UNC Charlotte 49ers at Dale F. Halton Arena
The 49ers represent the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) in NCAA Division I basketball. The team plays their home games at Dale F. Halton Arena (capacity 9,105) inside Barnhardt Student Activity Center, commonly referred to by students as “The SAC.” The arena, primarily reserved for volleyball, basketball and commencement ceremonies, opened on December 2, 1996, when the men's basketball team defeated Appalachian State in a non-conference game. The arena has seen numerous upgrades through the years, and now boasts the LED courtside displays used at the 2008 Final Four from the NCAA. The arena is notable for its beautiful clock tower, which holds the ticket office and ticket booths. In 2016, the school purchased and installed a brand-new $900,000 scoreboard for the Halton Arena. In 2018, Ron Sanchez became the 11th head coach in the history of the men’s basketball program.
UNC Charlotte 49ers Background
The UNC Charlotte 49ers first began competing in Division I games in 1970, quickly solidifying themselves as a formidable program. The 49ers joined the Sun Belt Conference in 1976, and the team made it all the way to the Final Four that same season, resulting in one of the most successful postseason runs for a first-time participant in the NCAA Tournament. After the 1994-1995 season, the 49ers joined Conference USA, where they stayed until a departure to the Atlantic 10 from 2005-06 to 2012-13. At the end of the 2013 season, they returned to Conference USA, where they have remained since. The 49ers have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 11 times, and they’ve retired eight jerseys, including that of Cedric Maxwell, who was a key player for the Boston Celtics championship teams in 1981 and 1984.
