Benjamin Johnson Arena

When the campus community bid farewell to the Benjamin Johnson Arena as the home of Wofford basketball and volleyball in 2017, it created new possibilities for student recreation and wellness. The renovated Benjamin Johnson Arena student fitness center opened in January of 2018.

“The Benjamin Johnson Arena, which opened in 1981, holds a lot of history for Wofford College, and we’re glad we are able to continue to use the facility as a larger, better fitness center for our students, faculty and staff,” President Nayef Samhat says. “The addition of the new Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium provides us with this terrific opportunity to give our community a place in the Benjamin Johnson Arena to exercise both their bodies and their minds.”

The lower level of the arena (once basketball and volleyball courts and bleachers) houses a new multi-sport playing surface with three courts. A walking track surrounds the perimeter of the courts. The locker rooms were completely renovated. The concourse areas have become the new student fitness center with the installation of a variety of equipment and machines.

The east concourse has weight equipment, including free weights, benches and machines. The other concourse has cardio equipment, including treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines. The concourses also have open locker storage and new audio-visual equipment.

In addition to the fitness activities, Benjamin Johnson Arena is home of a comprehensive intramural, recreation, and club sports programs that encompass team sports, individual sports, fitness classes, club sports, as well as various other programs. Highlights include intramural basketball and softball, equestrian club, men’s club lacrosse, club ultimate frisbee and an outdoors club.

The arena is named after Benjamin O. Johnson ’30 who was a Spartanburg textile executive associated with Spartan Mills. Mr. Johnson was also a trustee of Wofford College as well as a benefactor. Wofford moved into the Benjamin Johnson Arena in 1981 after playing in adjacent Andrews Field House for 50 years. The $4.5 million arena is part of the Campus Life Building, which was designed to serve as the center of athletic, social and cultural activity on campus.

The first men’s basketball contest was held on January 22, 1981, as The Citadel scored a 65-64 win over Wofford. The Terriers first win in the arena was on January 26, 1981. The men had an overall record of 334-131 in 37 seasons in the facility.

The Wofford women’s basketball team fielded its first varsity team in the 1980-81 season, moving into Benjamin Johnson Arena in 1981 after playing in Andrews Fieldhouse for the first half of the season. The first women’s basketball game was held on January 22, 1981, with Wofford defeating Sacred Heart 74-25.