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 placement of your student section is crucial to building a top atmosphere, and Michigan State has set itself up perfectly. Just ask Jimmy Chitwood. The arenas serve as home venues for both the men's and women's teams except where noted. 1. We have the VGK and Raiders (who themselves would hardly ever play at the same time as a UNLV hoops game), whoo hoo. 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. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona) The United Center has the highest capacity of any current NBA . The Musketeers boast one of the nicer and more multifunctional venues in the college game. The arena's primary tenant is the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team. Students are given absolutely priority at Cameron Indoor, and it makes all the difference. This is my article. The famous "C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats" and "Go Big Blue" cheers are usually heard in the crowds. If youve never watched a game at GCU Arena before, you owe it to yourself to do so as soon as possible. Their fans have also led the country in average attendance in each of the last three seasons. So I'd have to say Maryland. The airlock doors Thats how they get you first. But things have changed under eighth-year . Discover short videos related to loudest college basketball stadium on TikTok. In 2017-18, the Musketeers set a single-season home record with 17 victories. Xavier fans are ferociously dedicated to their Musketeers, and their dedication to the program is part of why it has risen up to the Big East. The students are given prime seating right along the sideline opposite the benches, and they are very fond of dressing up in ridiculous costumes, throwing around foam pool noodles, general shenanigans, and launching disparaging remarks as opponents. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is absolutely prime. in the NCAA tournament picture and, perhaps more importantly, The Pit is rocking again. A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. If your teams arena didnt make this list, it doesnt mean your atmosphere is bad. 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. That's not far off, as the school also boasts that no other arena has hosted more games or opponents than The Palestra. You could argue for Duke or Kansas to be in this spot, but you have no argument for anyone else. It opened in 1938 and underwent a major renovation in 2001. 2/20/2020 Tom M. Boiler Up! The aluminum ceiling contains the loud cheering of student fans and adds to the unique character of Mackey Arena. 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). 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. 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. The Jack Breslin Student Events Center is a 16,280-capacity venue that is home to the Michigan State Spartans men's and women's basketball teams. 3. Its capacity is 6,000, and Zags fans pack it constantly. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "The Barn" opened in 1928, and thanks to several renovations and upgrades over the years, it stillupholds the strong tradition of Golden Gophers basketball. Talk about a true home-court advantage, try visiting the home of the Aggies in Logan, Utah. Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion 11. Mackey Arena is one of the biggest best college basketball arenas since it has a capacity of over 14,000 fans. ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, KANSAS 2. Since then, the Zags have lost just 18 games (entering the week) at their 6,000-seat home. O'Connell Center, Florida 6. Full disclosure: I attended Maryland, including many mens basketball games, including many mens basketball games in the student section. Sure, they lull you to sleep with the Rock Chalk Jayhawk chant, but dont let that fool you. KFC Yum! 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 fact is, Syracuse fans love the Orange so much, they dont care if they need binoculars to see the ball from their seats; theyll show up anyway. 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 . This venue is renowned for its raucous game-day environment and multipurpose availability. 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. Duke fans come up with different things and they're really, really clever. Small sections of bleachers jet out from both baselines, while seats extend up the sides where balconies also exist which might not cater to fans with height issues. Good run. Kansas has a lifetime 774114 record at Allen Fieldhouse, which works out to a .872 win percentage going back to 1955. Like in Durham, the small confines in Spokane give the arena an intimidating feel for opponents, especially when the focus is a raucous student section. "The Phog" exudes basketball history upon entrance and remains a must-see for any college hoops fanatic. 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 atmosphere is crazy, whether theyre on a three-game losing streak or a three-game winning streak.. Theres question of the fanbases passion, but the consistency of the atmosphere isnt there for me to justify a top-10 spot. Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas) I dont care. Capacity. The Jayhawks won that night, just as they do so often on their home floor. Duke hasn't lost a non-conference game at Cameron Indoor. The Cyclone faithful are a dedicated bunch that pack the 14,384-seat arena and are worthy of rounding out our top 10. The New York Knicks' stadium is an iconic landmark of the NBA's rich history. They put the "wild" in Wildcats. With about one-fourth of the fans coming from the student body, youve already created a rowdy atmosphere. It was the final conference game between the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels. Each point you score gets you closer to filling the ball basket . Screaming, because Kansas fans once hit 122 on the decibel thingamajig. 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. These two are clearly a cut above the rest and host some special atmospheres in the scheme of this sport. 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. Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt) 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. The Carrier Dome is one of the most unique venues in all of college basketball. Ive watched too many games at the Dean Dome and heard the shoes squeak for me to put it in the top 10. If you haven't been . Originally named Purdue Arena, it was renamed in 1972 to honor Purdue alumnus and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey. And for that reason, the atmosphere at Rupp Arena is worthy of a very high place in the pecking order. UD Arena gets decent crowds for NCAA Tournament games, but its on another level when the Flyers are playing. They know how loud those can be. 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. 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. Not so on the Beltway, when the Maryland Terrapins play host. NBA Preview 2021-22: Who Claims the Crown? A recent renovation has the Pavilion looking good while still maintaining the intense atmosphere that visiting teams find far from inviting. 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. It is loud, so much so that it agitates the marrow buried deep within. 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. 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. In the last five seasons, the Jayhawks have only lost five times total in Lawrencethree of which came in 201718. Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke 3. Fans in the famous student section, called the Cameron Crazies, are known for painting themselves blue and white and doing signature moves, like reaching out an arm while an opposing player is inbounding the ball. A&M sophomore Alec Hankins made up his mind that he would not risk missing Saturday's game with many believing the crowd will break the attendance record for Reed Arena 14,036 set in 2022 . 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 . But its also because the fans turn Allen Fieldhouse into an incredibly-difficult environment for opposition to handle. The second closest program is Kansas State, with their duo of Fort Snyder and. 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. Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 . 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). 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. The following is a list of German indoor arenas for handball games. Loudest Mountain West basketball arenas 11. Good luck inbounding the ball with dozens of blue extended wiggling fingers casting a hex on you. It got so loud that some of the lights broke. Is there any major sport that can create a home-court advantage like college basketball? It's also been a quality home for the team to thrive in. Payne Whitney Gym 8. Prepare for adrenaline-pumped moments! Mackey Arena has a secret to its rowdiness that not many venues can As a kid growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I was an Ohio State fan. 1 Tiger Stadium - LSU 2 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - Florida 3 Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City Chiefs 4 Ohio Stadium - Ohio State 5 I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and have loved basketball for as long as I can remember. The arena seats 16,300 spectators and ESPN The Magazine referred to the stadium as the loudest for college basketball in the country. 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. It's the toughest place to play. I went to Oakland Raider games. If he could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High and Grand Lakes University. While the arena hosts much more than sports, it is famously home to the Indiana Hoosiers mens basketball team. There might not be a better experience for a sports fan than catching a college basketball game at a campus arena. Cameron Indoor is iconic for a host of reasons, and one of the biggest is the atmosphere. And thus, ISU had built one of the most intimidating atmospheres in all of college basketball. The location of the student section, called The Izzone, is perfect. Center 15. Center (Louisville, KY) - Louisville Basketball (22,090 Capacity) . 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. It was renamed in 1986 as the Louis Brown Athletic Center but the nickname stuck through . 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. The "Izzone" is one of the most active and genius student sections in the game. And conversely, Maryland fans will wholeheartedly agree and wear their reputation as a badge of honor. And once the ball is tipped, theres not a louder college basketball arena in the country. 6,390. Now, whether or not I think some of the seats in the Carrier Dome are laughably absurd or not doesnt matter. The Detroit Redwings throw octopi on the ice, so why dont Hoosier fans throw chairs onto the court? The Crazies were issued a gag order of sorts as they were told from the powers that be to clean up the chants. 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. The 12th-ranked Volunteers announced that Zeigler tore his left ACL in a win over Arkansas. 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. Great staff. Conference affiliations reflect those in the current 2022-23 season; all affiliation changes officially took effect on July 1, 2022. 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. 10. All rights reserved. Assembly Hall, Illinois 9. Big Game Boomer @BigGameBoomer . The bar is high to reach the top 25. It is also fitting, perhaps, that the winningest program in college basketball history plays its' games here on these hallowed grounds. Rupp Arena, Kentucky 4. 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. But as Oklahoma State basketball has suffered, Oklahoma State football has produced, and Cowboys fans have understandably shifting their focus further to the gridiron. Their fans are great, but they have no filter. 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. After years of planning, the University of Idaho has finally broken ground on a dedicated basketball arena. Students have prime seating behind the bench areas and stretching to behind one of the baskets, which is very helpful to creating one of the most raucous atmospheres in college basketball. It might offend some Kentucky fans to see me ranking them outside of the top five, and they might have a point. Rupp Arena, Kentucky Size matters in Kentucky. The circular configuration of Koch Arena has provided a huge home-court advantage for the Shockers, especially in recent years when they've ranked among the nation's best. 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. Fans sit in a hole in the ground literally which makes even the farthest-away seats feel relatively close to the court. Im sure some will say this top-10 placement is based on bias, which Im willing to give some credence to. Memorial Gym, Vanderbilt 10. Home Team. 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. Indiana has won five NCAA Championships in men's basketball (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987). 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? Bruce Waynes not climbing out of this pit. Shot from student section. The cushioned seating is a nice touch while still not taking away from the intense atmosphere that's usually associated with Cyclones basketball. Its the largest domed structure on a U.S. college campus and can hold 33,000 for basketball games and 56,250 for concerts. Dayton is very much included in that. 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. 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). That said, Kentucky fans are animalistic about their Cats. Students are extremely engaged from the start to finish of every game, and the 7,000-seat GCU Arena is often rocking. That has an effect on the atmosphere. In a more formal test of how loud Cyclones fans can get, they measured a 109 reading. 2. My story on one of the sport's most unique places and how the Lobos turned it all around: 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. I've been to Duke. The Carrier Dome is a domed arena on the campus of Syracuse University, home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball and lacrosse teams. Cameron Indoor Stadium 3. upholds the strong tradition of Golden Gophers basketball. On top of that, there are no air conditioning units in the building, no white-noise humming in the background. The Allen Fieldhouse, at the University of Kansas, is home to the Kansas Jayhawks men's and women's basketball teams. When it opened in September 1980, it was famously nicknamed, "The Loud House.". Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh 7. From the team benches on the baseline to the expanded court area, the home of the Commodores is something to behold. Matthew Knight Arena, Oregon The school allows wealthy donors to have the best seats in the house, and those fans dont have a reputation for getting loud. A loud crowd makes any sporting event better, so here's our list of the top 25 loudest stadiums.Arrowhead Stadium holds the record for the loudest stadium having recorded a noise level of 142.2 decibels. Now thats what you call home court advantage. 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. Thats Metallica-concert loud, or just a shade below. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. 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. Some are steeped in tradition, while others offer modern-day amenities but still remain a pain for the opposition. 14 Petersen Events Center;. 5. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona Wildcats) February 1, 2023 will mark the milestone 50-year anniversary of the McKale Center's opening. 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. 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. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. The Show, the San Diego State student section, is one of the most creative in the country. 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. But under Eric Musselman, the program has been reinvigorated, and thats brought the Hogs out in a big way the last couple of seasons. No matter if its blatantly obvious that the call is correct, Iowa State fans will boo it and boo it with purpose if it goes against their Cyclones. Since Xavier began play there in 2000-01, it's won more than 250 games in the building. 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. Opened in 1967, Mackey holds a little more than 14,000 people, and those people do not hesitate to yell. Which 10 schools create the most challenging atmospheres for opponents? At a time where we can't seem to agree on . Top 5 Largest College Basketball Arenas in NCAA Division I Sports #3: KFC Yum! 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. Hinkle Fieldhouse 6. Their efforts in particular gives The Kennel one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. For big games especially, Rupp can get very, very loud. According to BGB, the duo of Jordan-Hare Stadium and Neville Arena is the loudest in all of college sports. 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. It still remains one of college basketball's special gyms. The indoor basketball venue holds 17,222 seats and also houses the largest student section in the country at 7,800 seats. It's big but doesn't lose its roominess, especially when crowded. It has been called The Loud House and once registered a decibel level of 120. Emailed daily. 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. 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. 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. The arena is the home venue for the University of Arizona Wildcats' men's and women's basketball teams. 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. Many sell-out arenas will average about the same noise level, but vitriol adds an extra slice to the tympanic membrane, and now they take that venom from the ACC to the Big 10. Stadium. Theres a reason why the NCAA puts the First Four in Dayton every March and has for years the city cannot get enough college basketball. With the smaller size and acoustics in Hinkle mean the screaming fans, particularly the students, are magnified even more. Opened in 1989, the mayflower shaped . That seems to have changed, and the environment in Champaign has improved, but theres still some room to grow before I can put Illinois back in my top-25 best atmospheres. The Pit - Dreamstyle Arena 13. 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. Of course, there are several, gyms, stadiums, arenas or domes that stand out in the college game. 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.