Physical Activities Complex - Waterloo Warriors
- Dave Cottenie
- Feb 12
- 8 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Carl Totzke Court @ Physical Activities Complex 200 University Ave W Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Year Opened: 1967
Capacity: 1,957
Hard Court Warriors
The Waterloo Warriors first took to the basketball court in 1958. Less than twenty years later they went on a miraculous run, winning the 1975 CIAU (now USports) National Championship. At that time, the National Championship game was held on campus and the home of the Warriors, the Physical Activities Complex, was rocking and packed to the gills. Phil Goggins hit a last second shot to send the home crowd into a frenzy, and lead the Warriors to victory. Much has changed since then. The Warriors were a power in the seventies and eighties with Wilson Cups, as OUA Champions, in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1983 and 1986. That success has not followed into the new millennium.
Home for the Warriors is on the campus of the University of Waterloo. The seriously blandly- named Physical Activities Complex opened in 1967, and for many years was a concrete behemoth with little soul and plenty of distractions. A significant set of renovations that were completed in 2021 made the PAC, as it is commonly known, a much better spectator facility and is also much more functional. The court in the PAC was named after longtime athletic director Carl Totzke. Life was breathed into this old facility to the delight of fans and students
Food & Beverage 2
The concession options at the PAC for basketball are pretty limited. Chips, popcorn and chocolate bars are available. Soft drinks, water, coffee, hot chocolate and apple cider are the beverages available. It is enough for a light snack during the game, but that’s about it. There are plenty of spots in the area for food and drink, so heading out to a restaurant is probably the best idea.
Atmosphere 3
The main entrance for the Physical Activities Complex is on the east side of the building which offers an attractive glass entrance, covering up the former brick and concrete that is found around the other three sides of the building. A large quad area to the east is a perfect meeting spot for fans. The main entrance brings fans into a bright, clean concourse which is a far cry from the drab concrete stairs that were what passed for welcoming in the old days. Just inside the entrance fans can find some Warrior nostalgia with a display of all of the iterations of the Warrior logo over the years as well as the Warrior Hall of Fame wall. Some artifacts can be found in trophy cases in the area. After passing through security and having the tickets scanned, fans ascend to the PAC and enter the main seating area.
Many OUA facilities just seem like a simple gymnasium which is as much a home to PE classes as they are to Varsity Athletics. The PAC does have a bigger feel to it, with the right crowd can produce some significant energy. New lighting and flooring to go with the updated seating, which was installed a few years ago, give the PAC a brighter, cleaner, bigger-event feel to it. Those hideous, old wooden bleachers that were among the worst anywhere have been converted, smartly, into a welcoming Warriors sign fans can see before entering the PAC. The court runs from southwest to northeast, with each of the four corners labeled according to the four directions. The southeast side of the court is where to get that perfect picture, while the more comfortable, stadium chair seating is found on the northwest side. A bridge which links the north and east corners of the PAC is available along the wall.
History has been embraced at Waterloo with the naming of the court after longtime Athletic Director, Carl Totzke. The northeast wall at court level features a plaque dedicating the court and explaining the importance of Carl Totzke to the Warrior family. The southwest wall features a simple, yet effective, basketball scoreboard, complete with player information. The scoreboard is surrounded by a plethora of Warrior provincial championship banners, including six Wilson Cup banners. The 1975 National Championship banner also hangs proudly on the southwest wall. The adventurous and the historians will want to look in the north corner of the court to find the marked spot where Phil Goggins hit the game-winning shot to defeat the Manitoba Bisons to win the 1975 National Championship game. One of the greatest players to play at Waterloo was Mike Moser, whom the USports basketball MVP award is named after, tragically died in 1975, before the Warriors had their playoff run. His number has been retired by the Warriors. Waterloo needs to take the next step to fully embrace their history and display that retired number in the PAC. The numbers of Peter Savich, Bill Jones and Jaan Laaniste are also retired from basketball and should be on display.
The gameday experience is about what one would expect for an OUA basketball game. The gameday operations are mostly run by students, including the video streaming, play-by-play, colour analysis, camera work and PA announcing. A variety of music is played in warmups and during stoppages. Waterloo’s mascot, King Warrior, is often found interacting with fans and making his way around the venue. For bigger games, like the rivalry game against the Laurier Golden Hawks, the cheerleaders are present behind the baselines and periodically the Warrior band is in attendance.
Neighbourhood 4
The PAC is located at the north side of the campus of the University of Waterloo, minutes from Uptown Waterloo.
The Student Life Centre is now joined directly to the PAC and there are some food options there. The University Club is just a quick jump across the parking lot and does have some limited seating times. Uptown is where there is far more to consider. The Huether, The Pub on King, Ethel’s Lounge, the Duke of Wellington, Beertown and Morty’s Pub are just a few of the culinary options that can be found on King Street. University Shops Plaza is a little closer to the opposite end of campus and has a number of options including Williams Fresh Cafe, Mel’s Diner, bbq Chicken and Molly Bloom’s are all good options.
There are a bunch of other sporting options in the area. The Warriors field a full complement of athletic teams and the PAC is shared with the women’s basketball team and volleyball teams among others. On the other side of Columbia Street is the Columbia IceField Arena, home of Warriors hockey and Warrior Field, home of Warriors football. Just “up the street” from the University of Waterloo, is Wilfrid Laurier University. The Golden Hawks compete in basketball at the Athletic Complex, football at University Stadium and hockey at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Heading to the other side of the twin cities border will bring fans to Kitchener, home of the Kitchener Rangers and their home at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
The Duke of Wellington and Jazz Room on King Street offer fans live music on weekend nights. Taking the train to the town of St. Jacobs for the market may be of interest or walking through Waterloo Park if the weather’s nice is fun also. Oktoberfest is the busiest time in Kitchener-Waterloo and the largest German party rages on around Thanksgiving.
For fans wishing to stay near the PAC, the Inn of Waterloo is just north on King Street and the Delta by Marriott Waterloo is a short drive away.
Fans 3
It is difficult to assess USports basketball fans as attendance figures are not normally published. The Warriors seem to draw a couple hundred fans per game. Keep in mind that all Warrior basketball games are doubleheaders with the women playing first and the men playing after and there are plenty of people coming and going. A bigger crowd can be expected for the rivals up the road at Wilfrid Laurier. Fans in attendance provide decent support and participate in the tradition of standing and clapping until the first Warrior basket.
Access 4
Getting to the PAC is not terribly difficult. It is located at the north end of the campus of the University of Waterloo on the Ring Road, which is easily accessed from Columbia Street West. It is 4 km from the Conestoga Parkway and driving through Waterloo will be required for those coming from out of town. Parking at the PAC is an option as Lot M is at the top of the hill, very close to the Columbia Street entrance. Other lots are not too far and most have a $10 charge. Lot X, on the other side of Columbia Street, is free on weekends.
For fans wishing to take public transportation to the PAC, there are a couple of options. Grand River Transit buses travel the entire Ring Road, which circles the campus. The University of Waterloo stop for the ION light rail is also a short walk through campus to the PAC. Fans should check the GRT website, if interested, for times, maps and fares.
Getting around the PAC has become much easier over time. With a dedicated entrance on the east side of the building, fans are no longer confused as to which of the four corners of the building would be unlocked for admittance to the basketball game. Also, there are now washroom facilities at the level above the main seating area, which is much better than the previous system where fans were required to go all the way to the basement to find a washroom. The bridge linking the north and east corners also improves the flow of fans and allows for a more intimate experience with fans on both sides of the court.
Return on Investment 4
Waterloo Warrior basketball tickets are available online or at the door. Adults are $10 with discounts for seniors, children and students. All will cost an extra dollar at the door, rather than online. University of Waterloo students are free with proper identification. Tickets are for doubleheader events with the women’s team playing before the men. Parking on campus will cost $10 or free with a bit more of a walk. Concession prices are not steep at all. Warrior basketball is solid on the court and fans will definitely have a good time with one of the cheapest tickets that can be found anywhere.
Extras 4
An extra mark for the student-run event, especially their work for online broadcasts.
An extra mark for the increased embrace of Warrior basketball history with the marking of the 1975 National Championship spot and dedicating of the court.
An extra mark for the Battle of Waterloo rivalry with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks who reside just up University Avenue.
An extra mark for Roly Webster and Ari Grossman. A couple of former Golden Hawks have taken the helm of the Warriors athletic programs and pushed the re-investment in the facilities and programs and are hoping for some big results on the court.
Final Thoughts
The Waterloo Warriors have now fully embraced the renovation to the PAC. Carl Totzke Court @ Physical Activities Complex is a comparable facility to other USports programs and the Warriors are slowly improving. Returning to the success of the seventies and eighties is the ultimate goal, and providing fans a solid gameday experience is a step in the right direction.
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