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MU in MKE Offline
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Best Basketball Arena
So it's the long basketball offseason and most of us do not have football to talk about... so while we anxiously await recruiting news, let's talk about something fun.

MU just completed their first year in the brand new Fiserve Forum. I believe, and have been told by a certain head coach, that it is the finest basketball arena in the country. The only catch is, the only other arena I've been to is the UW-Milwaukee Panther arena. So I don't exactly have much to compare it to.

So for those of you who have traveled to see your team in another arena, or just happened to go to another team's game, what is the best arena you've seen a game at that was not your home arena. Criteria is up to you!
08-30-2019 08:01 PM
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scoscox Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
The Midwest has a lot of great college basketball arenas. Strictly for college basketball atmosphere, I think two of the best are Cintas and hinkle field house. Both arenas are just great for that college feel of being the right size and having the fans right on top of you. I often feel like you lose that in nba arenas where the fans are further away from the court. The size and layout is great and there aren’t bad seats anywhere. Those two probably have the best sight lines of any arenas I’ve been too
(This post was last modified: 08-30-2019 08:15 PM by scoscox.)
08-30-2019 08:13 PM
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bill dazzle Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
I once saw a game at the old Reynolds Coliseum (N.C. State) and one at E.A. Diddle Arena (Western Kentucky), two very distinctive college basketball arenas and atmospheres. Have seen games in the since-demolished Alumni Hall (DePaul) and (for high school) Alumni Gym (Loyola in Chicago). Have seen games at Assembly Hall at Indiana University and that is a very unusually configured facility.

Of all the arenas/gyms I've been inside but not seen a game in, here is how I would rate my four favorites:

1. Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler): an architectural masterpiece

2. Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)

3. Pauley Pavilion (UCLA)

4. Freedom Hall (Louisville)
08-30-2019 10:04 PM
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HuskyU Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
Everyone speaks so highly of Hinkle. Might have to make my way out there one of these years...
(This post was last modified: 08-31-2019 10:37 AM by HuskyU.)
08-31-2019 10:37 AM
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novachap Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(08-31-2019 10:37 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Everyone speaks so highly of Hinkle. Might have to make my way out there one of these years...


Its worth the trip... you feel the history. Saw if for the first time 2 years ago. Not amenity driven but great college / Hoosiers environment.

The Palestra in Phila has the same kind of feel IMO.
08-31-2019 10:44 AM
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novachap Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
Our X brethren will tell you Cintas is a great venue too. Certainly from an environment perspective. Hoping to get there this or next year. Trouble is, the NOVA tickets are always difficult to get.
08-31-2019 10:46 AM
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GoldenWarrior11 Online
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
I am actually disappointed by Wintrust. Aside from the outrageous parking downtown, the lack of public transportation to get right there, the incredibly small concourse and lack of solid food/drink options, it really is a poor modern arena. The fact they also only have one major entrance is still puzzling to me.
08-31-2019 10:59 AM
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bill dazzle Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(08-31-2019 10:44 AM)novachap Wrote:  
(08-31-2019 10:37 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Everyone speaks so highly of Hinkle. Might have to make my way out there one of these years...


Its worth the trip... you feel the history. Saw if for the first time 2 years ago. Not amenity driven but great college / Hoosiers environment.

The Palestra in Phila has the same kind of feel IMO.

I saw The Palestra exterior in the late 1990s. Strong. Could not go inside, unfortunately.

I have followed urban placemaking, architecture and the manmade environment for about 45 years now (and my job has me involved in those topics, too). Hinkle is stupendous. The attention to detail, the symmetry, the color scheme, the distinctiveness. Outstanding. Notwithstanding the amenities factor, the only negative to Hinkle is that's its facade/main entrance interact with a surface parking lot (not good). Would enjoy seeing a game there but probably never well as I don't travel much anymore.

I've never been inside Cintas but the photos suggest the interior is outstanding. The exterior (from what I've seen) is a bit basic/boxy (though I like the color scheme) and, like Hinkle (and unfortunately) the building interacts with lots of surface parking. Some people are OK with that. But as a fan of urban buildings and urban placemaking, that is always a negative for me. Similarly, the UD Arena (Dayton) offers massive surface parking — though it is a quality facility on many levels.

There are many ways to assess/enjoy college basketball arenas. It's very subjective.
(This post was last modified: 08-31-2019 11:08 AM by bill dazzle.)
08-31-2019 11:08 AM
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scoscox Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(08-31-2019 10:46 AM)novachap Wrote:  Our X brethren will tell you Cintas is a great venue too. Certainly from an environment perspective. Hoping to get there this or next year. Trouble is, the NOVA tickets are always difficult to get.

True. The Nova game has eclipsed the shootout in terms of ticket prices I believe, or it is atleast close to it. Kind of crazy. It's quickly become the biggest game on the schedule
(This post was last modified: 08-31-2019 01:16 PM by scoscox.)
08-31-2019 01:15 PM
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scoscox Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(08-31-2019 11:08 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I saw The Palestra exterior in the late 1990s. Strong. Could not go inside, unfortunately.

I have followed urban placemaking, architecture and the manmade environment for about 45 years now (and my job has me involved in those topics, too). Hinkle is stupendous. The attention to detail, the symmetry, the color scheme, the distinctiveness. Outstanding. Notwithstanding the amenities factor, the only negative to Hinkle is that's its facade/main entrance interact with a surface parking lot (not good). Would enjoy seeing a game there but probably never well as I don't travel much anymore.

I've never been inside Cintas but the photos suggest the interior is outstanding. The exterior (from what I've seen) is a bit basic/boxy (though I like the color scheme) and, like Hinkle (and unfortunately) the building interacts with lots of surface parking. Some people are OK with that. But as a fan of urban buildings and urban placemaking, that is always a negative for me. Similarly, the UD Arena (Dayton) offers massive surface parking — though it is a quality facility on many levels.

There are many ways to assess/enjoy college basketball arenas. It's very subjective.

I've heard that from a lot of visiting fans. They're non-plussed by the way it looks from the outside and then usually blown away by how much nicer the interior is.

Technically, I'm not sure I'd consider it urban. It's definitely outside the city center. What kind of parking do you prefer? I've never considered the aesthetic of parking before.
08-31-2019 01:19 PM
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bill dazzle Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(08-31-2019 01:19 PM)scoscox Wrote:  
(08-31-2019 11:08 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I saw The Palestra exterior in the late 1990s. Strong. Could not go inside, unfortunately.

I have followed urban placemaking, architecture and the manmade environment for about 45 years now (and my job has me involved in those topics, too). Hinkle is stupendous. The attention to detail, the symmetry, the color scheme, the distinctiveness. Outstanding. Notwithstanding the amenities factor, the only negative to Hinkle is that's its facade/main entrance interact with a surface parking lot (not good). Would enjoy seeing a game there but probably never well as I don't travel much anymore.

I've never been inside Cintas but the photos suggest the interior is outstanding. The exterior (from what I've seen) is a bit basic/boxy (though I like the color scheme) and, like Hinkle (and unfortunately) the building interacts with lots of surface parking. Some people are OK with that. But as a fan of urban buildings and urban placemaking, that is always a negative for me. Similarly, the UD Arena (Dayton) offers massive surface parking — though it is a quality facility on many levels.

There are many ways to assess/enjoy college basketball arenas. It's very subjective.

I've heard that from a lot of visiting fans. They're non-plussed by the way it looks from the outside and then usually blown away by how much nicer the interior is.

Technically, I'm not sure I'd consider it urban. It's definitely outside the city center. What kind of parking do you prefer? I've never considered the aesthetic of parking before.


I've heard nothing but positives from folks who've seen game at the Cintas. The photos suggest a stellar vibe and design. X fans must be very pleased.

As to the type parking I prefer: structured garage.

Given my brother spent two years living in the Clifton-Ludlow area (attending UC) and that I live fairly near Cincy, I've visited Cincinnati many times over the years and know the city well (have also spent many hours "studying" the city via Google Maps and Google Streetview). The Xavier campus — extremely nice, by the way — is located in an area of the city that does offer some solid elements of urbanism (sidewalks, a gridded street pattern to the east and northeast of the campus) and only a modest amount of dead space. As such, the Xavier campus "works." It makes sense, as does (specifically) the Cintas. It is neither "too urban" nor "too suburban." I like that.

My favorite arenas — and there are not a lot like these — tend to be "wedged into" a campus with no surface parking lots nearby (structured garage parking only). On the Cincinnati theme, the Fifth Third Arena at UC is oriented like this. It's surrounded by other buildings, a model that I prefer. Now, and to be fair, this model addresses only the "exterior function" of the arena and not the "interior fan experience." Two very different things. The average fan cares mainly (if not only) about the "inside action." A urban placemaking nerd like myself, admittedly, looks at things differently.

The old (closed now) A.J. Polumbo Center at Duquesne in downtown Pittsburgh is another example of an arena that offers the model I like. Surrounded by other buildings, old school and distinctive.
08-31-2019 03:52 PM
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scoscox Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
Xavier is sandwiched between Evanston, a very nice neighborhood of Cincinnati, and Norwood, a decidedly less nice area. That leads to the urban/suburban hybrid you mentioned. If you go west, it’s very nice, but if you go east of campus at all things get a little rough. It used to be a lot worse. There used to be a big packaging plant and a lot of industrial properties right next to campus, but they closed down and Xavier bought up a lot of the property. Now campus looks night and day better than even ten years ago. Some of the properties they didn’t convert and just left empty lots which became the parking lots for Cintas
09-01-2019 10:34 AM
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bill dazzle Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(09-01-2019 10:34 AM)scoscox Wrote:  Xavier is sandwiched between Evanston, a very nice neighborhood of Cincinnati, and Norwood, a decidedly less nice area. That leads to the urban/suburban hybrid you mentioned. If you go west, it’s very nice, but if you go east of campus at all things get a little rough. It used to be a lot worse. There used to be a big packaging plant and a lot of industrial properties right next to campus, but they closed down and Xavier bought up a lot of the property. Now campus looks night and day better than even ten years ago. Some of the properties they didn’t convert and just left empty lots which became the parking lots for Cintas


I'm looking at Cincinnati on Google Maps as I type and it seems your assessment is spot-on. I've driven through the general XU campus/Norwood/Evanston area about four times in the past and always found it inviting and likable.

My knowledge of the city mainly stops north at Avondale/the zoo/the Gaslamp District and east at I-71.

My brother had an outstanding experience during his two years at UC and I became a big fan of the city (this was 20 years ago). The art museum, zoo, aquarium, Over the Rhine, Graeter's, Skyline Chili ... strong. And I love all the beautiful churches and little mixed-use districts and villages. Also, the Catholic influence is noticeable, which I find very appealing.

It's a neat thing for a city of Cincinnati's population to have two big-time college hoops programs, too.

I'm just a big fan of the city. I trust you enjoy living there.
09-01-2019 12:01 PM
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scoscox Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
It has a lot of big city amenities while being small enough to avoid a lot of the big city annoyances, which is nice. I love the german catholic influence as well
(This post was last modified: 09-01-2019 10:19 PM by scoscox.)
09-01-2019 10:17 PM
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bill dazzle Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(09-01-2019 10:17 PM)scoscox Wrote:  It has a lot of big city amenities while being small enough to avoid a lot of the big city annoyances, which is nice. I love the german catholic influence as well

"It has a lot of big city amenities while being small enough to avoid a lot of the big city annoyances."

Many of my favorite U.S. cities are like this.
09-02-2019 08:05 AM
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MU in MKE Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(09-01-2019 10:17 PM)scoscox Wrote:  It has a lot of big city amenities while being small enough to avoid a lot of the big city annoyances, which is nice. I love the german catholic influence as well

This definitely describes Milwaukee as well, and I concur.

Regrading best arena's, I continually see people describe the atmosphere of Hinkle. That and probably Wintrust (proximity and newness) are the two top Big East arena's not named MSG I'd love to visit first.
09-02-2019 08:57 PM
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bill dazzle Offline
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RE: Best Basketball Arena
(09-02-2019 08:57 PM)MU in MKE Wrote:  
(09-01-2019 10:17 PM)scoscox Wrote:  It has a lot of big city amenities while being small enough to avoid a lot of the big city annoyances, which is nice. I love the german catholic influence as well

This definitely describes Milwaukee as well, and I concur.

Regrading best arena's, I continually see people describe the atmosphere of Hinkle. That and probably Wintrust (proximity and newness) are the two top Big East arena's not named MSG I'd love to visit first.

Agree fully on Milwaukee. A very underrated U.S. city. I like the old-school architecture, lake, river, beer culture, neighborhoods, Catholic culture and Marquette U. influence. Full props to the city.

Have not yet seen in person Wintrust but my views via Google satellite view have me a bit concerned (to be honest).
(This post was last modified: 09-02-2019 10:48 PM by bill dazzle.)
09-02-2019 10:45 PM
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