Personally I’d rather have McKay be the varsity gym, as opposed to Upton. McKay is an Old School gym. The “bench” are is very tight to the sides and the fans are 12ish feet above the floor screaming down to the floor. I’d wager large amounts in Olivet’s favor on McKay. It would be highly intimidating (during my pledging I had to play basketball on this court, it wasn’t very intimidating for us, but it was for the teams after us as their alumni where more involved). The atmosphere would be the most intense in the country.
A story from my time as a player on Calvin's JV team in another century, supports Jameswys' assessment of McKay's advantages for the Comets. The court was surrounded by the large wall, where even first row patrons---typically screaming invectives at the visiting team--were several feet above the hardwood. As a visiting player, it was enough to help me appreciate the intimidation factor the condemned felt when left to fend for themselves on the ancient Colosseum floor, awaiting the gladiator's dreaded entrance. I don't even need to embellish this story to make my point. McKay's playing surface left barely enough room for any out-of-bounds space. One end was reserved for Olivet students who may or may not have arrived at McKay before attending a local pub. I vividly recall seeing a huge loogie pass over my right shoulder just as I was inbounding the ball along the baseline. After reaching the other end of the court, I asked the ref what could be done with the rowdies who nearly expectorated on me. I have never forgotten the official's pithy recommendation: "Next time, inbound the ball quicker."
LOL!
I join Gregory in his comment! That story is hilarious and a classic!😮😁
Regarding McKay, I agree with jameswys in that I'd love to see that made back into the main basketball arena for Olivet. Admittedly, I love the old, historic buildings on campus there, although I am also partial to their more modern design student center as my late father designed it!
McKay, indeed, had that intimidation factor, very similar to what Hope's old football stadium Riverview Park was back in my playing days, in which the visitors stands that ran the entire length of the field was about 12 feet behind the visiting team. Similarly to your McKay story, most Hope students sat on that side ( the roof covered home stands were reserved seating, always filled by parents, alumni) and the visiting teams were always subjected to some very colorful "cheers" and such!
McKay would have to undergo some significant revisions as I recall the floor is not to NCAA regulations (similar to Hope's former home court at the now renovated Holland Civic Center, which was about two feet too short in length.) However, that is unlikely to happen as it is my understanding that McKay is going to be torn down for construction of a new building/addition and renovation to the Upton Center. That will be sad if it occurs as I'd like to see it at least structurally saved and renovated for some other use.
Anyway, thanks for the great story! I wonder how that ref really felt about that loogie!😮😳🤐🤫😬😁🙂
That’s really interesting that your father designed the Kirk Center. I have spent many hours in that building, as I’ve worked there most of my adult life. It’s seen a few remodels but is still a great place to be for a day, as it’s all windows and you can always see natural light.
And yes you are correct, McKay should be gone by the Fall of 2021. They are aggressively pushing to replace it with a new student center, with study spaces, meeting places and commons. It should be a nice addition and while I’d like to see McKay kept, years of neglect (I’d guess probably in the 70s and 80s) have led to the building not really being salvageable, in my inexpert opinion.
Let me guess ... it's being held together with spit and baling wire. 
It’s in usable shape, in fact the gym is used for intramural sports, but it’s not in ‘worth the money to save it and repurpose it” shape. Again this is my inexpert opinion.
You are probably right, Gregory!😬🙂 However, at least it looks good from the outside!
In all seriousness, though, while I would like to see it renovated, O understand the need for the new student center and that area is the appropriate site for it. Similar to our Hope's Carnegie-Schroten Grmnasium, that would have been nice to save and renovated for the art center like Alma College did. Yet, financially ,, not the best option. At least Olivet's design for the new student center has a simar front facade like McKa.
And yes, jameswys, the Kirk Center has been a good time tested design. Have always been proud of that by my dad. Even though he usually preferred matching new design to old, his modern architectural designs akwTways fit in nicely regardless of the project. He also was one of the architects who designed the St.Louis Arch under famed NY architect Ero Serinan. Guess it was all that great training dad received at U of Michigan's architectural school!!🙂
Thanks sac and jameswys for the info and link.
