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Coincidentally, the head of Allied Steel had been roommates and fraternity brothers with Lomburg. He approved the deal, selling Kansas the steel it needed to build the fieldhouse.
The story of the fieldhouse would have been much different if Lomburg hadn't had his connections, Corman says. It would have taken a few more years to acquire the steel, and it would have been more expensive. As it went, the first piece of steel was placed in February of 1954.
Phog Allen had put Kansas basketball on the map, and when it came time to decide who the building should be named after, he was an automatic consideration. There was a long-standing tradition that University buildings not be named after living people, but the Board of Regents went against that custom by also deciding to name a building after former Chancellor Malott.
On Dec. 17, 1954, the official name of Allen Fieldhouse was announced.
To recount the naming, a 1954 University of Kansas Alumni Magazine reporter wrote, "Phog Allen, usually dependable for at least a column of quotes on any subject, had only 21 words to say when he received word that the new 2.5 million dollar building had been named in his honor.
'In this hour of great recognition of my services to the University of Kansas, I feel very unworthy and deeply grateful.'
When the 69-year old dean of American basketball coaches was pressed for further comment he said, 'A person just cannot realize what this honor is. I'm benumbed.'
Allen also thanked the Kansan and the student body for their efforts.
"I feel deeply grateful to the Kansan and to those who spontaneously added to the campaign," he said. The Kansan had informally campaigned that the fieldhouse be named in Allen's honor.
Just a few weeks later, on Jan. 6, 1955, it was announced that on March 1 Kansas State would play Kansas in the first game at Allen Fieldhouse. The anticipation for the opening of the second largest collegiate arena in the country grew. Hundreds of invitations were sent out to former Kansas basketball players to attend the event.
Allen Fieldhouse was a structural masterpiece. It consisted of 2,700 tons of structural steel, 700,000 bricks, 35 tons of paint to cover the walls, 11,625 tons of stone and
245,000 board feet of lumber just on the roof. There was enough concrete to build a two-foot wide sidewalk from Lawrence to Topeka, the Kansan reported.
The fieldhouse included what was then a state-of-the-art scoreboard. In the middle of the scoreboard was a picture of a Jayhawk that blinked its eyes every time Kansas scored. The blinking Jayhawk originated from an idea that Allen had when he saw an animated board at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The Kansas coaching staff also wanted the fieldhouse to be equipped with clocks behind each basket so that players did not have to look up while playing. The scoreboard was one of the first boards to tallie above 99 points, going as high as 199.
Game day finally arrived. The Eldridge Hotel was sold out the night of the game, as many out-of-town guests descended on Lawrence for the dedication. The Athletics Department sold tickets for $2, with a 25 cent service charge.
Allen spent many of the days leading up to the game greeting fans and well-wishers in his office in Robinson Gymnasium.
Allen insisted that the Jayhawks practice in the new arena for at least a few weeks before the first game against Kansas State. They practiced for the first time on Feb. 9, 1955, in the incomplete fieldhouse.
Students were allotted 6,000 tickets to the first game. The University needed the help of ROTC to serve as ushers to show where the boundaries of the student section were.
Students did not camp out for the game as they do for home games today, but some did arrive an hour and a half prior to tip-off. These students set the tone for the great atmosphere that is now a constant for basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse.
"It was a fascinating day, it was a great day." Corman said.
A pageant was planned for the game and occurred at halftime. The pageant required Allen to be present, so he decided in advance to let assistant Dick Harp coach the game.
"I don't know if that was a psychological move or what," Corman said. "They wanted to beat K-State for old Phog, I imagine."
"It was very crowded. Fire marshals wouldn't allow that today." Corman said.
The first game of the fieldhouse appropriately serves as the largest crowd to ever see a Kansas home basketball game, drawing 17.228.
During the halftime show, a history of basketball exhibition, including a scene depicting the invention of the game by Naismith, was performed, followed by a speech from Allen.
"I want to pay tribute to my basketball godfather, Dr. Naismith, a great benefactor and teacher of youth," Allen said.
He then went on to thank those who had played for the Jayhawks in the past, as 103 former letter winners attended the game.
"I've been a fortunate coach. This fieldhouse is not a tribute to the gods of victory but to all the men, past and present, who made this possible," Allen said. "I thank you all."
Allen received a new 1955 Cadillac at the dedication, paid for by donations from members of the Kansas City Alumni Association.
"I think you have got K-State outclassed," Harold Doberts, a man from Topea who attended the first game, told the Kansan during the game. Doberts claimed to be a neutral fan. "Every bit as good as expected."
Kansas won the game, 77-67, and won the first seven games in the new building.
Many teams have entered the fieldhouse to play the Jayhawks throughout the years.
November 14, 1983
Allen Fldhouse was used for the filming of scenes for the made-for-television movie, "The Day After." KU students served as extras in the scene depicting the fieldhouse as an infirmary for victims of a nuclear explosion.
December 3, 1983 - Morehead State 57 Kansas 75 Larry Brown coached his first game in Allen Fieldhouse.
October 14, 1985 The first "Late Night With Larry Brown" was a success despite only 6,000 fans in attendance. Fans were limited to the upper level seats due to the replacement of the lower level seats that had not yet been completed.
October 14, 1988
After Larry Brown departed for the NBA, 10,000 fans welcomed new coach, Roy Williams to Allen Fieldhouse with the first "Late Night With Roy Williams."
December 1, 1988 - Seattle 65, Kansas 98 Mark Randall led KU with 31 points in the first victory for rookie coach Roy Williams In Allen Fieldhouse.
December 9, 1989 - Kentucky 95, Kansas 150 The Rick Pitino-led Wildcats were the victims of the most points ever scored in Allen Fieldhouse. Terry Brown led the Jayhaws with 31 in the 350th victory in the fieldhouse.
December 1, 1992 - Georgia 65, Kansas 76 Danny Manning returned to have his jersey retired. Manning was one of seven players in the inaugural jersey retirement class that included Paul Endacott, Charles T. Black, Clyde Lovellette, B.H. Born, Wilt Chamberlain, and Lynette Woodard. All players, except Chamberlain, returned at different points during the season to have their jerseys retired.
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