Named in honor of General John J. Pershing, one of Truman State University’s most distinguished alumni, Pershing Building is a two-story red brick and stone facility located on the south end of campus.
Pershing Arena serves as the home court for Bulldog men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, while also functioning as one of the primary practice and training facilities for Truman Athletics.
Pershing Building opened in 1959 and has remained a central part of the athletic and academic experience at Truman for more than six decades. The facility was first expanded in 1967 with the addition of the north wing, which included another gymnasium, a dance studio, classrooms and office space. In 1976, the south wing was added, bringing the Natatorium and its six-lane, 40-yard swimming pool to the facility.
The arena’s main court originally ran east to west before being shifted to its current north-south alignment in 1979. That configuration created the modern seating layout, with spectator seating along the east and west sides of the arena.
A major renovation project was completed in 2011 with the addition of an auxiliary wing connected to the building on the south end. The addition enhanced both athletics and academic operations, adding an athletics weight room, athletic training room, Health and Exercise Science labs, and classroom and lab space for Nursing and Communication Disorders.
Pershing Arena received another significant upgrade in 2012 with the installation of new bleachers, replacing the wooden seating that had been in place since the 1979 court realignment. The project included new bench seating, approximately 400 chairback seats, closer seating on the west side and additional seating along the north baseline. A new sound system and acoustic improvements were also installed to improve the game day atmosphere for Bulldog events. The seating and presentation upgrades were funded through the Student Athletic Fee.
In 2019, Pershing Arena added a video board and digital scorer’s table, giving the facility a major boost in game day presentation. The upgrades created new opportunities to display live statistics, player introductions, hype videos, in-game graphics, sponsor messaging and other fan engagement elements during Bulldog basketball and volleyball events.
In 2021, Pershing Arena received a new hardwood floor and gloss finish as part of Truman Athletics’ rebranding and logo update. The refreshed court design gave the arena a modernized look while continuing to honor the history of one of the university’s most heavily used athletic facilities.
Pershing Arena was previously home to Truman wrestling before the university discontinued sponsorship of the sport. Today, the facility continues to host Bulldog basketball and volleyball competitions, daily practices, strength and conditioning activity, athletic training operations and other university events.
General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing was born in nearby Laclede, Missouri, and enrolled at Truman, then known as the First District Normal School, in 1880 before leaving two years later to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Pershing later commanded the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I and became the only person promoted during his lifetime to the rank of General of the Armies, the highest rank ever held in the United States Army.
