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The North Gymnasium, featuring a seating capacity of 1,551, serves as the home for the Fresno State women's volleyball and wrestling teams. In addition to serving as the practice facility for men's and women's basketball, the North Gym houses classrooms and offices for several staff members and coaches for both the athletics and physical education departments as well as a complete athletics training, rehabilitation and treatment center and a 25-yard indoor swimming pool.
In 1995, the North Gym underwent a $2 million facelift that saw significant improvements for everyone involved with the facility. The changes included the installation of more than 350 chairback seats, air conditioning in the gymnasium, two electronic digital scoreboards and the construction of the North Gym Annex. Located on the north side of the gym, the annex was completed in 1995 and boasts women's locker rooms for volleyball, softball, basketball, tennis and track and field. It also includes a coaches locker room and a multi-purpose/conference room.
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Prior to playing in the North Gym, the Bulldogs competed in the 800-seat South Gymnasium. But an extensive 1987 summer renovation project costing approximately $200,000 made the change in home courts possible. The project included: 1) the replacement of floor-level bleachers with motorized, roll-out bleachers; 2) installation of a new lighting system, featuring 65 metal halide lights at 400 watts each; 3) a white color repainting of the gym; 4) new acoustical tiles over the existing windows; 5) sanding and repainting the floor; and 6) the creation of additional press row seating and services.
The North Gym, originally known as the Fresno State College Gym, saw its first official competition on Jan. 16, 1953, when the Bulldog men's basketball team hosted Pepperdine, a game won by Pepperdine, 85-71. The $1 million facility wasn't officially occupied until the fall semester of that same year. It was the first gymnasium in the history of Fresno State and served as the home court for men's basketball until the 1967-68 season when the Bulldogs moved downtown to Selland Arena.
The attendance record for a women's basketball game in the North Gym is 1,411, established Jan. 20, 2001, when Fresno State took on Nevada. In that game, the Bulldogs defeated the Wolf Pack 60-51.
