Dates

• Existence: 1971 - 1972

Administrative History

The J. Willard Marriott Activities Center (1971-1972) was constructed to fulfill a need for a sport facility to house basketball games as well as devotionals, forums, public gatherings, music, dance, and other activities at Brigham Young University.

Planning and construction of the J. Willard Marriott Activates Center was begun by President Wilkinson. The center was practically complete by the end of Wilkinson's Administration 1971 but improvements were still made until 1972 under President Oaks. The J. Willard Marriott Activities Center was named after the prominent Latter-day Saint businessman who helped finance its construction.

At the time of its construction, The J. Willard Marriott Activities Center had the largest seating capacity for a building of its kind and purpose on any campus in the nation. The facility held its opening basketball game on December 3, 1971. Prior to its dedication in 1973 the name of the J. Willard Marriott Activities Center was changed to J. Willard Marriott Center to avoid the nickname "Big MAC."

Citation:

Brigham Young University-The First One Hundred Years, 1976, p.254-259 (J. Willard Marriott Activities Center, built for basketball games as well as devotionals, forums, public gatherings, music, dance, and other activities, begun by President Wilkinson, bulk of construction finished 1971, more improvements President Oaks 1972, named after businessman J. Willard Marriott, at time of construction had the largest seating capacity of its kind in the nation)

BYUCougars-Basketball facilities, viewed Mar. 15, 2013 (opening game held on Dec. 3, 1971)

BYUCougars-Remember When... The Marriot Center Opened?, viewd Mar. 15, 2013 (Name changed to J. Willard Marriott Center to avoid Big Mac nickname)

UPB files, Mar. 15, 2013 (1972 name change)

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