Special Events Department event records, 1971-1999

Series

Identifier: UA 1172 Series 5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, attendance records, and financial information for events handled by the Special Events Department. These events include the Freedom Festival, Commencement, Forums and Devotionals, and athletic events. Materials dated 1971 to 1999.

Dates

Creation: 1971-1999

Creator

Brigham Young University. Special Events Department (creator, Organization)

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Restricted. Closed for 35 years from the date of creation of the records, and thereafter open to the public in accordance with the University Archives Policy.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Please direct any questions to Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Administrative History

The J. Willard Marriott Activities Center (1971-1972) was constructed to fulfill a need for a sports 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 in 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 Activaties Center was changed to J. Willard Marriott Center to avoid the nickname "Big MAC."