DeKalb resident Laura Barwegen jokingly nudged her husband when she first saw NIU’s new Convocation Center and said, “Toto, we’re not in DeKalb anymore.”

Taking two years to complete among continuous planning, NIU’s state-of-the art $35.8 million arena is now complete and fully operational.

Students, faculty, alumni and surrounding area residents alike made their way to the center Friday to see opening performer Bill Cosby. DeKalb residents also were given the option to embark on self-guided tours Sunday at the arena’s open house.

With Cosby bringing in about 6,500 attendants, many hope that the center will attract more entertainment, business and more students to NIU and DeKalb.

Recent NIU graduate Darryl Deer said he would like to see TV’s Bernie Mac come to the arena.

“I think it’s going to attract more students,” he said. “It caps off the university with everything they are adding. Once the lagoons are finished, it’s really going to be nice.”

Sycamore resident Larry Gorenzi said he thinks the Convocation Center is just right for DeKalb.

“If it brings business and entertainment, then it is good,” Gorenzi said.

Matt Harms, a 1997 NIU alumnus, attended the Cosby performance and was impressed by the structure and design of the arena.

“I’m glad to see they’re putting our money to good use,” Harms said. “But, I wish we would have had the center when I was here.”

Barwegen, who attended the Cosby performance with her husband, is happy to have the arena finally here, although she wasn’t sure at first.

“I think different now than I did when they first talked of a center, because of cost and because of traffic,” Barwegen said.

Although everyone enjoyed the new building, those attending the Cosby performance didn’t appreciate the traffic, which stretched along Lincoln Highway all the way to First Street.

“I think it [Cosby performance] was pretty good, but parking was atrocious,” Gorenzi said.

Arena officials are coordinating with University Police to improve traffic and parking for upcoming events.

“As usual with first events, there is a lot of stuff to work out,” University Police Lt. John Hunter said. “We’ll take a look at each individual problem and devise a new plan for next time. It takes a while but we’ll get it down.”