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Informative Speech
February 26th, 2015
Allen Fieldhouse
Purpose Statement: The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience on the impact Allen Fieldhouse has had on the history of basketball.
Introduction
I. Allen Fieldhouse is home to The University of Kansas’ men and women basketball teams and a place of homage for students.
a. The Fieldhouse has been nationally recognized as one of the greatest places in the country to witness college basketball.
b. For many, including myself, entering the Fieldhouse is a religious experience of sorts, one that really is unique to college athletics.
II. Construction of the building began in 1952 and took three years as there were many quirky holdups along the way.
III. The Fieldhouse is now 60 years old and over that period some of the greatest basketball teams and players have graced its hardwood court.
IV. The Fieldhouse stands out among other historic college basketball arenas as many of the top sport media outlets and sports writers have coined it the one of the most significant home court advantage in sports history.
V. Today I will introduce you to the History of the Fieldhouse itself, the players that have competed in the arena, and why it has been called one of the greatest home court advantages in sports.

Transition: Let’s begin with how the arena came to exist.

Body
I. In the late 1920’s the KU men’s basketball coach, Phog Allen after winning two national championships that decade, began lobbying for an arena to replace the severely insufficient Hoch Auditorium.
a. Hoch, which is now a lecture hall on campus, only seated 3,800 and could not support the student body which according to the University of Kansas’ website had swelled to over 9,000 by the late 1930’s.
b. However; Phog struggled to secure the funds as there really just were not any to be had after the country had fallen deep into its worst economic depression in history and as Europe began to slowly spiral towards WW2.
c. In...

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