It was built in 1959 and is home to the Seattle University Redhawks women's basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the home court for the Redhawks men's team, which also plays at nearby Climate Pledge Arena since 2008 when the school returned to NCAA Division I.

On December 15, 2014, the men's team returned for the first time since 2008, for a single game against Northwest University, which Seattle won.

The school cites the change to getting more student involvement, a more intimate home setting, the success of hosting CBI games here the last two years, and the lack of attendance at KeyArena.

From 2018 until 2021, Seattle U played all home games at the Redhawk Center while KeyArena underwent a major renovation.

Originally named for Archbishop Thomas Connolly, the school removed his name due to Connolly's involvement in covering up sex crimes committed by a parish priest, Father Michael Cody.