The 5,500 seat JAR opened in 1983 and has been the home of men's and women's basketball as well as volleyball ever since. moving from Memorial Hall, this gave the ZIPS their first modern athletic facility. The JAR was the first of a three-phase $20.5 million project, which included the $6.5 million Oliver Ocasek Natatorium and a renovation to Memorial Hall to the tune of $2.5 million.

The arena is a two-floored structure accomodating a running track on the second level. The first floor boasts athletic offices, the ZIPS sports Hall of Fame, a ticket office, the team shop, the sports medicine facility and lockers. The 125,538 square-foot arena has continued to improve over the years leading to the most recent renovation.

In 2002-2003, the James A Rhodes Arena underwent a $1.1 million renovation which included a new playing surface and scoreboards. The new hardwood floor replaced the original floor (1983) at a cost of over $202,000 all covered by private funding. The second phase included a new state of the art video scoreboard which boasts four Opto Tech 7.5' X 10' LED displays.