There arent many cities in America more obsessed with college basketball than Indianapolis, and Butler is part of that puzzle. 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. The Allen Fieldhouse, at the University of Kansas, is home to the Kansas Jayhawks men's and women's basketball teams. UNM Arena, New Mexico 5. 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. 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 location of the student section, called The Izzone, is absolutely prime. Opened in 1967, Mackey holds a little more than 14,000 people, and those people do not hesitate to yell. 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. College basketball's toughest arenas: Duke, Kansas lead - Sports #newmexico #lobos #thepit #basketball". 15 Best College Basketball Arenas In The Usa 2022 Rankings 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. Dean Smith Center 5. The atmosphere at the Spectrum isnt what it was in the 2000s, and for that it just barely misses out on my top 25. It's not mean-spirited, it's not like you're going to get hit with a hot dog or anything. 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. NCAA Basketball: The 13 Loudest Arenas - Bleacher Report 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. Since it's March Madness, I thought we would discuss which college basketball arenas are the loudest? The huge space makes more sense once you know that the Orange football and lacrosse teams also . 5. That has got to have Bill Self, Kansas head coach, screaming for joy. Not only is the trip out to West Virginia a long one for any of the other nine (current) Big 12 teams, the environment that awaits them is unfriendly, to say the least. In that same span, the Jayhawks lost 13 games at home. Loudest Mountain West basketball arenas 11. Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) The 9,314-person capacity at Cameron is far smaller than many of Dukes blue blood competitors, but it makes for a tight, cramped and electric atmosphereespecially when that team in Carolina blue comes to town. I've been to Duke. 30 toughest college basketball arenas to play in. Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina. Theres close to 6,000 students at Allen Fieldhousethree times more than Dukeand theyve earned the title of loudest college arena. Wichita State has a hidden gem of an atmosphere. When its full, and thats been a more common occurrence as the Cavs have been regularly competing for ACC championships the last several years, JPJ can be raucous. 1 of 13 The loudest arena in college basketball has given the Duke Blue Devils the best home-court advantage for more than a decade. Its the largest domed structure on a U.S. college campus and can hold 33,000 for basketball games and 56,250 for concerts. 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. That has an effect on the atmosphere. When enough people can make a 22,000-seat arena shake, thats loud, intimidating and cause for exodus. At just under 18,000 capacity, the home of the Terps is one of the bigger venues in college basketball. Opened. Top 25 Loudest Stadiums | SuperTailgate 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. I imagine it gets much, much more deafening when IU is actually in the building. When the Orange are struggling, the arena can look cavernous with empty spots, yet when Jim Boeheim's program is playing well it truly is the "Loud House." The 8 best arenas to watch college basketball | For The Win Gallagher-Iba Arena, Oklahoma State 10. 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 . "The Phog" or "The Cathedral of Basketball," as it is affectionately called, was opened on March 1, 1955 and now holds 17,000 people. From the team benches on the baseline to the expanded court area, the home of the Commodores is something to behold. Big Game Boomer . Though the Antelopes jumped to DI in 2013, theyve established themselves as one of the top mid-major programs on the rise, especially after reaching their first NCAA Tournament in 2021. There have been so many Kansas games Ive watched over the years where the crowd so clearly willed its team back into the game and simply refused to let the Jayhawks lose. From cheerleaders and bands, to painted co-eds and mascots, college basketball arenas -- with the thousands of fans that fill the seats -- can be one of the loudest places in the country. And, of course, it witnessed much of the Hoosiers 197576 undefeated seasonthe last perfect season in men's college hoops. Id suspect that as the program continues to improve and remain among the elite in the SEC, Arkansas will find itself itching up this list. Playing at home can make all the difference in college basketball. The cushioned seating is a nice touch while still not taking away from the intense atmosphere that's usually associated with Cyclones basketball. Full disclosure: I attended Maryland, including many mens basketball games, including many mens basketball games in the student section. Indiana has won five NCAA Championships in men's basketball (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987). But as Oklahoma State basketball has suffered, Oklahoma State football has produced, and Cowboys fans have understandably shifting their focus further to the gridiron. 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. Theres a reason they say, Pay Heed, All Who Enter: Beware of the Phog, because Allen Fieldhouse is loud. The stadium itself is actually 37 feet below street level due to the fact that it was built on a mesa. Its an intense environment, but Duke has moved past the mindset of doing things that would be hurtful or cross a line thats too personal. If Arizona doesnt get back to the upper echelon of the Pac-12 in the next handful of years, the atmosphere at the McKale Center might lose some luster and dip in these rankings. 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. Here's a look at the loudest basketball arenas in the NCAA But all the qualities that have made this arena a nightmare for opponents are still there, and a trip to East Lansing is still very intimidating. What Is The Smallest School To Win The Ncaa Tournament? . Fans are often seen using paint and props to create crazy energy in the stands, along with bouncing in unison in the same, or different, directions. Their efforts in particular gives The Kennel one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. 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. The Musketeers boast one of the nicer and more multifunctional venues in the college game. Great sightlines. Carrier Dome 12. The Razorbacks are celebrating the 25th season of basketball at their arena named after Walmart's co-founder. Villanova utilizes the Wells Fargo Center for some of its home games, but Finneran Pavilion, also known as The Pavilion, is the teams 6,501-seat arena located on campus. It's big but doesn't lose its roominess, especially when crowded. Utah State may not be a headliner on the basketball court, but don't tell its student section that. City. 10. Rated 5 / 5. The Spartans have won 86.9% of their home games since the arena opened in 1989, as the fans in East Lansing have given a team that is annually among the sports elites a further advantage. Amusing, possibly, but since thats patently foolish, they can scream for Tom Crean. The following courts are the loudest, biggest, baddest, meanest venues to visit. We have the VGK and Raiders (who themselves would hardly ever play at the same time as a UNLV hoops game), whoo hoo. It has been called The Loud House and once registered a decibel level of 120. This is a list of arenas that currently serve as the home venue for NCAA Division I college basketball teams. Utah State has an Oakland Raider mentality without the knives and guns. Capacity. Mackey Arena is also one of the loudest college basketball arenas in the country. As if playing a possible two-platoon Wildcat team isnt intimidating enough, the fans in Lexington bring the noise. Unfortunately, I have always been too short and Jewish to play at a high level, so I instead settled for watching and reporting from the sideline. Discover loudest college basketball stadium 's popular videos | TikTok Considered one of the rowdiest places to watch college basketball, Oklahoma State's arena is named for two of the school's greats: basketball coach Henry Iba and legendary wrestling coach Hank Gallagher. And thus, ISU had built one of the most intimidating atmospheres in all of college basketball. That's not far off, as the school also boasts that no other arena has hosted more games or opponents than The Palestra. The building continues to provide a strong home-court advantage for both Maryland's men's and women's programs. But is it a tough section to play in front of? From the "Cameron Crazies" on top of the action to the "Krzyzewskiville" commune outside, the intimate 9,300-seat venue offers the greatest home-court advantage in the country. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. 3. In addition to being one of the loudest in the nation, the arena has also helped Kansas compile a 140-3 home record since 2007, statistically one of the best in all of sports. Good run. Watch popular content from the following creators: Live life To The Fullest(@ballisendless), Live life To The Fullest(@ballisendless), cbbcr3(@cbbcr3), cameronhellgeth(@cameronhellgeth), Ryan Hammer(@ryanhammer9), cameronhellgeth(@cameronhellgeth), Caroline(@cmakauskas), Cooper Deck(@cooperdeck . Sure, the program isnt where Indiana fans want it to be and hasnt been for some time now, but with walls of humans that dont seem to end towering over top of the court, all of whom are very, very passionate about the sport of basketball and the Hoosiers in particular, Assembly Hall can be a nightmare. Likes. The University of Pennsylvania dubs the grand room as the "most storied gymnasium in the history of collegiate athletics." All rights reserved. Purdues Terone Johnson said in The Gazette, It gets ridiculous. The students are given almost every section nearest to the court, which is a prime setup to surround the opposing team. Im sure some will say this top-10 placement is based on bias, which Im willing to give some credence to. Every section that lines the edges of the court is filled with students, well known as the Cameron Crazies. No matter where an opposing player or coach turns, they will inevitably come face-to-face with a teenager painted blue with veins popping out of their head as they not-so-politely explain how bad their enemies are at what they do. Just ask Jimmy Chitwood. 14 Petersen Events Center;. When the Jayhawks were winning Big 12 titles every year for more than a decade, nobody was winning at Allen Fieldhouse but them. From signs to body paint to shaking their hands in coordination at opposing players inbounding the ball, Duke clearly has one of the best student sections in the country, and by extension have one of the best atmospheres as well. 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. Ushers and concession employees are fabulous. Explore a new way to challenge real players on this multiplayer Basketball game! On a consistent basis, the atmosphere at the Dean Dome is not elite. Hailing from the ABQ, where the fictitious Walter White cooked his famous blue crystal meth, the Lobos home court is burrowed in the earth. All 14 Big Ten Basketball Arenas, Ranked - Nothing But Nylon Wichita State games are the real deal. As a kid growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I was an Ohio State fan. 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). . The Best College Basketball Arenas - Ranker What is the loudest college basketball arena? UD Arena gets decent crowds for NCAA Tournament games, but its on another level when the Flyers are playing. Sports' Jeff Eisenberg, former Wake Forest star Ish Smith said: I know people will automatically say Cameron and we never won in Cameron, but Cameron was fun to play in. But part of what makes Hilton so deadly is the passion and noise making isnt relegated to just the students the adults sitting around the arena are poised and ready with their boo birds, too. no arena in the country has hosted more NCAA Tournament games. NCAA says Kansas has the loudest arena in college basketball (VIDEO Unlike other traditional blue blood programs, Duke has rather small arena with 9,314 seats. Breslin also has played host to some of the world's greatest musical acts, including Aerosmith, KISS, Pearl Jam and The Beach Boys. The Travel Channel's best college basketball venues - HawgSports.com 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. 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. 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. Since the Cintas Center opened in 2000, Xavier has been one of the most remarkably consistent programs in college hoops, missing the NCAA tournament only twice in that span. The Value City Arena is located on the campus of Ohio State University and is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Rick Pitino says UNC, Duke and rest of ACC run clean programs. College basketball arenas, both big and small, make for some of the best atmospheres in sports thanks to eccentric student sections, unique venues and never-ending tradition. Students are given absolutely priority at Cameron Indoor, and it makes all the difference. Best Atmospheres of College Sports Arenas - Team Fan Apparel Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to honor Purdue alumnus and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. Obviously, it wasnt a long drive, especially compared to Providence and Oklahoma, but Flyers fans turned Nationwide Arena into a madhouse. Center 15. 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. Maryland has one of the nastiest, least-welcoming fanbases in the country. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona) The aluminum ceiling contains the loud cheering of student fans and adds to the unique character of Mackey Arena. and volleyball teams and is the nation's oldest on-campus arena that still serves as the primary home to a Division I basketball program. The results appear in the magazine's Nov. 15 issue, which is available on newsstands. 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 crowd is loud. But its still one of the premier crowds in the country for now. Since 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse has been at the center of it all and was named as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It's big, but not mammoth, and can feel like a cigar box to opponents when 16,300 are packed in to root on the Jayhawks. Now, whether or not I think some of the seats in the Carrier Dome are laughably absurd or not doesnt matter. Are there times where Assembly Hall falls victim to older fans with money taking up the best seats and spending the entire game sitting down? A few years ago, Im not sure Arkansas would have made this list. The Best College Basketball Arenas, Ranked | 2aDays You wouldnt think one of the more-recent entrants into Division I mens college basketball would have one of the best atmospheres in the sport, but Grand Canyon does. 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? Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh) 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. 10 College Basketball Arenas That Suffer From Having No Fans During Big Ten basketball players vote on the league's loudest gym. But with how the student section is placed around more than half of the court and right up near the action and the schools inclination for hoops, the potential for an elite atmosphere is always there at Illinois. Now thats what you call home court advantage. Mar 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. 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. 1,000 percent. Over the past two seasons, Duke is 33-0 at home the past two seasons and hasnt lost an out-of-conference game at home since Feb. 26, 2000. 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. They put the "wild" in Wildcats. Lanxess Arena. MacKey Arena 9. The airlock doors Thats how they get you first. Honorable mentions are at the bottom. What's the biggest arena in the world? Even when MSU lost an uncharacteristic 15 games in the 201617 season, only two of those came at Breslin, and it dropped just one game all year at home last season. The Lobos have won a whopping 732 home games since the arenas opening in 1966, with their fans making it a daunting place to play. 15 Best College Basketball Arenas in the USA | 2022 Rankings The bar is high to reach the top 25. The insane home record Kansas boasts is partially because its teams are generally very, very good. Opened in November 2004, the "Kennel". When you put together the prioritizing of student seating with a basketball school and a fanbase that prides itself in being horrible to outsiders, you will formulate one of the premier atmospheres in college basketball. How historic is this building? McKale Memorial Center (Arizona Wildcats) February 1, 2023 will mark the milestone 50-year anniversary of the McKale Center's opening. Rupp Arena- University of Kentucky 1. The 25 best arenas in college basketball | Yardbarker That said, Kentucky fans are animalistic about their Cats. Playing away is tough in itself, but if you're playing at one of these arenas then it's pretty much game over. Chris Murray: Ranking the loudest basketball arenas Mackey Arena has a secret to its rowdiness that not many venues can 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. Also, the name sucks, and corporate staleness is not good for college basketball. Its twice the size as Cameron [Indoor Stadium] with three times the students sitting courtside. 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. Big Ten players poll: What's the loudest arena in the Big Ten? Loudest arena in the nation. IU buzzer beater - YouTube Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh 7. 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. With March Madness approaching, here's a look at some of the loudest college arenas in the NCAA: 10. 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. 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. to see one of college basketball's great facilities up close. KFC Yum! A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) What is the largest basketball arena? 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. The Cyclone faithful are a dedicated bunch that pack the 14,384-seat arena and are worthy of rounding out our top 10. Gay was fouled shooting a three with his team down two and one second remaining. Rupp Arena, Kentucky Size matters in Kentucky. It's a historical venue in the middle of the most exciting city in the world and can elevate the games of those fortunate to play there. Its size is unmatched with 34,616 seats, Syracuses home is more than 11,000 seats larger than the second-largest arena in the sport. McKale Memorial Center 14. 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. 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. How Tolu Smith, students in banana costumes helped Chris Jans build When Cody Zeller made a key steal against Michigan State, Assembly Hall earned a 115.3 dB reading. 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. Largest College Basketball Arenas in the SEC ranked 1-14. That makes Duke tough and loud, but not the toughest and loudest (though one man likened the crowd to that of a jet engine). 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. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. 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. Allen Fieldhouse- Kansas 3.Oconnel Center- Florida 2. 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? NBA Preview 2021-22: Who Claims the Crown? UNC is one of the most storied, successful programs in the sport, and the potential for an insane atmosphere is there when a situation calls for it. Conference affiliations reflect those in the current 2022-23 season; all affiliation changes officially took effect on July 1, 2022. Kentucky is one of the most successful NCAA basketball programs in the country, and playing in front of fans in Rupp Arena is a plus. 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.