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As the new season of college basketball is around the corner, the hype is like never before. With all the top teams vying for the championship and the underdogs trying to upset the big-time teams, we are in for a season full of electrifying performances. While the players and their performances are set to light up the hard court, the fans will also have a big role to play. Their role will, of course, be setting to fill up the arenas and create an atmosphere that can make the opponents feel like they’re up against more than just five players on the court. If the fans are the lifeline of the teams, the arena is their home. While to ordinary folks an arena may be just a building, for the passionate fans among us, it is the soul of the team. This is why it is highly important to build an arena that complements the fan base’s passion. The size, the design, and how close the fans are to the court are some of the factors that make an arena historic. With all that said and done, let’s look are some of the largest arenas in the college basketball landscape. Which arenas are the largest in college basketball? JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) – Syracuse University Capacity- 35,446 Field Name- Jim Boeheim Court Opened- September 20, 1980 Home Team- Syracuse University KFC Yum! Center- University of Louisville Capacity- 22,090 Field Name- Denny Crum Court Opened- October 10, 2010 Home Team- University of Louisville Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Dean E. Smith Center- University of North Carolina Capacity- 21,750 Field Name- Roy Williams Court Opened- January 18, 1986 (last renovation in 2018) Home Team- University of North Carolina Thompson-Boling Arena- University of Tennessee Capacity- 21,678 Field Name- The Summit Opened- December 3, 1987 Home Team- University of Tennessee Rupp Arena- University of Kentucky Capacity- 20,545 Field Name- Cawood Ledford Court Opened- November 27, 1976 Home Team- University of Kentucky Capital One Arena- Georgetown University Capacity- 20,356 Opened- December 2, 1997 Home Team- Georgetown University Madison Square Garden- St. John’s University Capacity- 19,812 Opened- February 11, 1968 (Last Renovated in 2013) Home Team- St. John’s University PNC Arena- North Carolina State University Capacity- 19,722 Opened- October 29, 1999 Home Team- North Carolina State University Bud Walton Arena- University of Arkansas Capacity- 19,368 Opened- November 29, 1993 Home Team- University of Arkansas Marriott Center- BYU Capacity- 19,000 Opened- 1971 Home Team- BYU Why does arena size matter for college basketball? For as long as one can remember, it has seemed that bigger is better. In the college basketball landscape as well, a bigger arena is always a big advantage to have. Having a bigger arena allows a team to pack the arena and have fans screaming at the top of their lungs to cheer (or boo against the opponents) for their home team. This creates an atmosphere that can give the home team momentum and an added boost to carry the team to wins. While it’s just five players on the court at a time, when the fans are cheering with so much passion, it feels like you have an extra boost to win. Having a larger arena is also a great asset when recruiting new talent. It’s no secret that everybody wants to be part of a historic program. If your arena is shrouded in history and famous for an electric environment, a recruit can be swayed to commit to your program over your rivals. A bigger arena will also result in increased revenue. From ticket sales to merchandise sales, everything can add to the program’s income. This additional income will further help the college basketball programs to provide better facilities and hire better staff that will not only help the team compete well but also prepare the players for a career in the professional leagues.
