The Show, the San Diego State student section, is one of the most creative in the country. 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. I've been to Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Arizona and around the country. City. Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion 11. Shockers fans are riotous about their team and are constantly filling their roughly 10,000-seat gym to the rafters. McOnnel Court- University of Oregon 4. The Pit - Dreamstyle Arena 13. Who has the loudest student section? Nothing epitomizes the state of Indiana's love of basketball more than Butler's legendary fieldhouse. Indiana has won five NCAA Championships in men's basketball (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987). 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. 3. But as Oklahoma State basketball has suffered, Oklahoma State football has produced, and Cowboys fans have understandably shifting their focus further to the gridiron. 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. 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. When Cody Zeller made a key steal against Michigan State, Assembly Hall earned a 115.3 dB reading. McKale Memorial Center 14. Big Game Boomer . 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. Big Game Boomer @BigGameBoomer . People in the midwest know a thing or two about tornadoes and the noise of natural distasters. And once the ball is tipped, theres not a louder college basketball arena in the country. By, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. State. Kansas has a lifetime 774114 record at Allen Fieldhouse, which works out to a .872 win percentage going back to 1955. From being the part-time home of St. John's basketball to hosting the Big East Tournament (and even the Big Ten Tournament in 2018) and the final rounds of the postseason NIT, MSG has just about seen it all. Hailing from the ABQ, where the fictitious Walter White cooked his famous blue crystal meth, the Lobos home court is burrowed in the earth. It opened in 1938 and underwent a major renovation in 2001. You have to respect a fanbase that has such a dedication to pure and unadulterated hatred for its enemy. The Pit is aptly known, with its court settled 37 feet below street level. Few venues can match the uniquely designed Assembly Hall when it comes to noise. Rupp Arena- University of Kentucky 1. That's historically been the case at Provident Credit Union Event Center. 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. However, it still offers a somewhat intimate atmosphere near the court when filled. What is the largest basketball arena? Who's got the loudest college basketball arena in the country? And thus, ISU had built one of the most intimidating atmospheres in all of college basketball. These are the top-25 best college basketball atmospheres in Division I mens hoops, as ranked by a scientist I mean bracketologist. The aluminum ceiling contains the loud cheering of student fans and adds to the unique character of Mackey Arena. 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. Full disclosure: I attended Maryland, including many mens basketball games, including many mens basketball games in the student section. Some are steeped in tradition, while others offer modern-day amenities but still remain a pain for the opposition. 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. Top 5 Loudest CBB Arenas? KU's Allen Fieldhouse is literally the statistically loudest arena in all of of 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. 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. 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. When it comes to sports, performing in front of a home crowd can produce a much-needed jolt that aids in success. "The Phog" or "The Cathedral of Basketball," as it is affectionately called, was opened on March 1, 1955 and now holds 17,000 people. This is a list of arenas that currently serve as the home venue for NCAA Division I college basketball teams. ESPN The Magazine's Loudest Arenas 1. Allen Fieldhouse- Kansas 3.Oconnel Center- Florida 2. in the NCAA tournament picture and, perhaps more importantly, The Pit is rocking again. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country - there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. The arena is relatively tiny, seating just a bit more than 9,000 people at one of the premier basketball entities in the game. UNM Arena, New Mexico 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. McCarthey Athletic Center - Gonzaga The McCarthey Athletic Center is a 6,000-seat indoor. As visiting teams will agree, it can be more intimidating than it looks especially when filled to capacity as the sound is contained well due to the building's configuration. The arena is named after Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, a former player and head coach of 39 years for the Jayhawks. to see one of college basketball's great facilities up close. 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. 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. On a consistent basis, the atmosphere at the Dean Dome is not elite. 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 Kennel, as its also known, is rowdy even when Gonzaga is beating up on another WCC victim on a long list of WCC victims, but its a hurricane of hysteria when St. Marys, BYU, or a big-name program comes to Spokane. 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 . Duke hasn't lost a non-conference game at Cameron Indoor. In a video released by NCAA.com, it says. College basketball is a special sport, and the atmospheres across the country take credit for a good deal of that. Why do we love college basketball? Wichita State has a hidden gem of an atmosphere. Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt) For the unbiased college basketball fan, it's a bucket list item, even to see it empty. 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. And if youre there for a game against Cincinnati, Dayton, Butler, or another team the fans have a special distaste for, you can expect some extreme nastiness. 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. 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. Thats quite a lot of people who can pack inside the Domes doors and scream obscenities at opposing players and coaches. I dont care if The Pit isnt the official name of New Mexicos basketball arena. 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. 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. 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. Their fans have also led the country in average attendance in each of the last three seasons. That makes Duke tough and loud, but not the toughest and loudest (though one man likened the crowd to that of a jet engine). 9. Syracuse's basketball arena is the biggest by a landslide, coming in first place with 34,616 seats. 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. 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. Gay was fouled shooting a three with his team down two and one second remaining. You could argue for Duke or Kansas to be in this spot, but you have no argument for anyone else. Cameron Indoor Stadium 3. Dubbed the Carnegie Hall of College Basketball by legendary announcer Gus Johnson, Assembly Hall is known for its steep side seating and the Hoosier-crazy fans that fill it. This article was originally published on Fivestar News. It's also been a quality home for the team to thrive in. The results appear in the magazine's Nov. 15 issue, which is available on newsstands. Finneran Pavilion (Villanova) 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. Amusing, possibly, but since thats patently foolish, they can scream for Tom Crean. 1. So yes, the midwest knows its noise. It was renamed in 1986 as the Louis Brown Athletic Center but the nickname stuck through . 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. Thanks to a devoted student section that seats about 4,000, the noise level can be an issue for the opposition. Assembly Hall 4. That announcer was ESPN's Dave O'Brien, and he said the Hilton Coliseum was "louder than anything in the ACC.". The way the dome is formed and the seating portion of the building is largely walled off from the concourse areas, all of the sound bellowing from Boilermakers bounces up, down, and all around to trap you inside this gray ball of unending noise. 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. 5. 1,000 percent. The following is a list of German indoor arenas for handball games. Remember when I said Cincinnati and that general region are obsessed with college basketball? Cincinnati is one of those cities where people take their high school allegiances very seriously, and if thats the case, then you know itll kick up a notch when it comes to college. 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. ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, KANSAS 2. That's not far off, as the school also boasts that no other arena has hosted more games or opponents than The Palestra. If there was one place I dreaded the Buckeyes going to every year, it was the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The placement of your student section is crucial to building a top atmosphere, and Michigan State has set itself up perfectly. X dont play. I know the dynamic may change since it's Utah-Utah State. Widely regarded as one of the best venues in North American college sports, the McKale Center is . But its still one of the premier crowds in the country for now. MacKey Arena 9. 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. But things have changed under eighth-year . 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. Conference affiliations reflect those in the current 2022-23 season; all affiliation changes officially took effect on July 1, 2022. NBA Preview 2021-22: Who Claims the Crown? Payne Whitney Gym 8. According to the school, no arena in the country has hosted more NCAA Tournament gamesthan UD's 125. 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 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. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall opened as Assembly Hall during the 1971-72 season is one of the most notorious arenas in basketball. 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. 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. The "Cathedral," which seats roughly 8,700, opened in 1927, and even after recent renovations it has not lost its charm while remaining the trendsetter for other great college basketball venues that followed. 405. WVUs fanbase fiercely backs its athletics, and mens basketball is one of its favorites. Thats Opeth, Lamb of God and Metallica territory. For big games especially, Rupp can get very, very loud. 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. During the Big 8 Conference finals, former OKU wrestling coach Myron Roderick said, "It got s loud, lot f the lights busted n Gallagher. Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh 7. Always free! Center (Louisville) This arena is one of the more raved-about in the country and one of the biggest as it houses 22,090 fans on a nightly basis. 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). 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. 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. 2. Center (Louisville, KY) - Louisville Basketball (22,090 Capacity) . How much better does it get? So I'd have to say Maryland. It is loud, so much so that it agitates the marrow buried deep within. The "Izzone" is one of the most active and genius student sections in the game. 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. After undergoing a $1 billion renovation in. The last few years, The Izzone hasnt quite been as engaged as it was when I was growing up, and so maybe the Breslin Center has dropped a couple of spots since then. Capacity. This is my article. He missed one of the three free throws as the game went to overtime, where New Mexico prevailed. Wichita State games are the real deal. Opened in 1967, Mackey holds a little more than 14,000 people, and those people do not hesitate to yell. It is also fitting, perhaps, that the winningest program in college basketball history plays its' games here on these hallowed grounds. Opponents can attest to the fact that the arena seems smaller and more intimidating when all 19,300-plus seats are filled. Rupp opened in 1976 and has regularly seen crowds of over 24,000 during its 30 plus year history. Allen Fieldhouse Allen Fieldhouse - Kansas. With a seating capacity of 23,500, it's the largest off-campus home for a Division I team in the country. And for that reason, the atmosphere at Rupp Arena is worthy of a very high place in the pecking order. The following courts are the loudest, biggest, baddest, meanest venues to visit. The students are given almost every section nearest to the court, which is a prime setup to surround the opposing team. Of course, there are several, gyms, stadiums, arenas or domes that stand out in the college game. Shows how loud assembly hall can get. 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. 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. 132 Likes, TikTok video from Heath Adams (@thecybermentor): "The Pit in NM is one of the loudest college basketball stadiums in the country. But for the most part the students are civil and often downright clever with their chants. On its surface it sounds more like a U Masss Blue Wall Cafe, just a benign hangout to get a morning bagel. I've been to the Pit. 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. Screaming, because Kansas fans once hit 122 on the decibel thingamajig. Its capacity is 6,000, and Zags fans pack it constantly. 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. The ceilings are incredibly high, the floor is raised, and you can feel the history of the place even through the TV. But quality college basketball arenas are not exclusive to only the elite teams. The atmosphere is crazy, whether theyre on a three-game losing streak or a three-game winning streak.. 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. 14 Petersen Events Center;. At a time where we can't seem to agree on . Named after legendary head coach Adolph Rupp, Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington, KY, has definitely seen its share of victories. 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. If he could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High and Grand Lakes University. Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas) 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. 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. It has been called The Loud House and once registered a decibel level of 120. That has an effect on the atmosphere. 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. Is there any major sport that can create a home-court advantage like college basketball? The Value City Arena is located on the campus of Ohio State University and is home to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, definitely. Though no numbers could be found on the decibel level of screaming fans at the Dean Smith Center, testimonial of one 2005 game says all you need to hear. The Crazies were issued a gag order of sorts as they were told from the powers that be to clean up the chants. More than 35,000 people watched a single Syracuse basketball game at the largest domed campus stadium in the country. Bruce Waynes not climbing out of this pit. 1. Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to honor Purdue alumnus and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 . A few years ago, Im not sure Arkansas would have made this list. 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. But under Eric Musselman, the program has been reinvigorated, and thats brought the Hogs out in a big way the last couple of seasons. What is the largest college basketball arena? 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. The arena seats 16,300 spectators and ESPN The Magazine referred to the stadium as the loudest for college basketball in the country. 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. Center 15. 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. 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. The insane home record Kansas boasts is partially because its teams are generally very, very good. 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. When enough people can make a 22,000-seat arena shake, thats loud, intimidating and cause for exodus. The Razorbacks are celebrating the 25th season of basketball at their arena named after Walmart's co-founder. It might not have the historical value or intimacy of its rival down Tobacco Road, but the "Dean Dome" can hang with any other in the game in terms of noise or intimidating the opponent. It was the final conference game between the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels. 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 when the Bulldogs have a marquee game in the building, theres nothing welcoming about the environment. Confined within the multipurpose home of the Spartans, the group dresses up, brings props and uses mini-megaphones that make great souvenirs for the kids. O'Connell Center, Florida 6. 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. 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. It's loudreal loud thanks to a famed student section known as the "Oakland Zoo." The bar is high to reach the top 25. Mackey Arena has a secret to its rowdiness that not many venues can . Rated 5 / 5. Also, the name sucks, and corporate staleness is not good for college basketball. However, the Cameron Crazies make it one of the loudest and most intimidating places to play in college basketball. Since 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse has been at the center of it all and was named as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Georgia's Sanford Stadium is home to electrifying fans and a great atmosphere. Ive felt like Hilton was on the verge of riots on a handful of occasions, particularly when Kansas comes to town. Established in 1968, it stands as the eldest arena in the association. . Assembly Hall arena is on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and home of the Indiana Hoosiers. The second closest program is Kansas State, with their duo of Fort Snyder and. 1 Tiger Stadium - LSU 2 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - Florida 3 Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City Chiefs 4 Ohio Stadium - Ohio State 5 Since Xavier began play there in 2000-01, it's won more than 250 games in the building. 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? Like we did for the top 10 upsets of the last decade and the 10 best uniforms in college hoops, we arrived at this overall top 10 ranking by averaging the responses, with more weight given based on the 110 scale. When filled to capacity of more than 10,000, the noise level surrounds the floor, leaving little room to escape for the opposition. 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. 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. Talk about a true home-court advantage, try visiting the home of the Aggies in Logan, Utah. 15 Best College Basketball Arenas 2. 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. 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. For non-Duke fans, it's another reason to loathe the Blue Devils. It opened in 2004, several decades later than the majority of arenas to crack this top 25. Since Jan. 28, 2012, Iowa State has a winning percentage of 70-plus at home against Top 25 opponents. When the Jayhawks were winning Big 12 titles every year for more than a decade, nobody was winning at Allen Fieldhouse but them. 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. Only 14 D-I men's teams have won less than 50% of their games in their current homes. 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. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is absolutely prime. Gonzaga's new "Kennel" opened in 2004. for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event (130.4 decibels). Dayton is very much included in that. Opened in 1989, the mayflower shaped . Stadium. 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.