.3 by 11.4), two LED ribbon board displays (2 x 45.8 and 2 x 61.4), four new corner courtside displays (2 video displays, 2 standard scoreboard displays with messaging centers), a customized sound system and a video board control room which is utilized for both basketball and football. Prior to the 2020-21 season, LED lighting was installed inside and outside the arena as well as several renovation updates to locker rooms and coach’s offices. For 40 years, the Thomas Assembly Center has continually proven to be one of the toughest arenas in the country for opposing collegiate basketball teams to play in on both the men’s and women’s sides. The nationally-renowned Lady Techster basketball program has dominated their opposition for three-plus decades in the TAC, winning an amazing 84 percent of their games while posting a mark of 504-96 (500th win came on Feb. 5, 2022 versus FIU). The win-loss record is ranked in the top five in all of Division I women’s basketball. It has been home to 25 NCAA Tournament teams, the 1988 National Champion, 16 Kodak All-Americans and the winningest coach in the history of the game in Hall of Famer Leon Barmore. During the course of the program’s history in the TAC, the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters have put together some incredible winning streaks including: - winning 161 straight games vs. unranked opponents (starting with a 79-66 win over Western Kentucky in 1991-92 and ending with a 71-65 overtime loss to Illinois in 2004-05) - winning 114 straight regular season conference games (starting with a 79-66 win over Western Kentucky in 1991-92 and ending with a 68-47 loss to Boise State in 2006-07) The Lady Techsters have also boasted some of the top attendance numbers in the nation during their times, including 15 crowds of more than 7,000 and eight crowds of more than 8,000. On numerous occasions the Lady Techsters have ranked among the nation’s Top 40 in home attendance, including a program record 5,330 in 1982-83.