I have written extensively about the old arenas, the history and when watching a game the sense of being taken back to a different era. But how about the new venues?
Let’s take a look at the best newer arenas for fans to watch a college basketball. The new arenas have seating bowls with wide seats, cup holders, huge video score boards, stat boards, wide concourses, all kinds of good food and of course, passionate fans.
This is my top 10 college basketball arenas built in the last 15 years. The two main criteria are the facility and the atmosphere. Louisville, Auburn and Oregon opened new arenas this season. I am not including them in this ranking because they are too new to get an accurate reading of the atmosphere. I will evaluate those venues next year after the newness factor wears off a little.
10. Cheifetz Arena, Saint Louis University (10,600)
There is nothing unique here, just a solid college basketball arena located on campus that produces a very good college basketball experience. With a great seating bowl, good fans seated close to the court and a good student section. It opened in 2008.
9. Constant Convocation Center, Old Dominion (8,639)
The smallest venue on the list, it has a great seating bowl, where every seat has a good view of the action on the court. On most nights most of the seats are filled, providing a very good college atmosphere since it opened in 2002.
8.Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, San Diego State (12,414)
This is probably the most unique arena in the country. Instead of digging a hole for the arena, they just built it in the old Aztec Bowl football stadium. The seating bowl is a pit design providing a great view of the action for the fans, but the concourse where the concession stands and restrooms are located is outdoors. It opened in 1997.
7. Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina (18,000)
It is a big one, but it is a great place to watch a game and you know you are in a college basketball arena. Like any good venue, the seats are down close to the floor and the fans are loud. There are times when the upper seating isn’t even close to full, but it doesn’t take away from the experience like some arenas with open seats. It opened in 2002.
6. Peterson Events Center, Pittsburgh (12,508)
This is one of the super arenas that has opened in the last decade. It has a very good seating bowl, great fans and a very good college atmosphere. They have a food court and big concourses, but oddly enough not enough men’s restrooms. They put some corporate boxes courtside, but it has caught on. No other arena has copied this idea since it opened in 2002.
5. Qwest Center, Creighton (17,260)
This is the only off-campus venue on the list. It is located in downtown Omaha, just a short distance from campus. It is kind of a small NBA arena with a good seating bowl, scoreboard, good food and good fans that give it a very good college atmosphere. On game night most of the seats are filled, something a lot of larger school would love to do. It opened in 2003.
4. Cintas Center, Xavier (10,250)
Located on campus, less than 100 yards from the closest dorm, this venue is rocking on game nights. Open since 2000, it has a good seating bowl, score board and outstanding fans that know college basketball. It is the ideal college basketball atmosphere with plenty of students, the band playing and a noise level that makes it special. The concourse is a little narrow, which makes moving about a little tough at peak times, but in the seating bowl, it is tough to beat.
3. JGH Center, Missouri State (11,000)
Probably the best newer, mid-major arena in the country. They got it right with upper and lower seating section, good food and very good fans. With the fans right on top of the action, a good pep band and loud student section, this is a great college game experience.
2. Kohl Center, Wisconsin (17,230)
It has been open since 1998 and it shows no signs of aging. It has lower and upper seating sections filled – as in sold out – on most nights, with loud passionate fans. The students, known as the “Grateful Red,” make their presence known for the entire game. The band is stellar too. Not really a bad seat in the house, which is tough to do in larger venues.
1. Comcast Center, Maryland (17,950)
This maybe the best designed arena in the country. With 4,000 students seated on the sidelines and at west end of the seating bowl in an area called “The Wall,” you know you are at a college basketball game. The concourses are wide and accommodating, plus the food is good too. The games are usually sold out and the fans are loud. There is really not anything to dislike about this venue.
