But its still one of the premier crowds in the country for now. While the stadium may hold far less than its competitors, the electric atmosphere brings them high on the list. Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt) When looking at the east coast venues, Dukes Cameron Indoor Stadium stands above as the loudest and most turbulent environment to play. #newmexico #lobos #thepit #basketball". Now, whether or not I think some of the seats in the Carrier Dome are laughably absurd or not doesnt matter. 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. So I'd have to say Maryland. The insane home record Kansas boasts is partially because its teams are generally very, very good. 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. Enter the Iowa State Cyclones. Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler) 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. When enough people can make a 22,000-seat arena shake, thats loud, intimidating and cause for exodus. 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. Hailing from the ABQ, where the fictitious Walter White cooked his famous blue crystal meth, the Lobos home court is burrowed in the earth. Rupp Arena, Kentucky 4. As a kid growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I was an Ohio State fan. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. They know how loud those can be. 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. Known as one of the "best, loudest, and most intimidating" stadiums in college football, upwards of 92,000 people can fill the seats to watch the action between the hedges. On its surface it sounds more like a U Masss Blue Wall Cafe, just a benign hangout to get a morning bagel. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country - there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. 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). But for the most part the students are civil and often downright clever with their chants. It opened in 1938 and underwent a major renovation in 2001. Since 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse has been at the center of it all and was named as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It was renamed in 1986 as the Louis Brown Athletic Center but the nickname stuck through . If youve never watched a game at GCU Arena before, you owe it to yourself to do so as soon as possible. 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. I think we all knew what the top two would be, and rightfully so. Thats why I have North Carolina this high. ESPN The Magazine's Loudest Arenas 1. ESPN the Magazine recently asked engineers from Penn State's graduate acoustics program to help answer the question. 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. And thus, ISU had built one of the most intimidating atmospheres in all of college basketball. It's also been a quality home for the team to thrive in. nd tht s the loudest I've ever heard it. Nothing epitomizes the state of Indiana's love of basketball more than Butler's legendary fieldhouse. In an interview with Yahoo! 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. In a video released by NCAA.com, it says, It's twice the. The crowd is loud. In 2017-18, the Musketeers set a single-season home record with 17 victories. Xfinity Center (Maryland). . 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. Who's got the loudest college basketball arena in the country? 3. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. Top 5 Largest College Basketball Arenas in NCAA Division I Sports #3: KFC Yum! 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). 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. Obviously, UK has one of the most passionate fanbases in the country there is zero chance anyone could ever debate that. 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. Theres close to 6,000 students at Allen Fieldhousethree times more than Dukeand theyve earned the title of loudest college arena. Rupp opened in 1976 and has regularly seen crowds of over 24,000 during its 30 plus year history. On a consistent basis, the atmosphere at the Dean Dome is not elite. Its been a minute since the Panthers were nationally relevant, having last made the NCAA Tournament in 2016, and with every passing year that they remain near the bottom of the ACC, the worse the atmosphere will get. Yes, definitely. 311. The actual hardwood in the 16,300-seat arena, called the James Naismith Court in his honor, confers an incredible home advantage. Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) People in the midwest know a thing or two about tornadoes and the noise of natural distasters. Conference affiliations reflect those in the current 2022-23 season; all affiliation changes officially took effect on July 1, 2022. 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. 2. That team, led by Sean May, erased a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes. Not only is it loud, but the violence of the vocals makes it about as inviting as a swim among piranhas. I've been to Duke. 2/20/2020 Tom M. Boiler Up! I know the name changed. But its also because the fans turn Allen Fieldhouse into an incredibly-difficult environment for opposition to handle. Its capacity is 6,000, and Zags fans pack it constantly. 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. Big Ten basketball players vote on the league's loudest gym. It also helps that the Blue Devils are among the best in the land every season. Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion 11. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. 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. Dean E. Smith Center (North Carolina) 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 Detroit Redwings throw octopi on the ice, so why dont Hoosier fans throw chairs onto the court? But at Maryland, they do whatever it takes to get you off your game. Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 . 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. Seating roughly 10,200, there's only one level, so even those at the highest points of the arena are still not too far from the action. 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. All rights reserved. 132 Likes, TikTok video from Heath Adams (@thecybermentor): "The Pit in NM is one of the loudest college basketball stadiums in the country. Any opposing team that steps into the arena in Ames, Iowa, has to deal with the looming threat of Hilton Magic, the belief that theres something extraperhaps even unexplainablethat joins with the fans to boost the Cyclones to victory at home. 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. Gonzaga's new "Kennel" opened in 2004. 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 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. Top 5 Loudest CBB Arenas? A loud court makes it impossible to communicate. Full disclosure: I attended Maryland, including many mens basketball games, including many mens basketball games in the student section. It is also fitting, perhaps, that the winningest program in college basketball history plays its' games here on these hallowed grounds. Big Game Boomer . 2018-2021 All Rights Reserved Nothing But Nylon is powered by, News & gear by players, for players Powered by. 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. Thats about as loud as Rupp Arena gets, which is still pretty darn loud. Since Jan. 28, 2012, Iowa State has a winning percentage of 70-plus at home against Top 25 opponents. 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. I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and have loved basketball for as long as I can remember. A recent renovation has the Pavilion looking good while still maintaining the intense atmosphere that visiting teams find far from inviting. 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. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. The indoor basketball venue holds 17,222 seats and also houses the largest student section in the country at 7,800 seats. If youre tasked with traveling to Rupp Arena, it will not be easy or pleasant. However, the Cameron Crazies make it one of the loudest and most intimidating places to play in college basketball. 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. 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). Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke Blue Devils) Home Record Since 2000: 284-22 (.928) Advertisement. At Xavier, basketball is THE sport in a part of the country where college basketball is giant. McOnnel Court- University of Oregon 4. For the unbiased college basketball fan, it's a bucket list item, even to see it empty. ", Roy Williams, UNCs head coach, also added, "That was the loudest I have ever heard the Smith Center.. Cameron Indoor is iconic for a host of reasons, and one of the biggest is the atmosphere. That makes Duke tough and loud, but not the toughest and loudest (though one man likened the crowd to that of a jet engine). 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. These are the top-25 best college basketball atmospheres in Division I mens hoops, as ranked by a scientist I mean bracketologist. Save Share Show Less 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. 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 .