Lantz Arena Complex & Padovan Pool
Completed in 1967, the Lantz Arena complex serves as home to the Eastern Illinois athletic deparment and its 21 NCAA intercollegiate sports. The building was named in honor of Charles Lantz a long time coach and educator at the university. Housed within the complex are Lantz Arena, Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse, Ray Padovan Pool, new Panther Athletic Academic Center, student recreation center and offices for athletic staff and physical education instructors.
Lantz Arena serves as the home for EIU men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball. The venue seats 5,400 people and is also used for concerts, conventions and graduation ceremonies. In 2007, EIU had its first nationally televised game played in Lantz Arena when the men's basketball team hosted Samford University on February 3 in a game broadcast by ESPN2.
Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse is the most widely used facility by the EIU athletic department as it not only serves as the home for Panther indoor track and field, but also as a practice facility for all teams during inclement weather. The facility is routinely used to host the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships along with hosting the Junior College National Championships on a rotating basis.
The Ray Padovan Pool was named in honor of long-time EIU head swimming coach Ray Padovan in August 2008. Padovan Pool serves as the home for Panther men's and women's swimming as the pool is 25 yards in length with six lanes for competitive swimming. The facility is also used for local swim club competitions.