Started By
Message
re: Ranking the SEC Basketball Arenas
Posted on 2/7/24 at 10:42 am to kywildcatfanone
Posted on 2/7/24 at 10:42 am to kywildcatfanone
It’s interesting that the SEC has the top facilities in all the other sports but basketball arenas is not it. But I get it bc a basketball gym just does not have that much you can really do to make it different.
Myself, I like smaller field house feeling like venues but a SEC school most likely would not build something like that one.
Myself, I like smaller field house feeling like venues but a SEC school most likely would not build something like that one.
This post was edited on 2/7/24 at 10:45 am
1
Posted on 2/7/24 at 10:45 am to au4you
quote:
I thought most Bama fans concede this fact? Yeah, the concourse area and concessions are better, but the place is still a terrible place to watch a basketball game. Even the TV broadcast feels off there.
If the AD moves the student seating to courtside, nobody would be saying a word about Coleman.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 10:58 am to GentleJackJones
This is a couple of years old.
LINK
SEC basketball arenas ranked
1. Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas). Opening in 1993, Bud Walton Arena quickly became a crown jewel for college basketball as the first team to ever play in this building won a National Championship. Bud Walton is also the fifth largest on-campus basketball facility in the nation and is an intimidating a venue there is when the Razorbacks are good.
2. Rupp Arena (Kentucky). The largest basketball-only arena in America, Rupp opened in 1976 and has regularly seen crowds of over 24,000 during its 30 plus year history. It is also fitting, perhaps, that the winningest program in college basketball history plays its’ games here on these hallowed grounds.
3. Auburn Arena (Auburn). It’s perfectly sized to house Auburn hoops at a shade under 10,000 capacity, and still feels brand new despite being built in 2010. Head coach Bruce Pearl has routinely kept the building filled and the program thriving.
4. Thompson-Boling Arena (Tennessee). With a seating capacity at nearly 22,000, Thompson-Boling Arena stands out a terrific basketball venue. Both the Tennessee men’s team, as well as the women, see large crowds and great atmospheres for games. Legendary Lady Vol coach Pat Summit has recently had the court named after her.
5. Pavilion at Ole Miss (Ole Miss). Ole Miss went the Auburn route when they built The Pavilion back in 2016. Winning has not exactly followed these fresh new digs but the arena is a tremendous showcase for recruiting.
6. Mizzou Arena (Missouri). With Missouri’s addition to the SEC, the conference acquired a program with solid basketball tradition (Most of the last decade not withstanding) and one of America’s great basketball venues. Mizzou Arena opened in 2004 and with a seating capacity at just over 15,000, feels a lot like an NBA atmosphere at times.
7. Reed Arena (Texas A&M). Hard to believe this venue is 24 years old as it still holds up as one of the “nicer” arenas in the SEC. Reed Arena is known to get pretty rowdy at times and routinely plays host to big concerts and other entertainment vehicles like WWE.
8.Colonial Life Arena (South Carolina). With room for 18,000 spectators, Colonial Life Arena is a beautiful facility and is the largest indoor arena in the state of South Carolina…Now if only the USC basketball program would start winning basketball games to capitalize on their Final 4 season of 2017.
9. O’Connell Center (Florida). The “rowdy reptiles” help make the 11,000 seat O’Connell Center one of the tougher places to play in college basketball. The Florida basketball program was able to sustain a great deal of success under Billy Donovan and are waiting for the Mike White era to get back to that level.
10. Memorial Gym (Vanderbilt). Memorial Gym was built in the early 1950’s as a memorial to those killed in World War II. It is one of the most unique venues in college basketball due to the raised floor and the fact that the arena’s configuration resembles that of a theater. The venue now seats over 14,000 and has become one of the more intimidating venues to travel to in the Southeastern Conference.
11. Pete Maravich Assembly Center (LSU). Opening in 1972, this 13,000 seat venue has played host to LSU hoops for over 40 years. It is named after LSU’s favorite basketball son, Pete Maravich and is known to draw decent crowds especially when the Tigers are good (which has been hit-and-miss).
12. Humphrey Coliseum (Miss. State). Nicknamed “The Hump,” this 10,000 seat venue has been known to be one of the louder in the SEC and is quite intimidating despite its age. Former Florida Gator Corey Brewer once said of the Humphrey Coliseum “It gets loud, I don’t know why. It’s a different kind of loud. So loud that you can’t think.”
13. Coleman Coliseum (Alabama). Coleman gets a few extra points because Elvis Presley once played this venue, and as impressive as Bryant-Denny Stadium is in Tuscaloosa, Coleman Coliseum is really just a gym. Nothing really stands out about the venue and the Crimson Tide basketball program has routinely been average.
14. Stegman Coliseum (Georgia). After finally breaking through and winning a championship in football, it’s time for Bulldog basketball to rise out of lethargy. A new on-campus facility is severely needed at this point to serve as a reboot for the program.
LINK
SEC basketball arenas ranked
1. Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas). Opening in 1993, Bud Walton Arena quickly became a crown jewel for college basketball as the first team to ever play in this building won a National Championship. Bud Walton is also the fifth largest on-campus basketball facility in the nation and is an intimidating a venue there is when the Razorbacks are good.
2. Rupp Arena (Kentucky). The largest basketball-only arena in America, Rupp opened in 1976 and has regularly seen crowds of over 24,000 during its 30 plus year history. It is also fitting, perhaps, that the winningest program in college basketball history plays its’ games here on these hallowed grounds.
3. Auburn Arena (Auburn). It’s perfectly sized to house Auburn hoops at a shade under 10,000 capacity, and still feels brand new despite being built in 2010. Head coach Bruce Pearl has routinely kept the building filled and the program thriving.
4. Thompson-Boling Arena (Tennessee). With a seating capacity at nearly 22,000, Thompson-Boling Arena stands out a terrific basketball venue. Both the Tennessee men’s team, as well as the women, see large crowds and great atmospheres for games. Legendary Lady Vol coach Pat Summit has recently had the court named after her.
5. Pavilion at Ole Miss (Ole Miss). Ole Miss went the Auburn route when they built The Pavilion back in 2016. Winning has not exactly followed these fresh new digs but the arena is a tremendous showcase for recruiting.
6. Mizzou Arena (Missouri). With Missouri’s addition to the SEC, the conference acquired a program with solid basketball tradition (Most of the last decade not withstanding) and one of America’s great basketball venues. Mizzou Arena opened in 2004 and with a seating capacity at just over 15,000, feels a lot like an NBA atmosphere at times.
7. Reed Arena (Texas A&M). Hard to believe this venue is 24 years old as it still holds up as one of the “nicer” arenas in the SEC. Reed Arena is known to get pretty rowdy at times and routinely plays host to big concerts and other entertainment vehicles like WWE.
8.Colonial Life Arena (South Carolina). With room for 18,000 spectators, Colonial Life Arena is a beautiful facility and is the largest indoor arena in the state of South Carolina…Now if only the USC basketball program would start winning basketball games to capitalize on their Final 4 season of 2017.
9. O’Connell Center (Florida). The “rowdy reptiles” help make the 11,000 seat O’Connell Center one of the tougher places to play in college basketball. The Florida basketball program was able to sustain a great deal of success under Billy Donovan and are waiting for the Mike White era to get back to that level.
10. Memorial Gym (Vanderbilt). Memorial Gym was built in the early 1950’s as a memorial to those killed in World War II. It is one of the most unique venues in college basketball due to the raised floor and the fact that the arena’s configuration resembles that of a theater. The venue now seats over 14,000 and has become one of the more intimidating venues to travel to in the Southeastern Conference.
11. Pete Maravich Assembly Center (LSU). Opening in 1972, this 13,000 seat venue has played host to LSU hoops for over 40 years. It is named after LSU’s favorite basketball son, Pete Maravich and is known to draw decent crowds especially when the Tigers are good (which has been hit-and-miss).
12. Humphrey Coliseum (Miss. State). Nicknamed “The Hump,” this 10,000 seat venue has been known to be one of the louder in the SEC and is quite intimidating despite its age. Former Florida Gator Corey Brewer once said of the Humphrey Coliseum “It gets loud, I don’t know why. It’s a different kind of loud. So loud that you can’t think.”
13. Coleman Coliseum (Alabama). Coleman gets a few extra points because Elvis Presley once played this venue, and as impressive as Bryant-Denny Stadium is in Tuscaloosa, Coleman Coliseum is really just a gym. Nothing really stands out about the venue and the Crimson Tide basketball program has routinely been average.
14. Stegman Coliseum (Georgia). After finally breaking through and winning a championship in football, it’s time for Bulldog basketball to rise out of lethargy. A new on-campus facility is severely needed at this point to serve as a reboot for the program.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:01 am to scrooster
Was at the women's game Sunday. Anybody know what they're doing on Main between the Statehouse and Greene Street? Construction was crazy.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:03 am to bigDgator
quote:
8.Colonial Life Arena (South Carolina). With room for 18,000 spectators, Colonial Life Arena is a beautiful facility and is the largest indoor arena in the state of South Carolina…Now if only the USC basketball program would start winning basketball games to capitalize on their Final 4 season of 2017.
Mission Accomplished. Time to move us up...
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:09 am to Rex Feral
quote:
Because a refurbished livestock arena that looks like the inside of an egg makes a great basketball venue.
the question isn't is stegeman great. It's is it dead last in the conference, which it unequivocally is not. I'd be willing to guess you haven't been there in at least a decade and likely haven't been to any other SEC venue either, otherwise I doubt you'd feel the same way.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:18 am to TheTideMustRoll
With interest rates rising and the economy uncertain, it will be awhile before Bama builds a new arena. I think they will do a remodel, sadly.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:19 am to Landmass
I miss watching Tad Pad games on Jefferson Pilot.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:24 am to TheTideMustRoll
quote:
15. Alabama
16. Vandy
You forgot Georgia. It's as bad as Vandy.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:27 am to WG_Dawg
nothing is worse than vandy's gym. its unique but with all the construction rn the place is impossible to get through, not to mention you have to watch vandy
OU's arena is also pretty poor, UGA is pretty bad but id agree its not the worst here
OU's arena is also pretty poor, UGA is pretty bad but id agree its not the worst here
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:28 am to scrooster
quote:"The Basketball Palace of the South" ~ circa 1968
When it was built, designed, Coach McGuire insisted it have 12,501 seating capacity ... alterations had to me made. Why? Because he hated NC State so badly, and their arena held 12,500 .... ours had to be bigger.
The Frank was the original "And 1" ...Big Frank wouldn't have had it any other way -
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:35 am to GentleJackJones
I’m not saying ours is the worst looking, definitely bottom 4-5, but you have to evacuate the building and have it condemned for many months while repairs are made…..that puts you at the bottom. Congrats Bama on #15
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:39 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
It's is it dead last in the conference, which it unequivocally is not. I'd be willing to guess you haven't been there in at least a decade and likely haven't been to any other SEC venue either, otherwise I doubt you'd feel the same way.
I was at the High Point game this year and went to a Vandy game a couple years ago.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:46 am to TheTideMustRoll
Hate to get sentimental but
I don't hate Memorial at Vandy.
It's actually a gymnasium and I got tired of the cookie-cutter aspect of venues decades ago. It's weird, no doubt, but respect to keeping something that works going and not just changing for the sake of changing.
I don't hate Memorial at Vandy.
It's actually a gymnasium and I got tired of the cookie-cutter aspect of venues decades ago. It's weird, no doubt, but respect to keeping something that works going and not just changing for the sake of changing.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 11:48 am to Whentheleveebreaks
quote:
It’s interesting that the SEC has the top facilities in all the other sports but basketball arenas is not it.
Some programs invest, others just simply do not.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 12:15 pm to GentleJackJones
Just based on "nicest" or coolest:
1) Mizzou Arena
2) Auburn
3) Ole Miss
4) Arkansas
5) Texas (when the upper deck is open)
6) Tennessee
7) Texas A&M
8) South carolina
9) Kentucky (it is big but sucks in every other way)
10) LSU
11) MSU
12) Florida
13) Georgia
14) Vandy
15) Oklahoma
16) Alabama
1) Mizzou Arena
2) Auburn
3) Ole Miss
4) Arkansas
5) Texas (when the upper deck is open)
6) Tennessee
7) Texas A&M
8) South carolina
9) Kentucky (it is big but sucks in every other way)
10) LSU
11) MSU
12) Florida
13) Georgia
14) Vandy
15) Oklahoma
16) Alabama
Posted on 2/7/24 at 12:37 pm to TTOWN RONMON
quote:I don't think they'll spend a bunch of money again on the arena itself. It is definitely dated and cavernous, but it can get loud when the bottom 1/2 is full.
With interest rates rising and the economy uncertain, it will be awhile before Bama builds a new arena. I think they will do a remodel, sadly.
Most people don't realize Alabama has really nice basketball facilities within Coleman.
Ultimately the arena itself just isn't a huge deal from a program perspective; it's really just fodder for the fans. Alabama has lost a total of 5 home games in the last 4 seasons, so Coleman clearly doesn't provide any kind of drag on performance. The coaches and players spend 99% of their time in the practice facilities anyway.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 12:55 pm to GentleJackJones
The renovations that were just completed at The Hump definitely make it a top half arena in the conference. There is not a bad seat in the house and the enhancements with the concourse and other amenities are very nice.
And yes it can get very loud with the way the acoustics are in the coliseum.
And yes it can get very loud with the way the acoustics are in the coliseum.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 1:55 pm to Godawgs4
The Hump is fine. Not great, not bad. The big game atmospheres can be excellent.
Coleman is not great.
The Pavilion at OM is nice and comfy, some interesting design choices but a good arena.
Shout out to the Tad Pad and the colony of squirrels that have occupied it for the last 30 years. Was on OM’s campus last year and did not realize it was even still standing.
Coleman is not great.
The Pavilion at OM is nice and comfy, some interesting design choices but a good arena.
Shout out to the Tad Pad and the colony of squirrels that have occupied it for the last 30 years. Was on OM’s campus last year and did not realize it was even still standing.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 2:03 pm to SCLibertarian
quote:
Was at the women's game Sunday. Anybody know what they're doing on Main between the Statehouse and Greene Street? Construction was crazy.
I'll find out tomorrow night at the game. I've been wondering myself.
Page 3 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News