[Tuck4Bama]

PROVO — As construction was being completed on BYU's 23,000-seat basketball arena and activities center, school administrators held a contest to determine the name of the new facility. The prize was $100 for the winning entry.

Hotel magnate J. Willard Marriott donated $1 million and, in essence, won the contest by a landslide. With that, the Marriott Center was born. At the time — 1971 — it was the largest on-campus arena in the country.


It's ironic that the Marriott Center carries the same name as the Marriott hotel chain that strives to provide pleasant stays for its guests. Judging by the Cougars' record at home, they have been downright inhospitable to their guests, as opposing teams regularly check out of the Marriott Center with a loss.

Deseret Morning News | BYU basketball: This Marriott a heartbreak hotel