Opened in January of 1983, the building seats 15,500 for basketball. Capacity crowds have been the rule rather than the exception at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa played 60 consecutive home games in front of sellout crowds. The single game record of 15,570 was set against Indiana in 1987. The multi-purpose facility also serves as home to Hawkeye wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball and has been the site of numerous concerts, commencements, sports camps and other events.
Fans enjoy an unobstructed view from each of the theatre seats.
The building won a design award from the American Institute of Architects in 1984. In a poll of 70 members of the media Carver-Hawkeye Arena was voted as the top arena in the Big Ten. The Iowa pep band and the media section in Carver-Hawkeye were also voted best in the league. Named for the late Roy Carver, a long-time supporter of the University, the building has 20,000 square feet of floor space when the lower level seats are retracted. The 42 rows of seating are divided in 28 lettered sections.