The arena is named after Phog Allen, a former player and head coach for the Jayhawks whose tenure lasted 39 years.The arena's nickname, The Phog also pays homage to Allen. 3. The way the arena is designed, the students are given the sections along almost all of the sidelines, as well as a giant wall that looks incredibly intimidating from below. Not too long ago, GIA would have been unquestionably in the top 25. Unlike most of the buildings on this list, McCarthey Athletic Center isnt very old. Some of the rowdiest, loudest, most despicable (in a good way, if you ask me) atmospheres Ive ever seen at a college basketball game have been at The Octagon of Dome. Its that way pretty much every time K-State welcomes KU to town. Since Xavier began play there in 2000-01, it's won more than 250 games in the building. Ask West Virginia, who was present on Feb. 13, 2017, when the 16,300 in attendance set the Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event (130.4 decibels). I've been to Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Arizona and around the country. With March Madness approaching, here's a look at some of the loudest college arenas in the NCAA: 10. 9 biggest college basketball arenas | NCAA.com Up high are the season ticket holders, down low are the Smurfs, better knows as the Cameron Crazies. The Pit is renowned for being one of the loudest places to play in college basketball, with sound levels reaching up to 125 decibels, about as loud as a jackhammer. Obviously, it wasnt a long drive, especially compared to Providence and Oklahoma, but Flyers fans turned Nationwide Arena into a madhouse. The place can be downright deafening when the Hoosiers are on their game. Utah State has an Oakland Raider mentality without the knives and guns. Who can forget Jim Valvano running around the floor of "The Pit" looking for someone to hug after North Carolina State's shocking upset of Houston in the 1983 national championship game? When the Jayhawks were winning Big 12 titles every year for more than a decade, nobody was winning at Allen Fieldhouse but them. Though the students dont get a huge amount of the seating dedicated to them, Wichita State is one of the rare schools in college basketball whose older crowd is ready and willing to get very, very loud and rowdy. So loud," Mike Roberts, radio voice of the Lobos from 1966 to 2008, said in an ESPN story, "you can feel it in your bones.". Like in Durham, the small confines in Spokane give the arena an intimidating feel for opponents, especially when the focus is a raucous student section. From 1928 until 1950, Hinkle was the biggest college hoops arena in the country; after a 1950 renovation (and a name change), Williams Arena became the largest -- a title it held until 1971. Go for slam dunks, fire off long 3-point shots, use superpowers, win matches and earn cups! If the fans are up for a game, even if Indiana isnt ranked or particularly good, Assembly Hall will be deafening. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. Yes, name - I believe the name of an arena makes a difference, and it will play a role in how I evaluate the Big Ten's basketball arenas. The students are given prime seating right along the sideline opposite the benches, and they are very fond of dressing up in ridiculous costumes, throwing around foam pool noodles, general shenanigans, and launching disparaging remarks as opponents. Capacity. On a consistent basis, the atmosphere at the Dean Dome is not elite. Likes. Ushers and concession employees are fabulous. 15 Best College Basketball Arenas in the USA | 2022 Rankings In 2017-18, the Musketeers set a single-season home record with 17 victories. However, it still offers a somewhat intimate atmosphere near the court when filled. Top 5 Largest College Basketball Arenas in NCAA Division I Sports #3: KFC Yum! David Aldridge writes on Duke Report.com: The Crazies have become known as one of the most clever student sections in sports, but I think many guys come into the arena looking forward to hearing what theyll come up with. During the Big 8 Conference finals, former OKU wrestling coach Myron Roderick said, "It got s loud, lot f the lights busted n Gallagher. Consistently ranked among the best college basketball arenas in the nation in terms of attendance and overall acclaim, "The Pit," as it's more affectionately known, has housed the Lobos since 1966. The students, who are given 10 of the arenas 26 sections, especially feel compelled to ensure everyone in the area knows that IU sucks, regardless of whether or not IU is in the building. For the unbiased college basketball fan, it's a bucket list item, even to see it empty. Newbill (2) shoots a game winning shot over Minnesota Golden Gophers guard . The University of Kentucky Wildcats own the record for the most wins in Division I men's college basketball history, and play in the largest basketball arena in the US. Also, the name sucks, and corporate staleness is not good for college basketball. Still, the Razorbacks have had one of the most formidable home atmospheres in the SEC for some time, knocking off tons of ranked teams at home in the 2010s despite missing the NCAA Tournament more often than not. The Pit," as it's more affectionately known, Why NCAA Tournament bubble teams should be wary of this team, 16-year-old Padres prospect already drawing superstar hype, Seven Cubs pitchers combine for spring no-hitter vs. Padres, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones comments on Tony Pollard rumor, Ben Simmons suffers back injury while rehabilitating, Insider: It's Packers, Jets 'or bust' for Aaron Rodgers, QB Anthony Richardson doesn't understand his 'project' label, Vikings HC reveals 'crazy' thoughts about star WR, XFL player released for giving another team plays from own playbook. Cameron Indoor Stadium The loudest arena in college basketball has given the Duke Blue Devils the best home-court advantage for more than a decade. As compiled by Collegiate Basketball News, the median winning percentage of the 351 Division I men's teams in their current arenas is 67.7%, with 144 of those 351 schools having a winning percentage over .700. The "Izzone" is one of the most active and genius student sections in the game. It means every orange-clad, snow-loving student gets every chance to optimize the strength of his or her vocal cords. Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) Mackey Arena, 900 John R Wooden Dr, West Lafayette, IN - MapQuest Kentucky has won 89.5% of its all-time games at Rupp and has only lost eight of the 132 games it has played there under John Calipari, to give you an idea of just how much of a home court advantage the Wildcats enjoy. The Carrier Dome is one of the most unique venues in all of college basketball. 1. The students fully embrace The Barnyard nickname, and its normal to see them wearing outfits emulating various farm animals, crops, and other farm-related items. Almost the entirety of the seats behind the north basket at the McKale Center belong to students, so if youre trying to score on that hoop, good luck with verbal communication. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is perfect. As if Gonzaga didn't need any more of an advantage, the student section's close proximity to the court and the building's overall cozy atmosphere continue to make playing there a daunting challenge for the opposition. The same goes for the University of Kansas, who recently won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in 2008. I believe that a home crowd can make a difference in a game it takes a player on the court to hit a shot and a coach on the sideline to call the play, but the fans at Kansas have won games for their team on many occasions. But the potential is still there, and Utah State is still one of the toughest places to play in the Mountain West. Many fans have complained about the quality of the arena, but thats for a separate discussion. Nope, the Blue Wall doesnt have the Izzone. For those in journalism (ahem) who know that newspapers are dead, the Izzone is a refreshing bout of paper-in-hand newsprint, even if it is simply to mock. Dayton's home arena is not flashy, but it's the place where the madness of March officially begins with the First Four. The huge space makes more sense once you know that the Orange football and lacrosse teams also . The criteria to determine college basketball's elite arenas are endless, but here are the top 25 that seem to cover the basics: history, look, volume and then some. Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) However, the Cameron Crazies make it one of the loudest and most intimidating places to play in college basketball. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is absolutely prime. Emailed daily. 8: Kentucky (Rupp Arena) It might offend some Kentucky fans to see me ranking them outside of the top five, and they might have a point. Their efforts in particular gives The Kennel one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. Ive felt like Hilton was on the verge of riots on a handful of occasions, particularly when Kansas comes to town. From 2005 to 2018, Kansas won every single Big 12 regular season title, and while its teams are usually very good, the fans also cultivate a difficult environment for opposing teams to handle. While the stadium may hold far less than its competitors, the electric atmosphere brings them high on the list. What is the largest basketball arena? Its been a long time since this allegedly happened36 years to be exactbut if it did happen then Oklahoma States Gallagher-IBA Arena is boss. The 30 Toughest College Basketball Arenas to Play In 15 Best College Basketball Arenas in the USA | 2022 Rankings On top of that, there are no air conditioning units in the building, no white-noise humming in the background. Small sections of bleachers jet out from both baselines, while seats extend up the sides where balconies also exist which might not cater to fans with height issues. It was Hilton Magic that helped propel Iowa State over Oklahoma three years ago, coming back from a 21-point second-half deficit for the win. It's big but doesn't lose its roominess, especially when crowded. Opened in 2000, Cintas Center is one of the newer arenas on this list, but it very quickly became one of the most daunting for opposing teams to enter. If youre tasked with traveling to Rupp Arena, it will not be easy or pleasant. Shockers fans are riotous about their team and are constantly filling their roughly 10,000-seat gym to the rafters. So please let me assure you your school is very special in its own ways, and who I am to speak on that precious relationship you have with it? Best Atmospheres of College Sports Arenas - Team Fan Apparel Dean E. Smith Center (North Carolina) In an interview with Yahoo! We have the VGK and Raiders (who themselves would hardly ever play at the same time as a UNLV hoops game), whoo hoo. It was renamed in 1986 as the Louis Brown Athletic Center but the nickname stuck through . This is a new-money type of atmosphere, but that doesnt make it any less imposing for visiting college basketball squads. Cameron Indoor Stadium 3. There might not be a better experience for a sports fan than catching a college basketball game at a campus arena. The seating towers over the floor, and with such a wide-open, cavernous feel, it can be one of the most intense atmospheres in college basketball when it reaches above 15,000 screaming fans. Home of the Duke Blue Devils, Cameron Indoor Stadium is arguably one of the most iconic basketball arenas in the U.S., if not the world. Sure, Bramlage will be one of the hardest arenas you visit all season long if the Wildcats are in the midst of a good or great year, but even when theyre not tournament caliber, a crowd shows up and makes noise. The stadium itself is actually 37 feet below street level due to the fact that it was built on a mesa. Former Kentucky guard John Wall elicited a 110.1 when he returned in 2011. He missed one of the three free throws as the game went to overtime, where New Mexico prevailed. There's close to 6,000 students at Allen Fieldhousethree times more than Dukeand they've earned the title of loudest college arena. The crowd is loud. The Aggies finished 13-5 at home a year ago and much of that can be credited to this loud and verbally abusive venue. Mackey Arena has a secret to its rowdiness that not many venues can But under Eric Musselman, the program has been reinvigorated, and thats brought the Hogs out in a big way the last couple of seasons. Views. But at Maryland, they do whatever it takes to get you off your game. The 25 Most Incredible College Basketball Arenas - Popular Mechanics The cushioned seating is a nice touch while still not taking away from the intense atmosphere that's usually associated with Cyclones basketball. What is Rupp Arena used for? - Heimduo SECs venues ranked according to difficulty - ESPN.com The Best College Basketball Arenas - Ranker Big Game Boomer @BigGameBoomer . The arena is the home venue for the University of Arizona Wildcats' men's and women's basketball teams. But it suffers from a similar problem that Rupp and the Dean Dome do, as well as some other arenas across the country big-money donors get the priority seats, students are relegated away from the action, and the atmosphere suffers. The last few years havent been what Arizona would have preferred, but the atmosphere at the McKale Center remains one of the best in college basketball. Utah State may not be a headliner on the basketball court, but don't tell its student section that. The Detroit Redwings throw octopi on the ice, so why dont Hoosier fans throw chairs onto the court? Theres a reasonable chance this arena will move into the top 25 if the Cavs keep up their spot near the top of the ACC. Hype remains around Texas A&M men's basketball team's season finale Lanxess Arena. 15 Best College Basketball Arenas 2. For non-Duke fans, it's another reason to loathe the Blue Devils. ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, KANSAS 2. Best Big Ten Basketball Rivalries Right Now, This article was originally published on Fivestar News, more than 11,000 seats larger than the second-largest arena in the sport, they dont care if they need binoculars to see the ball from their seats. Its twice the size as Cameron [Indoor Stadium] with three times the students sitting courtside. That has got to have Bill Self, Kansas head coach, screaming for joy. Amusing, possibly, but since thats patently foolish, they can scream for Tom Crean. Big Game Boomer . But is it a tough section to play in front of? The actual hardwood in the 16,300-seat arena, called the James Naismith Court in his honor, confers an incredible home advantage. With the largest student section in the country at 7,800 seats, Assembly Hall is far from a friendly site for opponents when its rocking. (The team's 150-game non-conference home winning streak was ended earlier this season with a loss to Stephen F. Austin). src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Syracuse's basketball arena is the biggest by a landslide, coming in first place with 34,616 seats. 10. It opened in 1938 and underwent a major renovation in 2001. At least it gets those dag nab bit iGoogle Crapple Twitterbooks out of their hands. Shows how loud assembly hall can get. Opened in 1989, the mayflower shaped . Not many venues can claim they play in a dome, but thats what the Syracuse Orange do. I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and have loved basketball for as long as I can remember. When packed, the building rocks and the dark seating corners add a nice touch to the experience. The atmosphere at the Spectrum isnt what it was in the 2000s, and for that it just barely misses out on my top 25. The Mountaineers take huge pride in how Bob Huggins coaches his players to play, and that passion comes out during games through tons of noise, a super-rowdy atmosphere, and really one of the more vicious college basketball settings in the country. The Travel Channel's best college basketball venues - HawgSports.com "The Phog" or "The Cathedral of Basketball," as it is affectionately called, was opened on March 1, 1955 and now holds 17,000 people. The KFC Yum! Shot from student section. The University of New Mexico Perhaps one of the quirkiest college basketball venues in the nation, the University of New Mexico's home arena, dubbed "The Pit," was a shoo-in for this list. The Jayhawks won that night, just as they do so often on their home floor. All that said, the biggest reason Kansas State is here for me is because of how it gets up for the Kansas game, which has made that contest a must-see and something I look forward to every year. Maybe baseballs sabermetricians should analyze how many wins certain home courts are worth. The insane home record Kansas boasts is partially because its teams are generally very, very good. Allen Fieldhouse is one of college basketball's most . You have to respect a fanbase that has such a dedication to pure and unadulterated hatred for its enemy. The arena's primary tenant is the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team. Sorry about the shaking.i was a little excited. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The Hilton Coliseum is a 14,267-capacity arena that is home to the Iowa State University Cyclones men's and women's basketball teams, as well wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball programs. Loudest Mountain West basketball arenas 11. The fearsome and historic Cameron Indoor, which opened way back in 1940, earns the top spot on our list. The San Diego State mens basketball program was built into a nationally-relevant program by Steve Fisher in the 2000s, and as the program gained steam, so too did the eager crowds at Viejas Arena. According to the school, no arena in the country has hosted more NCAA Tournament gamesthan UD's 125. Loudest arena in the nation. IU buzzer beater - YouTube College basketball's top 15 home-court advantages since 2005, per Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh 7. Its first game pitted Iba's Oklahoma A&M (the school's name at the time) squad against Kansas, coached by Phog Allen. Mackey Arena is one of the biggest best college basketball arenas since it has a capacity of over 14,000 fans. I know the dynamic may change since it's Utah-Utah State. That's not far off, as the school also boasts that no other arena has hosted more games or opponents than The Palestra.
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