Recreation Building, better known as Rec Hall, is an historic, 96-year old athletic facility on the Penn State campus that is still the primary home venue for the men’s and women’s volleyball teams, the men’s and women’s gymnastics squads and the wrestling team.
Rec Hall, which opened Jan. 15, 1929, has been home to 42 national championship PSU teams.
13- Men’s Gymnastics 13 – Men’s Wrestling
3 – Men’s Boxing 2 – Men’s Volleyball
8 – Women’s Volleyball 2 – Women’s Gymnastics
1 – Women’s Bowling
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Since 2013, both basketball programs have played select games in Rec Hall to recapture the history, high-energy and intensity that the 6,846-seat venue provides for basketball games. They are called the ‘Return To Rec’ games.
The men’s team started the “Return To Rec” series Dec. 14, 2013 when it hosted Princeton. The game ended up being an overtime thriller, Penn State lost to the Tigers 81-79. Then during the 2015-2016 season, PSU hosted Canisius and Louisiana Monroe and won both games 81-67 and 54-50, respectively. No. 12 Illinois came to experience the aura of Rec Hall and left disappointed after being upset by Penn State 90-89 in February 2024. Last year, Ohio State handled the raucous environment and beat PSU 83-64. Penn State’s overall record in the ‘Return To Rec’ series is 3-2.
The women’s team also joined the “Return To Rec” series when it hosted No. 2 Ohio State Feb. 22, 2024. They lost this matchup 82-69 and then lost last year’s game against No. 14 Maryland 82-73.
Win or lose, make no mistake, the smaller more intimate environment in Rec Hall presents a home-court advantage. Men’s basketball’s overall record at Rec Hall is 518-184. The women’s team is a phenomenal 203-34. Even though their new home, the Bryce Jordan Center, seats 8,415 more fans than Rec Hall, the electricity and the close proximity to the court at Rec Hall is unmatched. Hopefully, both basketball programs continue ‘Return To Rec’ this upcoming season.
