IU Indianapolis begins construction on $110M James T. Morris Arena

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — IU Indianapolis is breaking ground on the new James T. Morris Arena, a $110 million multi-use athletic center for the university and the community. 

The new facility will house a basketball and volleyball court with 4,500 seats, a multipurpose arena with an auxiliary gym, and a community gathering space. 

Part of the seating inside will be retractable for college events, high school sports, and recreational activities. 

“We always want our athletes to have a legitimate Division I experience, and having a nice gym on campus to compete with the rest of the Horizon League will be nice and bring good things to our campus,” IU Indy Athletic Director Luke Bosso said.

16,000-square-feet of office space will be built for IU Indianapolis Athletics and select national sport governing bodies, like USA Track and Field. 

The facility will be on the IU Campus just south of the Sidney and Lois Eskenzai Hall, which is home to the Herron School of Art and Design and just north of the NCAA Headquarters.

IU Indianapolis is putting $21 million into the construction, while the other $89 million is funded through state appropriations.

The arena’s ground breaking is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Feb. 19. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2026.