London, ON - Western Mustangs men's and women's Basketball and Volleyball teams will temporarily call Thompson Arena home for the 2026–27 season as Alumni Hall undergoes a major renovation and renewal project.

In Fall 2026, all home competitions for Mustangs Basketball and Volleyball will take place at Thompson Arena, located within Western's Thompson Recreation & Athletic Centre (TRAC). The temporary relocation ensures these programs can continue to compete and train on campus while Alumni Hall is being revitalized.

The move represents an exciting new chapter for four of Western's flagship varsity programs, while also supporting the long-term future of sport and recreation at Western.


Photo: Women's Basketball team players post for a shot on the new hardwood court floor in Thompson Arena.

"This is an important investment in the future of Western Sports and Recreation," said Christine Stapleton, Director of Western Sports & Recreation. "Alumni Hall has long been home to some of our most memorable Mustangs moments, and this renovation will help ensure we continue to provide exceptional spaces for student-athletes, fans, and the broader campus community for years to come. We are excited to bring the energy and tradition of Mustangs Basketball and Volleyball to Thompson Arena while Alumni Hall is getting some upgrades."

The temporary relocation to TRAC has been carefully planned to minimize disruption across Western's varsity programs and recreation spaces.

Importantly, the other Mustangs varsity teams who train and compete in Thompson Arena are pleased to share the space with basketball and volleyball for the fall. Western Sports & Recreation has worked closely with internal stakeholders to ensure scheduling and facility planning supports all varsity teams, campus recreation programming, and student-athlete training needs throughout the temporary relocation.

In addition to maintaining competition and training opportunities, Western is also focused on preserving the game-day atmosphere and fan experience that has made Mustangs Basketball and Volleyball among the most exciting events on campus.

Planning is already underway to create an enhanced home-court environment at Thompson Arena, including exciting fan engagement opportunities and special event programming.

One initiative being planned for this upcoming year is the introduction of "super weekends," where basketball and volleyball home competitions have been strategically scheduled together to create high-energy weekends featuring multiple Mustangs match-ups in one location. These weekends will offer fans the opportunity to support multiple teams while building a stronger collective game-day experience.

The goal is to create a vibrant and electric atmosphere that brings together student-athletes, students, alumni, and the broader Mustangs community.

The move represents an opportunity for student-athletes to create new traditions while continuing to compete at a high level in front of the passionate Mustangs community.

Though the venue may temporarily change, the competitive spirit, pride, and tradition of Mustangs Basketball and Volleyball remain unchanged.


Photo: Men's Basketball team player takes a shot on the new court in Thompson Arena.

Fans can continue to expect the same high-level competition, school spirit, and memorable moments that define Mustangs game days.

See you at Thompson Arena this fall, Mustangs! Schedules are out now, and Western students get in free to all regular season home games. Additional details regarding ticketing, game-day logistics, and fan experience enhancements will be shared in the coming months. 




Photo: Thompson Arena Volleyball & Basketball Court set-up from May when it was temporarily installed for testing.