Stan Sheriff Center: A Quarter Century of Thrills

On Oct. 21 it will be 25 years since the Stan Sheriff Center, then known as the Special Events Arena, hosted its first event.

In today’s Star-Advertiser, Cindy Luis recounts that women’s volleyball match between the University of Hawaii and San Jose State (you might be surprised when you’re reminded who played in that match). Also, I have a story about how the SSC came to be, and what it meant in 1994 to a rookie ticket office employee named Dave Matlin, and what he thinks about it today from his perspective as UH athletic director.

It’s the kickoff to a series where starting tomorrow we count down the top ten most memorable events (as voted on by Star-Advertiser sports reporters and editors) at the arena that UH calls the jewel of lower campus. I like to call it “The House That Stan Built.”

Sheriff had the vision for a 10,000-seat arena when others (including a young sports columnist who shall remain nameless) felt a 4,000- or 6,000-seat facility would be more prudent.

This is a huge week for UH football, but we hope you will take a few minutes the next 10 days to take a walk down memory lane at “The Stanley.”