Just 'Cuz: Top 5 Coolest NCAA Basketball Arenas

*Disclaimer: I am not taking into account history, team success, or "aura".
This is purely a list of the arenas which I find aesthetically pleasing or delightfully gimmicky.

Lets jump right in:

#1: University of Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena aka "The Matt"

Click for more information on the "Matt's" upgrade

While notorious for their wild uniforms and pristine athletic facilities, the University of Oregon took the next step with the renovated Matt Arena. Nike "wanted to design the most iconic television presence possible for the University of Oregon by conjuring up a highly unique and visible basketball floor design”. Enter Kilkenny Floor aka "Deep in the Woods". No, that's not glare on a shiny, new court. What you see is 2 miles of stenciling and 2,500 man hours "inspired by [Oregon's] beautiful tree-covered region and [the Ducks'] 1939 NCAA Championship basketball team nicknamed the ‘Tall Firs’".

#2: Texas A&M's Reed Arena

Fact: You can't go wrong with parquet.

Until the Oregon brought the thunder with their new floor, I had a favorite in mind.  That would have been Texas A&M's Reed Arena, equipped with parquet and the state of Texas at center court.  I know that some state schools (such as Texas and Indiana) have a habit of placing their state's outline on the basketball court, but how do you top a massive, accented parquet Texas at center court.  You don't.  The checkerboard throughout along with the darker accented "paint area" gives the Aggies' court elite status.



#3: University of North Carolina's Dean Smith Center aka the "Dean Dome"

Oh, and the team isn't half bad either.

Alright, I lied a little when I said I didn't take into account aura, because anyone who has ever walked into the Dean Dome realizes that they are part of more than "just a game".  Once you are done counting banners and marveling at the retired jersey collection, I recommend that you take a gander at the floor.  A vibrant golden floor accented with the school's trademark Carolina blue is all I need to see to be convinced that the Dean Dome deserves a spot in our top 3.


Rounding out the top 5, I'd like to mention these courts are more gimmick than flash, but awesome non-the-less.

#4: Syracuse University's Carrier Dome

Hey, Mom! I'm the one in orange

Syracuse's Carrier Dome gives a perennially talented team one of the best home court advantages in the NCAA.  How does 'Cuse gain an edge over the other Big East schools and their fanatics? Numbers.  The Carrier Dome is the largest domed stadium on any college campus and the largest domed stadium in the northeastern United States.  Doing the math, Syracuse blows out attendance records with over 33,000 seats filled with rowdy Orange fans for a basketball game.

#5: Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gymnasium

#32, Your shoe's untied! Really! I can only see your shoes!

Finally, an arena I find extremely interesting and cool simply because of seating arrangement.  The floor is actually raised above the first couple levels of seating, more resembling a stage than a court.  This gives some lucky fans a floor-level view of the action.  I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but its definitely something that seems cool.




Did I blatantly miss one? Leave a comment and let me know...