We're #2...and no YUM Center to be found.

[PeteCalvin]

The best arenas to watch a college basketball game in.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/the-8-best-game-atmosphere-stadiums-to-watch-college-basketball/

 

[Trueblue25]

Before I look at this Im going to assume that our soon to be Homecourt #3 is numero uno, aka Cameron Indoor.

Edit: God I amaze myself sometimes.

 

[No Hoyas]

2 most winningist coaches AND 2 best stadiums...just saying.....

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I gotta say the Garden on Big East Friday night (RIP) was a pretty good place to watch a game.

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[SUintheVille]

Are you kidding me? Rupp Arena is #5? That place is a dump. Needs some serious upgrades. I'm telling ya, the KFC Yum center blows Rupp way out of the water, and a really neat place to play and go to a game.

 

[Upstate]

Palestra at #3 is awesome. What a great place to watch a game.

 

[OttoMets]

Are you kidding me? Rupp Arena is #5? That place is a dump. Needs some serious upgrades. I'm telling ya, the KFC Yum center blows Rupp way out of the water, and a really neat place to play and go to a game.

Dome's rather dumpy, too, but when you're talking about a great game atmosphere (sometimes) and a special place to see a game, it fits the bill.

Each of these places seems to be listed for its relative uniqueness rather than opulence.

 

[bballbeadle]

Again, the Duke and the Cuse, chained together in an eternal yin/yang but with Duke always ALWAYS #1!

And the two venues could not be more different. If you don't suffer from claustrophobia, then Cameron is for you. If you don't suffer from crowd-o-phobia, then the Dome is for you. Both venues are pretty uncomfortable, when it comes right down to it. But to be part of an EXPERIENCE, I will take the Dome any day. It's magic!

 

[Col. Bleep]

The standard USA Today is using is: "the best places to take in college hoops based on game-time experience."
Look at that Dome photo.
There is NOTHING like that "experience" in college basketball besides the Final 4.
Nothing!

But I've probably been to 30 or 40 arenas and Cameron is the best place to actually "watch" a game.
You can sit far away and still fell like you're practically courtside.
No major school venue close to it (although I've never been in The Pit).

 

[Eric15]

I personally would put Allen Fieldhouse at #1. I went to a game there 5 years ago (random December game against Siena) and it was just incredible.

 

[Marsh01]

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[SU2NASA]

Oklahoma State? Really?

 

[SUintheVille]

Dome's rather dumpy, too, but when you're talking about a great game atmosphere (sometimes) and a special place to see a game, it fits the bill.

Each of these places seems to be listed for its relative uniqueness rather than opulence.

I understand, but I've been to Rupp and didn't feel ambience, mystique, or anything else. I get that a small intimate gym would be a loud and interesting place to watch if you're the home team. The Dome, while aging, is still a dome and a unique place to watch esp. when 30+K are there - yes it fits the bill.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

Don't like the list. The Palestra is hardly something like the old Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park. Utah State's Smith Spectrum deserves a real spot in the list, not just an honorable mention. Louisville's Yum Center isn't even an honorable mention, when it needs to be on the list.

Real top 8 in alphabetical order: Butler, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, New Mexico, Syracuse, Utah State.

 

[HOFCeluck]

We shouldn't be that high, and no way is AFH as low as seven.

I mean the Dome is great for the couple games a year when when 30k plus show up, but if we don't get that, then it is what is...a basketball court inside a football stadium.

With that said...I'd never get rid of it. It's part of our image and I'm sure it's awesome for recruits even thirty years later.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Oklahoma State? Really?

GI is always at the top of these lists. It's legit.

 

[OttoMets]

I understand, but I've been to Rupp and didn't feel ambience, mystique, or anything else. I get that a small intimate gym would be a loud and interesting place to watch if you're the home team. The Dome, while aging, is still a dome and a unique place to watch esp. when 30+K are there - yes it fits the bill.

Gotcha. I've never been to Rupp or Thompson-Boling; people seem to like them because they're cavernous, but I don't know how special that is.

(Funny aside, the very thing that is said to be an asset for those two SEC arenas -- size -- was the reason the Charlotte Coliseum and the Meadowlands were unsuitable for the NBA and needed to be replaced.)

 

[retro44]

there is a ton of empty seats for # 8 on that list

 

[SU2NASA]

GI is always at the top of these lists. It's legit.

Off the top of my head... how about Pauley Pavilion, Yum Center, Dean Dome, Assembly Hall

 

[HOFCeluck]

The yum center? Paulwy Pavilion?