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). 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. Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina. Xfinity Center (Maryland). no arena in the country has hosted more NCAA Tournament games. 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. Utah State may not be a headliner on the basketball court, but don't tell its student section that. The Aggies finished 13-5 at home a year ago and much of that can be credited to this loud and verbally abusive venue. Breslin also has played host to some of the world's greatest musical acts, including Aerosmith, KISS, Pearl Jam and The Beach Boys. Their efforts in particular gives The Kennel one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. Shot from student section. 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. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is absolutely prime. The unusual setting can give the Orange an advantage over opponents who arent used to the domes confinesor sizehelping Syracuse win 83.1% of its games in the arenas history. for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event (130.4 decibels). Boo birds at Hilton Coliseum are a different breed of boos, piercing through the building like daggers aimed at their target. According to BGB, the duo of Jordan-Hare Stadium and Neville Arena is the loudest in all of college sports. He's also tied for second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points, while leading the team and ranking in the SEC's top 5 in steals. People in the midwest know a thing or two about tornadoes and the noise of natural distasters. 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.". It was the final conference game between the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels. 5. Prepare for adrenaline-pumped moments! Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas) Bramlage Coliseum, Kansas State 8. 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. 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. Duke hasn't lost a non-conference game at Cameron Indoor. If he could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High and Grand Lakes University. Allen Fieldhouse- Kansas 3.Oconnel Center- Florida 2. 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. It might offend some Kentucky fans to see me ranking them outside of the top five, and they might have a point. It has been called The Loud House and once registered a decibel level of 120. This venue is renowned for its raucous game-day environment and multipurpose availability. And once the ball is tipped, theres not a louder college basketball arena in the country. Students are placed behind both baskets, occupying a large chunk of the space around the court, meaning their spirited chants and curses can be heard and felt intimately by opposing players on the floor. 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. Theres close to 6,000 students at Allen Fieldhousethree times more than Dukeand theyve earned the title of loudest college arena. UNM Arena, New Mexico 5. 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. 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. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. I can think of several games Ive watched at this arena over the years that felt like my TV was vibrating. A bucket-list destination for basketball fans everywhere, tickets to watch a game in this gym can be expensive and hard to acquiredepending on Duke's . 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. The student section of the stadium has been dubbed the "Rowdy Reptiles. Dick Vitale, on assignment at the Florida-Kentucky game in 2006, said the O'Connell Center is one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. Officially the world's largest by capacity, Pyongyang, North Korea's Rungrado 1st of May Stadium takes top spot. 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. Of course, there are several, gyms, stadiums, arenas or domes that stand out in the college game. 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. Center (Louisville, KY) - Louisville Basketball (22,090 Capacity) . Amusing, possibly, but since thats patently foolish, they can scream for Tom Crean. 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. The airlock doors Thats how they get you first. You have to respect a fanbase that has such a dedication to pure and unadulterated hatred for its enemy. I imagine it gets much, much more deafening when IU is actually in the building. Retweets. We have the VGK and Raiders (who themselves would hardly ever play at the same time as a UNLV hoops game), whoo hoo. Jan 14, 2020. Arkansas won a national championship in the building's first season, and though the school's recent teams have not enjoyed that same elite success, the program still ranks among the national leaders in home attendance. As UVA has been a national and regional contender, the students have been bringing their A-game, and its made a difference. Opened in November 2004, the "Kennel". 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 team's 150-game non-conference home winning streak was ended earlier this season with a loss to Stephen F. Austin). But when the Bulldogs have a marquee game in the building, theres nothing welcoming about the environment. The insane home record Kansas boasts is partially because its teams are generally very, very good. 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. A few years ago, Im not sure Arkansas would have made this list. 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 building continues to provide a strong home-court advantage for both Maryland's men's and women's programs. Hailing from the ABQ, where the fictitious Walter White cooked his famous blue crystal meth, the Lobos home court is burrowed in the earth. 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. 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. in the NCAA tournament picture and, perhaps more importantly, The Pit is rocking again. It opened in 1938 and underwent a major renovation in 2001. Finneran Pavilion (Villanova) College basketball is a special sport, and the atmospheres across the country take credit for a good deal of that. Also known as The Barn, Minnesotas Williams Arena is one of the most unique in the sport. When filled to capacity of more than 10,000, the noise level surrounds the floor, leaving little room to escape for the opposition. In a video released by NCAA.com, it says. Thats quite a lot of people who can pack inside the Domes doors and scream obscenities at opposing players and coaches. MacKey Arena 9. Updated December 05, 2019 Hinkle Fieldhouse 6. Sanford Stadium. Dayton's home arena is not flashy, but it's the place where the madness of March officially begins with the First Four. Thats Metallica-concert loud, or just a shade below. If the fans are up for a game, even if Indiana isnt ranked or particularly good, Assembly Hall will be deafening. McOnnel Court- University of Oregon 4. Bruce Waynes not climbing out of this pit. Mackey Arena has a secret to its rowdiness that not many venues can The New York Knicks' stadium is an iconic landmark of the NBA's rich history. Go for slam dunks, fire off long 3-point shots, use superpowers, win matches and earn cups! 9. The arena is relatively tiny, seating just a bit more than 9,000 people at one of the premier basketball entities in the game. The cushioned seating is a nice touch while still not taking away from the intense atmosphere that's usually associated with Cyclones basketball. This is my article. Its like playing basketball at Boeings jet-engine testing facility. I went to Oakland Raider games. Rupp Arena, Kentucky 4. Mackey is widely known as one of the best, loudest, college basketball arenas in the country, especially when the hated Hoosiers are in town. 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? It's consistently one of the most well-attended arenas in the Pac-12, and why not? At least it gets those dag nab bit iGoogle Crapple Twitterbooks out of their hands. 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. ESPNs Anne Catherine Clemmons writes, But to feel a record crowd of 22,125 shaking the much larger dome that is the Smith Center (which soaks in enough sunlight for the Tar Heels to practice without electric lighting when open in the early afternoon) is something else entirely. Matthew Knight Arena, Oregon 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 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. 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. Newbill (2) shoots a game winning shot over Minnesota Golden Gophers guard . Assembly Hall arena is on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and home of the Indiana Hoosiers. From the team benches on the baseline to the expanded court area, the home of the Commodores is something to behold. 3. The crowd is loud. Great staff. State. Established in 1968, it stands as the eldest arena in the association. 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. On top of that, there are no air conditioning units in the building, no white-noise humming in the background. Though the Panthers have been down the past three years (but off to a 7-2 start in 2019-20), the students are still at their creative best, tastefully (of course) finding ways to mock the opponent. I know the name changed. Mackey Arena is one of the biggest best college basketball arenas since it has a capacity of over 14,000 fans. "The Barn" opened in 1928, and thanks to several renovations and upgrades over the years, it stillupholds the strong tradition of Golden Gophers basketball. The Wildcats are a perennial national power. The Dunk is quickly becoming one of the loudest college basketball arenas in the country, and another raucous sell-out crowd was on hand last night. 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. That's historically been the case at Provident Credit Union Event Center. 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. In terms of atmosphere, the Wildcats have a top-25 college basketball environment in The Pavilion. Its crowds have reflected that, with the 10,250-seat arena being either at or near capacity night in and night out for the Musketeers, creating a hostile environment for any opponent hoping to come in and leave with a W. In fact, only three teams in the country have a better home winning percentage in their current arena than Xavier: Gonzaga, Oregon and Kentucky (though Kansas is right on the Musketeers heels). All rights reserved. But at Maryland, they do whatever it takes to get you off your game. 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. The Cameron Indoor Stadium, which opened way back in 1940, is a 9,314-seat arena that is home to the Duke Blue Devils and serves as the home court for Duke men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball. In that same span, the Jayhawks lost 13 games at home. Ive felt like Hilton was on the verge of riots on a handful of occasions, particularly when Kansas comes to town. The Allen Fieldhouse, at the University of Kansas, is home to the Kansas Jayhawks men's and women's basketball teams. Just ask Jimmy Chitwood. The Jayhawks won that night, just as they do so often on their home floor. Rupp opened in 1976 and has regularly seen crowds of over 24,000 during its 30 plus year history. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. 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. Opened in 1971, the arena has seen great success over the years, including 576 Indiana wins that power an .834 winning percentage. At Xavier, basketball is THE sport in a part of the country where college basketball is giant. 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. 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. Kansas has a lifetime 774114 record at Allen Fieldhouse, which works out to a .872 win percentage going back to 1955. Theres no question the students go very hard for their Tar Heels. So yes, the midwest knows its noise. 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 . On Feb. 13, 2017, 16,300 fans in attendance at Allen Fieldhouse set the Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event (130.4 decibels). This is definitely a bucket-list arena for hardcore college basketball lovers. When Gonzaga played at North Carolina last season, members of the school's athletic department made the trip to see one of college basketball's great facilities up close. Thats why Im handing out a few honorable mentions so a handful of fanbases dont feel totally ignored, and I acknowledge some other great places to experience college basketball. Yes, definitely. With about one-fourth of the fans coming from the student body, youve already created a rowdy atmosphere. Assembly Hall, Illinois 9. 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. The famous "C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats" and "Go Big Blue" cheers are usually heard in the crowds. Also, the name sucks, and corporate staleness is not good for college basketball. 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. McCarthey Athletic Center - Gonzaga The McCarthey Athletic Center is a 6,000-seat indoor. 10. It is currently the largest arena by seating capacity in the Big Ten Conference, with 19,049 seats, which is reduced to 18,809 for Ohio State men's basketball games. 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. 6,390. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona) In a more formal test of how loud Cyclones fans can get, they measured a 109 reading. I've been to Duke. The arena's primary tenant is the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team. But for the most part the students are civil and often downright clever with their chants. The huge space makes more sense once you know that the Orange football and lacrosse teams also . Mackey Arena is also one of the loudest college basketball arenas in the country. 2. Their Allen Fieldhouse has been helping them with the home-court advantage since 1955 and continues to be one of the best in the country for college hoops. Add in that people in Kansas really, really, really care about college basketball, and then also add in the aura and legend of Allen Fieldhouse, and you begin to understand why opponents must beware of the Phog. New Mexico has taken a step back in recent years after making four of five NCAA tournaments from 2010 to 14, but opponents would never be wise to underestimate The Pit. Syracuse's basketball arena is the biggest by a landslide, coming in first place with 34,616 seats. Opponents can attest to the fact that the arena seems smaller and more intimidating when all 19,300-plus seats are filled. The Rock, Chalk, chant provides aneerie calm before the deafeningstorm. 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. You know a team of this sort is loud when a noted college basketball announcer says it's every bit as loud as an ACC arena. The Detroit Redwings throw octopi on the ice, so why dont Hoosier fans throw chairs onto the court? That's what makes it special and that's why players hate playing there. Breslin Student Events Center - Michigan State, On Feb. 13, 2017, 16,300 fans in attendance at Allen Fieldhouse set the. 5. What does that mean? Then you come into the arena, and the depth of it is so magnified because its such an open space youre not used to playing in something like that and thats when they get you. 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. At just under 18,000 capacity, the home of the Terps is one of the bigger venues in college basketball. KFC Yum! Big Ten Basketball Arenas, Ranked Before I go further, let's outline the criteria I'm using for these very definitive rankings: atmosphere, home-court advantage, banners, history, and name. Gonzaga's new "Kennel" opened in 2004. 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. It provides a solid combination of comfort and intimacy, which makes for quality basketball viewing. Playing away is tough in itself, but if you're playing at one of these arenas then it's pretty much game over. KU's Allen Fieldhouse is literally the statistically loudest arena in all of of College Hoops. This is a new-money type of atmosphere, but that doesnt make it any less imposing for visiting college basketball squads. That makes Duke tough and loud, but not the toughest and loudest (though one man likened the crowd to that of a jet engine). For a long time, Syracuse has had one of the best atmospheres in college basketball, I suspect thats something that will remain true for a long time. Home Team. A recent renovation has the Pavilion looking good while still maintaining the intense atmosphere that visiting teams find far from inviting. Dayton is very much included in that. 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. t ws unbelievable.". It's the house that Lute Olson made famous and one that continues to provide a daunting challenge to opponents on Sean Miller's watch. 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. Villanova has won a tremendous amount of games in the building, especially in the last handful of years as the program claimed multiple national championships and Big East crowns. 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. For the unbiased college basketball fan, it's a bucket list item, even to see it empty. 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. 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. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona Wildcats) February 1, 2023 will mark the milestone 50-year anniversary of the McKale Center's opening. 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. Why do we love college basketball? Former Kentucky guard John Wall elicited a 110.1 when he returned in 2011. Hoosier fans can dial it up. It's the toughest place to play. "The Phog" or "The Cathedral of Basketball," as it is affectionately called, was opened on March 1, 1955 and now holds 17,000 people. I dont know if people who arent familiar with Cincinnati and the general region, but basketball, particularly college basketball, is EXTREMELY important. Full disclosure: I attended Maryland, including many mens basketball games, including many mens basketball games in the student section. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. The arenas serve as home venues for both the men's and women's teams except where noted. Jokes aside, Ive seen the Carrier Dome erupt into some of the most incredible celebrations and really make opponents pay for daring to enter Upstate New York. What is the loudest college basketball arena? The results appear in the magazine's Nov. 15 issue, which is available on newsstands. 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.