What is the largest basketball arena? Finneran Pavilion (Villanova) Only 14 D-I men's teams have won less than 50% of their games in their current homes. Maryland has one of the nastiest, least-welcoming fanbases in the country. With March Madness approaching, here's a look at some of the loudest college arenas in the NCAA: 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. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is perfect. Mackey Arena is one of the biggest best college basketball arenas since it has a capacity of over 14,000 fans. On top of that, there are no air conditioning units in the building, no white-noise humming in the background. With this in mind, we polled our college basketball staff and asked them to rank what they feel are the 10 toughest places in the country for opposing teams to play. After undergoing a $1 billion renovation in. The second closest program is Kansas State, with their duo of Fort Snyder and. 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. The school allows wealthy donors to have the best seats in the house, and those fans dont have a reputation for getting loud. The crowd is loud. Mississippi State basketball fans and MSU students Josh Fisher, Ben Stroud and David Kiesel smile in front of a Humphrey Coliseum crowd before the Bulldogs face Kentucky on Feb. 15, 2023. Jerry Walker, a former Seton Hall player, said in The Star Ledger: They have you go through these doors where if one door is open and you open the other door, itll crush your bones or something. Theres no question the students go very hard for their Tar Heels. Zeigler is leading the Southeastern Conference in assists, averaging 5.4 per game. Capacity. Opened in November 2004, the Kennel is the smallest arena on this list, but its atmosphere has made Gonzaga one of the most successful programs at home. Utah State has an Oakland Raider mentality without the knives and guns. Kentucky isnt just a passionate fan base, its kind of rabid, and thats no insult. As UVA has been a national and regional contender, the students have been bringing their A-game, and its made a difference. Any time the Jayhawks have to go to Ames, I circle that date on my calendar and make sure I watch, even if the teams are lopsided, because that crowd is liable to explode at any point in the game. Stephen C. O'Connell Center, also known as the O'Dome, is a 10,500-seat arena that is home to the Florida Gators athletic programs. But for the most part the students are civil and often downright clever with their chants. How much better does it get? 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. The largest mostly-college basketball arena with 23,500 seats (and more than 24,000 if needed), Rupp sat in the Guinness Book of World Records for the loudest arena for 17 days two seasons ago . Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh) Kansas allots 4,000 of the arenas 16,300 capacity to students and puts them behind both baskets and largely in a four-section span in one of the corners. Which 10 schools create the most challenging atmospheres for opponents? 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. More than 35,000 people watched a single Syracuse basketball game at the largest domed campus stadium in the country. Their efforts in particular gives The Kennel one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. 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. . The Blue Devils are ranked fourth all-time in wins of any NCAA mens basketball program and the Cameron Indoor Stadium fans never let you forget it. The largest arena designed specifically for college hoops, the 23,500-seat Rupp Arena for the University of Kentucky opened in 1976 and is. in the NCAA tournament picture and, perhaps more importantly, The Pit is rocking again. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is absolutely prime. 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. You could argue Maryland should be a bit lower if you want, but you cant say its inclusion on this list and at least near the top 10 isnt warranted. Rank Arena Team Capacity Opened; 1: Rupp Arena: Kentucky: 23,500: 1976: 2: Thompson-Boling Arena No, not Banes pit prison from The Dark Knight Rises. Many fans have complained about the quality of the arena, but thats for a separate discussion. 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. But OSU fans wouldnt complain about being good in both, and if Mike Boynton can continue the momentum he built from last season and bring some passion back to the program, then theres no question Gallagher-Iba Arena will go back to being one of the most feared settings in the game. Louisville is one of the most successful programs in the sport, and it has some very passionate fans. 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. 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. The arena seats 16,300 spectators and ESPN The Magazine referred to the stadium as the loudest for college basketball in the country. I know the name changed. 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. I dont care. Hinkle Fieldhouse 6. Breslin Student Events Center - Michigan State, On Feb. 13, 2017, 16,300 fans in attendance at Allen Fieldhouse set the. Gonzaga's new "Kennel" opened in 2004. The arenas serve as home venues for both the men's and women's teams except where noted. What does that mean? All rights reserved. What's the biggest arena in the world? Virginia Cavaliers: John Paul Jones Arena, opened in 2006 A decade ago, a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, was nowhere near the toughest in the league. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. The Crazies were issued a gag order of sorts as they were told from the powers that be to clean up the chants. The Pete isnt what it was a decade ago, but thats much more the fault of the programs failures on the court than the fans in the stands. But as Oklahoma State basketball has suffered, Oklahoma State football has produced, and Cowboys fans have understandably shifting their focus further to the gridiron. Under Coach Bill Self, the Jayhawks have had multiple home . 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). The likes of Dwayne "Pearl" Washington and Carmelo Anthony have starred here, making it a one-of-a-kind experience for the college basketball fan. The HURD elicit fear into the psyches of its opponents. Also known as The Barn, Minnesotas Williams Arena is one of the most unique in the sport. I've been to the Pit. Thats why I have North Carolina this high. 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. It makes it the largest arena in the country that is used only for indoor sports, and when you combine that with the success of the Wildcats you get a nightly crowd thats always ready to rock. Thats Opeth, Lamb of God and Metallica territory. 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. When the Jayhawks were winning Big 12 titles every year for more than a decade, nobody was winning at Allen Fieldhouse but them. You dont know passion until youve heard thousands of people covered in red methodically spell out D-A-Y-TEEEE-O-O-O-O-N as loudly as they can enough times to the point where the song is still burned into your memory more than six years later. Ive watched too many games at the Dean Dome and heard the shoes squeak for me to put it in the top 10. Breslin also has played host to some of the world's greatest musical acts, including Aerosmith, KISS, Pearl Jam and The Beach Boys. Its the largest domed structure on a U.S. college campus and can hold over 35,000 for hoops games, as it did for a February 2014 game against Duke where it set the arenas record for an NCAA mens basketball game. If youre ever lucky enough to walk through the doors at this historic venue, you can feel its age, history, and importance to the game within moments. Not many venues can claim they play in a dome, but thats what the Syracuse Orange do. When packed, the building rocks and the dark seating corners add a nice touch to the experience. 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. Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) Views. Any opposing team that steps into the arena in Ames, Iowa, has to deal with the looming threat of Hilton Magic, the belief that theres something extraperhaps even unexplainablethat joins with the fans to boost the Cyclones to victory at home. As if playing a possible two-platoon Wildcat team isnt intimidating enough, the fans in Lexington bring the noise. Established in 1968, it stands as the eldest arena in the association. One of The Pits legendary moments came back in 2010, when San Diego States D.J. Students are placed a couple sections deep behind both baskets, plus with sections into the 200s on the east end, meaning theres no escape for opponents no matter which basket theyre attacking. Shows how loud assembly hall can get. Utah State may not be a headliner on the basketball court, but don't tell its student section that. The Musketeers boast one of the nicer and more multifunctional venues in the college game. Kansas has a lifetime 774114 record at Allen Fieldhouse, which works out to a .872 win percentage going back to 1955. It still remains one of college basketball's special gyms. I remember getting to the line and it was so loud my ears started to hurt, and I think for a split second I lost my focus, Gay would later say of his miss. But the potential is still there, and Utah State is still one of the toughest places to play in the Mountain West. (The team's 150-game non-conference home winning streak was ended earlier this season with a loss to Stephen F. Austin). to see one of college basketball's great facilities up close. Sanford Stadium. Cameron Indoor is iconic for a host of reasons, and one of the biggest is the atmosphere. This is one of the best college basketball arenas in 2022 as it has state-of-the-art facilities and a capacity for a maximum of 17,472 seats. We have the VGK and Raiders (who themselves would hardly ever play at the same time as a UNLV hoops game), whoo hoo. Playing at home can make all the difference in college basketball. Really, were all in agreement here; Maryland fans are obscenely obnoxious, and they wouldnt want it any other way. t ws unbelievable.". Likes. The 12th-ranked Volunteers announced that Zeigler tore his left ACL in a win over Arkansas. It opened in 1928 but does not show its age thanks to renovations and impeccable upkeep. The huge space makes more sense once you know that the Orange football and lacrosse teams also . Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) The Carrier Dome is a domed arena on the campus of Syracuse University, home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball and lacrosse teams. In a video released by NCAA.com, it says, It's twice the. The arena is relatively tiny, seating just a bit more than 9,000 people at one of the premier basketball entities in the game. A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. You have to respect a fanbase that has such a dedication to pure and unadulterated hatred for its enemy. Not so on the Beltway, when the Maryland Terrapins play host. Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State) Rob Ferguson/USA TODAY Sports Considered one of the rowdiest places to watch college basketball, Oklahoma State's arena is named for two of the school's. That has an effect on the atmosphere. College basketball is a special sport, and the atmospheres across the country take credit for a good deal of that. The only team that seems to have cracked the code to succeeding there is BYU, which had won three straight in The Kennel before Gonzaga knocked the pesky Cougars off this past February. 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. 5. Id expect the atmosphere to remain insane at GCU moving forward. According to BGB, the duo of Jordan-Hare Stadium and Neville Arena is the loudest in all of college sports. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. Save Share Show Less During the Big 8 Conference finals, former OKU wrestling coach Myron Roderick said, "It got s loud, lot f the lights busted n Gallagher. The students are given almost every section nearest to the court, as well as a handful of sections at the very top of the arenas north side, which means they have their enemies surrounded. Also, the name sucks, and corporate staleness is not good for college basketball. That makes Duke tough and loud, but not the toughest and loudest (though one man likened the crowd to that of a jet engine). And, of course, it witnessed much of the Hoosiers 197576 undefeated seasonthe last perfect season in men's college hoops.