The 5 Toughest Places to Play in College Basketball This Century Opponents can attest to the fact that the arena seems smaller and more intimidating when all 19,300-plus seats are filled. Pain begins at 125 dBs and a jet engine at 100 feet is 140 dBs, so consider that the next time youre in western Upstate New York. The atmosphere at the Spectrum isnt what it was in the 2000s, and for that it just barely misses out on my top 25. Their fans are great, but they have no filter. I think we all knew what the top two would be, and rightfully so. The huge space makes more sense once you know that the Orange football and lacrosse teams also . Great staff. Of course, there are several, gyms, stadiums, arenas or domes that stand out in the college game. McOnnel Court- University of Oregon 4. The Jack Breslin Student Events Center is a 16,280-capacity venue that is home to the Michigan State Spartans men's and women's basketball teams. When the Jayhawks were winning Big 12 titles every year for more than a decade, nobody was winning at Allen Fieldhouse but them. It has become the hub of one of the most impressive programs in the sport and been an important piece of Gonzagas climb into the national limelight. McCarthey Athletic Center - Gonzaga The McCarthey Athletic Center is a 6,000-seat indoor arena on the campus of Gonzaga University that is home to the university's Bulldog basketball program. Kentucky Wildcats: Rupp Arena, opened in 1976 The downtown arena holds around 23,5000, and there is rarely a time when Rupp isn't at capacity these days. "The World's Most Famous Arena" has been a college basketball staple for decades. Celebrities and athletes are often in attendance in the historic arena that now holds over 23,500 people, which makes it the largest arena in the country for indoor sports. Big Game Boomer . The bar is high to reach the top 25. The HURD elicit fear into the psyches of its opponents. The atmosphere is even more special during afternoon games when the daylight shines through the windows amid the throngs of spectators. Allen Fieldhouse is an indoor arena on the University of Kansas (KU) campus in Lawrence, Kansas.It is home of the Kansas Jayhawks men's and women's basketball teams. t ws unbelievable.". In addition to providing Kentucky with a distinct home-court advantage, Rupp has hosted several NCAA Tournament games, most notably the 1985 Final Four when Villanova stunned heavily favored Georgetown for the national title. The student section, The eRUPPtion Zone, is one of the best ones in the country if only it werent relegated to a few sections behind one basket and a few more sections up in the rafters. It was renamed in 1986 as the Louis Brown Athletic Center but the nickname stuck through . Even though the Gophers havent always matched the atmospheres on the court, I have seen plenty of games in The Barn go the way of the home team because of the energy the fans provided the players. The aluminum ceiling contains the loud cheering of student fans and adds to the unique character of Mackey Arena. I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and have loved basketball for as long as I can remember. Students are given absolutely priority at Cameron Indoor, and it makes all the difference. But the potential is still there, and if Pitt improves in the near future, it will be much higher on this list in a few years. The arena is built in a way that fans appear to be almost on top of the players, intensifying the environment and adding to the noise potential. College basketball's toughest arenas: Duke, Kansas lead - Sports 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. The 30 Toughest College Basketball Arenas to Play In Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) Named the loudest college basketball arena in the country, fans at Allen Fieldhouse aren't afraid to make some noise (and it's safe to say they won'r quiet down any time soon after the Jayhawks took home their fourth national championship in program history on Monday night). That team, led by Sean May, erased a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes. In that same span, the Jayhawks lost 13 games at home. Each point you score gets you closer to filling the ball basket . It was the originator of blowing up players faces to create the big heads you now see across college basketball atmospheres, and their efforts have had an effect on the Aztecs winning eight Mountain West regular season titles since 2006. Yes, definitely. That being said, when in-state rival Kansas comes to town, throw the records out the door, as the 12,528-seat arena turns into one of college basketball's loudest environments. 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. The 7 Best College Basketball Stadiums of All Time - SeatGeek Regardless of the team, the atmosphere has the potential to be electric, especially if the matchup is right. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Theres close to 6,000 students at Allen Fieldhousethree times more than Dukeand theyve earned the title of loudest college arena. But its also because the fans turn Allen Fieldhouse into an incredibly-difficult environment for opposition to handle. Rated 5 / 5. Ubel said in The Gazette, (Michigan States) atmosphere, their students, the way its set up the students are completely surrounding the court. This is a new-money type of atmosphere, but that doesnt make it any less imposing for visiting college basketball squads. So, when you come to play against Maryland in College Park for a big game or as a team the fans are predisposed to dislike, it will not be a pleasant experience. We also have 10 times the population as we did during Tark's heyday. Former Kentucky guard John Wall elicited a 110.1 when he returned in 2011. So it's clear that playing at home can make a big difference in college hoops, especially when you have dedicated fans and can pack an arena. 15 Best College Basketball Arenas in the USA | 2022 Rankings Home of the Izzone, the well-known Michigan State student section (named afteryou guessed it, Tom Izzo), the Breslin Center is always a tough trip for opponents to make. How Tolu Smith, students in banana costumes helped Chris Jans build Some are steeped in tradition, while others offer modern-day amenities but still remain a pain for the opposition. It might offend some Kentucky fans to see me ranking them outside of the top five, and they might have a point. ACC's venues ranked according to difficulty - ESPN.com Since it's March Madness, I thought we would discuss which college basketball arenas are the loudest? Known as one of the "best, loudest, and most intimidating" stadiums in college football, upwards of 92,000 people can fill the seats to watch the action between the hedges. Since Miller took over the program in 2009-10, Arizona has won more than 140 home games. 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. Not too long ago, GIA would have been unquestionably in the top 25. The 30 Toughest College Basketball Arenas to Play In By Bex Walton - July 3, 2016 There's something about some arenas in basketball that make it almost impossible to win a game in. How loud does it get in The Phog? Up high are the season ticket holders, down low are the Smurfs, better knows as the Cameron Crazies. Students are given the sections nearest to the floor behind one of the baskets and along one of the sidelines, plus a couple of sections in the 300s. I know the dynamic may change since it's Utah-Utah State. Thats Opeth, Lamb of God and Metallica territory. Back in 2012, Nebraskas Brandon Ubel made specific mention of Michigan States Breslin Student Events Center. But its still one of the premier crowds in the country for now. Mar 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. The arena broke the Guinness World Record for the loudest indoor roar on Feb. 13, 2017, against West Virginia at 130.4 dB, breaking the record Rupp Arena established less than three weeks. Here are the best college basketball stadiums in the NCAA The circular configuration of Koch Arena has provided a huge home-court advantage for the Shockers, especially in recent years when they've ranked among the nation's best. The largest arena designed specifically for college hoops, the 23,500-seat Rupp Arena for the University of Kentucky opened in 1976 and is. Kentucky isnt just a passionate fan base, its kind of rabid, and thats no insult. The Travel Channel's best college basketball venues - HawgSports.com Xavier fans are ferociously dedicated to their Musketeers, and their dedication to the program is part of why it has risen up to the Big East. The home of the Wildcats has packed in as many as 24,000 for basketball games, despite the official capacity being listed as 23,500. Dayton is very much included in that. It especially matters when you have a bunch of emotionally charged, chemically enhanced co-eds painted every color of the rainbow yelling invectives at an equally young man shooting a free throw. 2/20/2020 Tom M. Boiler Up! Acoustics engineers help ESPN rate loudest college basketball arenas State. The Carrier Dome is one of the most unique venues in all of college basketball. New Mexico has won more than 80 percent of the games its played in The Pit since it opened in 1966, and with the built-in advantages the arena provides, it makes some sense. Wichita State games are the real deal. I went to Oakland Raider games. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Cameron Indoor Stadium Thats what i think, what yall think? And for that reason, the atmosphere at Rupp Arena is worthy of a very high place in the pecking order. for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event (130.4 decibels). I imagine it gets much, much more deafening when IU is actually in the building. Discover short videos related to loudest college basketball stadium on TikTok. On top of that, there are no air conditioning units in the building, no white-noise humming in the background. Big Game Boomer on Twitter: "The Loudest College Basketball Arena In What is the loudest college basketball arena? This is my article. Finneran Pavilion (Villanova) Indiana has won five NCAA Championships in men's basketball (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987). Bruce Waynes not climbing out of this pit. NBA Preview 2021-22: Who Claims the Crown? With arguably the most passionate fans in college . 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. The Pit - Dreamstyle Arena 13. Fans in the famous student section, called the Cameron Crazies, are known for painting themselves blue and white and doing signature moves, like reaching out an arm while an opposing player is inbounding the ball. Gallagher is called the Madison Square Garden of the Plains, and though the fans probably wont break any lights in the 13,000-plus capacity arena, the fact that it once did keeps fans screaming louder and louder. Kansas has a lifetime 774114 record at Allen Fieldhouse, which works out to a .872 win percentage going back to 1955. Jan 12, 2023. A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Boo birds at Hilton Coliseum are a different breed of boos, piercing through the building like daggers aimed at their target. And, of course, it witnessed much of the Hoosiers 197576 undefeated seasonthe last perfect season in men's college hoops. That atmosphere, combined with the rise of the Zags as a program, has helped the team compile an astounding .924 winning percentage at McCarthey, losing only 16 times since its opening in 2004. 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. Williams remains one of the more unique arenas in the nation, particularly for the player seats below the raised court, meaning it takes some effort to check into the game and run the famous Minneapolis floor. I can think of several games Ive watched at this arena over the years that felt like my TV was vibrating. It means every orange-clad, snow-loving student gets every chance to optimize the strength of his or her vocal cords. Images. MacKey Arena 9. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona Wildcats) February 1, 2023 will mark the milestone 50-year anniversary of the McKale Center's opening. Largest College Basketball Arenas in the SEC - Fueled by Sports 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. It's perhaps the most unique gymnasium in all of college basketball. Conference affiliations reflect those in the current 2022-23 season; all affiliation changes officially took effect on July 1, 2022. The Detroit Redwings throw octopi on the ice, so why dont Hoosier fans throw chairs onto the court? List of indoor arenas in Germany - Wikipedia The Roundhouse, as its known for reasons that should be self-explanatory, the Shockers forged one of the best home records in the country for years in the building. The MAC, or even more commonly, The Kennel, is even smaller than Cameron Indoor, with a capacity of only 6,000. The airlock doors Thats how they get you first. At just under 18,000 capacity, the home of the Terps is one of the bigger venues in college basketball. SECs venues ranked according to difficulty - ESPN.com He missed one of the three free throws as the game went to overtime, where New Mexico prevailed. In college basketball, going to an NCAA game is one of the most exhilarating experiences for a fan, and college campuses are where you are bound to find the loudest basketball arenas. The Coliseum has been dubbed as one of the finest facilities for collegiate basketball, and with the student sections placed deep behind both baskets, fans have no choice but to scream, cheer and boo for the duration of the game. Home Team. The 25 Most Incredible College Basketball Arenas - Popular Mechanics They put the "wild" in Wildcats. When looking at the east coast venues, Dukes Cameron Indoor Stadium stands above as the loudest and most turbulent environment to play. If you haven't been . Enter the Iowa State Cyclones. At least it gets those dag nab bit iGoogle Crapple Twitterbooks out of their hands. With a seating capacity of 23,500, it's the largest off-campus home for a Division I team in the country. The Pit is 37 feet down into the crust, funneling the vocals and screams from the red and white down onto the court. I can remember watching many Arizona home games over the years where the crowd was absolutely out of its mind, with Derrick Williams game-saving block against Washington in 2011 the first example I think of. Rank Arena Team Capacity Opened; 1: Rupp Arena: Kentucky: 23,500: 1976: 2: Thompson-Boling Arena You have to respect a fanbase that has such a dedication to pure and unadulterated hatred for its enemy. Most schools have some sort of flair that make them unique, from a traditional chant or song to a gorgeous arena from before your grandparents were born. 14. Not many venues can claim they play in a dome, but thats what the Syracuse Orange do. Here's a look at the loudest basketball arenas in the NCAA Center (Louisville, KY) - Louisville Basketball (22,090 Capacity) . NIKE (@nikemcclure) / Twitter There arent many cities in America more obsessed with college basketball than Indianapolis, and Butler is part of that puzzle. The trip to the desert has been one of the hardest in the Pac-12 for decades, in part because of the quality of the teams that have often blessed Tucson, but also because of the insane environment Wildcats fans create in the building. Add in the history of the place, and its undoubtedly one of the marquee places to see a basketball game in the world, regardless of level. Mackey Arena is also one of the loudest college basketball arenas in the country. Breslin also has played host to some of the world's greatest musical acts, including Aerosmith, KISS, Pearl Jam and The Beach Boys. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country - there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. But similar to UNC, a lot of the fans given priority seating in Rupp Arena are very far from current students, and it costs several thousands of dollars for season tickets near the action. Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion 11. Scheduled for completion in 2021, the 62,000-sq.-ft. Idaho Central Credit Union Arena will be the new home for Vandals' basketball, regional tournaments, lectures, as well as "small and mid-size" events, other . I dont know if people who arent familiar with Cincinnati and the general region, but basketball, particularly college basketball, is EXTREMELY important. "The Phog" or "The Cathedral of Basketball," as it is affectionately called, was opened on March 1, 1955 and now holds 17,000 people. 10 College Basketball Arenas That Suffer From Having No Fans During Rupp Arena (Kentucky) Fitting that the largest basketball-only arena in the U.S. be #1 on our list. I have attended a Purdue game at Mackey before, and it was one of the loudest things Ive ever experienced (no, it was not the game below). For the unbiased college basketball fan, it's a bucket list item, even to see it empty. Hype remains around Texas A&M men's basketball team's season finale These two are clearly a cut above the rest and host some special atmospheres in the scheme of this sport. in the NCAA tournament picture and, perhaps more importantly, The Pit is rocking again. This is my list, and in my world, its The Pit. Ten arenas where full capacity crowds will be missed most - 247Sports