Sinkhole Threatens Future of Diddle

by Daudi Mpenda

The future of one of the state’s most venerated gymnasiums continues to spark debate among Western Kentucky University’s administration, unified government officials, alumni and community residents.

E.A. Diddle Arena, WKU’s historic basketball gymnasium completed in 1963, has been out of commission since late last week after a massive sinkhole opened up overnight and caused extensive damage to the structure.

With concerns over the structural integrity of the 90-plus year-old building after a partial collapse of the domed roof caused a load-bearing pillar to shift out of alignment due to the surface depression, WKU closed the structure to all but repair and construction personnel as they worked to stabilize the building.

That work was successful, and the roof – an approximately 60-foot section – has been temporarily patched and awaits a permanent repair. Whether that repair and others, including significant water damage to John Oldham Court, the facility’s hardwood floor – will be funded is another question. Initial estimates are in excess of $48 million for the immediate damage, in addition to planned upgrades for the electrical system, HVAC and plumbing. That drives the renovation cost to more than $100 million.

“The tough thing is does it cost more to maintain it than to just … initially, the cost will be significant to rebuild, but ideally the best solution might be a WKU-Unified Government partnership to rebuild,” WKU athletic director Tara Johnson said. “There’s some wear and tear in Diddle that already required maintenance, and it has become less and less modern with every year.”

WKU had already commissioned a study on the feasibility of replacing Diddle Arena, with that report expected back in March or early April. The desired new facility would be more multi-use in scale, particularly with improved acoustics to allow for concerts – something Diddle Arena has never been well-suited to host.

Diddle Arena still has its backers in the community. A grassroots organization, “Save Diddle Arena,” has banded together with alumni to raise funds to aid in the repairs. With the gymnasium up for consideration to be added to the National Register of Historic Places, advocates like Tim Smalley think Diddle Arena is too valuable to the community to knock down and replace.

“I grew up going to games at Diddle, watching the men’s team make those four straight NCAA Tournament runs and the Lady Toppers get back to the Final Four,” said Smalley, a Bowling Green resident. “The 1971 Final Four team played in this gym – Jim McDaniels, those guys – Clem Haskins opened this place back more than 85 years ago. It would be a shame to lose so much history.”

The damage to the gymnasium named after legendary WKU men’s basketball coach E.A. Diddle is the most extensive the facility has suffered in 60 years, since a fire in the late 1900s. That incident was largely contained and did not impact WKU’s basketball program or athletic offices.

That has not been the case this time, as the sinkhole-damaged building was deemed unsafe for occupancy until the Kentucky Geological Survey deems the ground stable.

WKU’s athletic department shifted its offices to a number of adjoining buildings including space in the newly refurbished Houchens-Smith Stadium complex and the WKU Athletic Fieldhouse. 

Since WKU’s volleyball team previously moved to the 1,500-seat Travis Hudson Arena two years ago, that nationally recognized program was unaffected by the incident.

It has been much more impactful for WKU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, who now will have no further true home games this season. The Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers were able to reschedule a few non-conference games at neutral sites in Nashville and Louisville, while the rest of the home games had to be either cancelled or become road games this season, with the plan for the following season dependent on whether repairs to Diddle will be undertaken.

WKU, in its 15th season as a member of the Sun USA Conference, will play all conference games on the road with two games each at conference rivals Middle Tennessee, Evansville, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, Belmont, Ball State, Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Appalachian State.

Both the men’s and women’s teams are currently practicing at Bowling Green High School and Warren Central High School. North Warren High School in Smiths Grove is also available, but further away from the main campus.