Four new arenas will be on full display in the Big 12, a conference full of some of the best venues in college basketball. Let’s take a look at them and their history of great college basketball.
In a conference that features Phog Allen Fieldhouse, Hilton Coliseum, Foster Pavilion, Bramlage Coliseum, and Gallagher-Iba Arena, the Big 12 is known for some of the best college basketball arenas. With Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado joining the conference, four new ones are in the mix.
Located right on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, this is home to Lute and Bobbi Olson Court. Of course, Lute Olson was the long-time head coach of the Wildcats. The facility holds nearly 15,000 fans for basketball. This will be the 51st season for Arizona basketball at the McKale Center. The first-ever basketball game held there was in 1973, with the Wildcats beating Wyoming by 18 points. In 2011, President Obama gave a keynote speech at the venue. In 1998, Arizona hosted the Pac-12 tournament, and many times, the McKale Center has been host of NCAA Tournament games. The Wildcats have won nearly 84% of all their games here. Arizona has gone unbeaten at home 13 times, with the most recent coming back in 2022. From 1987-1992, the Wildcats won 71 straight games at home. Finally, Arizona scored 127 points at the McKale Center against rival Arizona State in 1998.
The house Bobby Hurley roams around the sidelines. Desert Financial Arena used to be called the ASU Activity Center, and even Wells Fargo Arena. This is on the camper of Arizona State, which is located in Tempe. The facility opened back in 1974 and has been the home of Sun Devils basketball ever since. The arena can hold over 14,000 fans. It has hosted women’s basketball tournament games, but never a men’s tournament. One of the most memorable games at this location was in 2023 when a record of over 5,000 students were in attendance to see the Sun Devils take on UCLA. Oddly enough, much like the history of Arizona State basketball, they only went unbeaten once at home, and that was in the first season, back in 1974-1975. Arizona State has averaged just over 8,000 fans per game over the last two seasons.
The 15,000-seat venue is on the campus of the University of Utah. In Salt Lake City, the venue is home of the Utes basketball and gymnastics teams. Opened in 1969, the Utes are about ready to embark on their 55th season at the facility. 12 times the Huntsman Center has been host to the NCAA Tournament. They hosted a Final Four back in 1979. That was the season of Magic Johnson and his Michigan State Spartans against Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores. The Huntsman Center is third all-time in NCAA Tournament games hosted, with 81. Back in 2020, an article from deseret.com discussed some things about the Huntsman Center that people did not know. The Huntsman Center is home to the game where Jerry Chambers scored 40 points in a game in 1966, while Branden Carlson matched it this past March.
Opened in 1979, the CU Events Center holds just over 11,000 fans for University of Colorado basketball games. The Buffaloes named the playing surface Sox Walseth Court, which honors a former coach. The CU Events Center is the highest indoor arena in the conference, just ahead of the Huntsman Center. One unique feature of the CU Events Center is the roof-mounted retractable hoops, similar to Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke. The largest crowd ever for a men’s basketball game was in 2011 when the Kansas Jayhawks came to town and beat the Buffaloes by 10, There were 11,363 in attendance, which was standing room only. The venue has been host to many great concerts, including Bob Dylan, U2, Stevie Wonder among others.
It should be another banner year for the Big 12 in Men’s Basketball. Fans can look forward to the addition of the four new squads, and their venues to be on display for some great games!
