Ranking The Belt Basketball Arenas

[MeanGreen61]

Bird of Paradise post from the Belt board. Beleive he's a baseball or basketball announcer for the Cajuns.

I'm not going to rank them in order because I'd be splitting hairs to a degree:

Magness Arena (Denver) and Diddle Arena (WKU) are tops. Both have a reasonable seating capacity. One is only a decade old. The other had 28 million dollars put into an existing facility. Both are fan friendly with state of the art equipment.

The others:

SUN BELT WEST

ASU--The Convocation Center is a good facility. Not great. Seats too many for basketball (over 10,000) and way too many of those seats are in the end zones. But the seats are right on top of the court. Plenty of rooms in the Concourse area for booster functions, media, etc.

UALR--The Jack Stephens Center was built for only 26 million dollars a few years ago. Seating capacity of 5600 is good for now, but I see a problem if things start to take off at UALR. Because it was built for 26 mil, there are no bells and whistles there. But it's functional and a good place to watch a game.

UNT--The Super Pit is the arena I'd equate most to the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston. Seats more (10,000) than the TAC, but it's a round facility with bad accoustics. A little older than the TAC, the Super Pit could be the most intimidating home court advantage in the league if attendance would start to show it. Even with 5000 in the stands, it can be the loudest crowd in the league.

ULM--Right near the bottom. Seats are raised off the floor and they're actually farther away from the court than the CAJUNDOME. It's old and frankly, it looks like nobody cares. They don't draw and it's in need of a major upgrade.

UL--Yep. It's too big. Cavernous is a good adjective. And those third level seats are pretty high up. But the jumbotron and ribbons around the end zones along with a new sound system will make it look big time if the crowds come back. But UL has only averaged 6000 for a season twice since it's been opened...and that barely makes it half full. There's a plan on the table for about a 30 million upgrade and if they do it right the place will be a palace. But it'll still be too big.

EAST

USA--The Mitchell Center is right behind Denver and Diddle. Too many seats (10,000) makes it third best. Funky looking scoreboard, but it serves the purpose. Again, those upper level seats are a big high, but I'm splitting hairs here. Because it's new, it has the periphery necessary to take care of fans and boosters.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE--The folks in the 'boro are higher on this place than I am. I would rate it no better than 6th or seventh in the league. The Murphy Center has chairbacks...then it has bleachers....since they don't draw that well, they keep the bleachers folded. The lower level is actually quite nice, with good sight lines. But slapping two video boards in the end zones isn't the upgrade this place needs. The court, however, is named for a radio broadcaster (Monte Hale, Sr.) and that gets extra points with me.

TROY--Until the new place is built, they have the old place. The Southland Conference would laugh at this one. To quote Bette Davis "What a dump...What a dump!!!"

FAU--Thanks to some hurricane money they were able to refurbish the FAU Arena ("The Burrow") a few years ago. But really, they put lipstick on a pig. An ugly pig.

FIU--Actually this place isn't as bad as Troy, FAU or Monroe. It's fairly new (1993, I think.) But only 1000 chairbacks, then bleachers. No amenities. They do, however, have the best concessions in the league, bar none. All the meats are freshly grilled and the smell of fresh popcorn makes you hungry.

So, okay I will rate them...and include the Thomas Assembly Center

1. Denver

2. WKU

3. USA

4. UALR

5. UL

6. ASU

7 MT

8. TECH

9. UNT

10. FIU

11. ULM

12. FAU

13. TROY

And when Troy is finished, they'll vault into the first divison (I'll have to see the finished product and not a drawing before I make a decision on that.)

Edited August 25, 2010 by MeanGreen61

[glick1980]

I haven't been to any of the other Sunbelt arena's, but I have always thought very highly of the Super Pit. It is hard to believe that it would be the 9th best in our conference....

[Army of Dad]

I haven't been to any of the other Sunbelt arena's, but I have always thought very highly of the Super Pit. It is hard to believe that it would be the 9th best in our conference....

I agree.

[greenminer]

Love my Super Pit, just wish more people would fill it up

IMO, 10k is just right for college bball. Upwards to 15k depending on where the program is at and what the surrounding market can provide

[Mean Green Matt]

I will preface this by saying that the Super Pit is the only sun belt arena I have been to, but I have read a very good amount about all of the other facilities in the Sun Belt (mostly from the official websites of each school).

With that being said, there are only five facilities in the belt that the super pit cannot compete with as far as amenities and overall niceness go. These are Western Kentucky (Diddle), Denver (Magness), UALR (Jack Stephens Center), South Alabama (Mitchell Center), and Lousiana-Lafeyette (Cajundome). The Super Pit is a great arena, but lacks the extra amenities that these arenas have (club seats, suites, etc). This leaves us sitting at #6.

As an overall venue we move up the list. The amenities are not all that matters. Size of the arena is very important. Diddle Arena at WKU is big enough to not be a negative, the Jack Stephens Center at UALR only seats 5,600 though. Although this size works well for them, I believe this moves the super pit up 1 on the list.

Lastly, I believe atmosphere should be an important part of the ranking. I think that moves us past ULL, USA, and Denver, leaving us at #2 behind Western Kentucky.

So....overall "niceness" I think we sit NO LOWER than #6. As far as the overall ranking for the venue as a whole, I think we have to be #2 behind WKU. Fill the Super Pit and we move to #1.

Edited August 25, 2010 by Mean Green Matt

[UNTFan23]

UNT--The Super Pit is the arena I'd equate most to the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston. Seats more (10,000) than the TAC, but it's a round facility with bad accoustics. A little older than the TAC, the Super Pit could be the most intimidating home court advantage in the league if attendance would start to show it. Even with 5000 in the stands, it can be the loudest crowd in the league.

How is it bad accoustics if 5,000 helps provide the best home court advantage in the league?

[Army of Dad]

How is it bad accoustics if 5,000 helps provide the best home court advantage in the league?

The acoustics seem fine to me, I can usually hear my own yelling bouncing back at me.

[ColoradoEagle]

Not really sure what makes Magness so amazing. Overall, the Super Pit is a great place to watch a game. The two issues I do have with it are 1) no center scoreboard, and 2) the concourse needs to be improved/renovated.

[TheTastyGreek]

Not really sure what makes Magness so amazing. Overall, the Super Pit is a great place to watch a game. The two issues I do have with it are 1) no center scoreboard, and 2) the concourse needs to be improved/renovated.

Looks phenomenal. Appears to have a suite level, full in-arena video/ribbon presentation...

I've got a bet that comes due at the end of the year. A friend is going to owe me a round trip plane ticket to any reasonably priced advance booked destination in the continental U.S. that American covers. He likes Denver (the city) a lot, so I may collect on a schedule that allows me to watch a game there.

[GrandGreen]

Bird of Paradise equals bad acoustics with loud, therefore a "good" thing.

I have only been to three of the arenas: Mitchell Center, Cajundome and La Tech's arena. I prefer the Super Pit to any of them. I think it is just individual preference. Many of the newer venues remind me of McDonald's; a lot of plastic, chrome and bright colors.

NT is very lucky to have the SP although it is certainly different from the newer venues. My guess is that construction costs to duplicate the SP would be prohibitive. With new arenas such as UTA's cost being close to the new NT football stadium with significant less seats than the SP, NT is lucky to have a facility that has lasting quality,

Having song it praises; I hope that NT will get a center court scoreboard and improve the lighting. I also wonder why NT has wasted so much premium seating on the press.

[KRAM1]

I also wonder why NT has wasted so much premium seating on the press.

The sad answer is that at this point it doesn't matter owing to the very poor attendance UNT gets from its home fans. I look forward to the day when UNT has to "blow-up" all that press seating that sits all but empty most games (except for a few students doing projects, George and Vito + a few extras) and has to put in seats to accommodate those wanting to actually purchase "premium seating". JJ has built a team that should have earned the fans AND STUDENTS respect by now...I really don't know what else JJ and company can do to help sell seats. Maybe the Athletic Dept. can come up with some promotions to help this season...sure could happen. Hope so.

[ColoradoEagle]

@Tasty I've been there. No idea where that second pic is from, but that's not Magness. Not saying it's a bad place to catch a game, not by a long stretch. However, I prefer the SP because it's built for basketball whereas Magness is built for hockey.

Edit: looks like your second pic is the Kohl Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Edited August 25, 2010 by ColoradoEagle

[TheTastyGreek]

@Tasty I've been there. No idea where that second pic is from, but that's not Magness. Not saying it's a bad place to catch a game, not by a long stretch. However, I prefer the SP because it's built for basketball whereas Magness is built for hockey.

Not sure why that suite level photo popped up when I looked for photos.

Are you in Colorado now, or were you born there? If you're there now... Do you generally go for NT games when the basketball team is in town? Would you recommend it?

[ColoradoEagle]

Not sure why that suite level photo popped up when I looked for photos.

Are you in Colorado now, or were you born there? If you're there now... Do you generally go for NT games when the basketball team is in town? Would you recommend it?

Lived there for a couple years, but I'm back in Lewisville now. I intend to move back some day or at least have a condo during the summer, but that's one expensive state. I'd definitely recommend going, especially if you're on the south side of Denver (Littleton, etc). Nice campus and a decent little strip with some unique restaurants, etc southeast of the arena on University somewhat like the drag in Austin, but obviously not on that level.

[BeanCounterGrad'03]

Looks phenomenal. Appears to have a suite level, full in-arena video/ribbon presentation...

I've got a bet that comes due at the end of the year. A friend is going to owe me a round trip plane ticket to any reasonably priced advance booked destination in the continental U.S. that American covers. He likes Denver (the city) a lot, so I may collect on a schedule that allows me to watch a game there.

I'm planning on going to the game when the Mean Green roll into Denver. Let me know if you end up deciding to go.

[Green to the Bone]

I'm glad to see this topic pop up.

Perhaps we could get some Super Pit improvements out of a two-fer for businesses interested in new stadium promotions. You're willing to spend X dollars on promotions at the new stadium -- a suite, scoreboard, whatever. For 25 percent more, you'll also get a major promotion at the renovated Super Pit -- anywhere from one to four sides of a new center score/video board, for example, depending on how many dollars are involved.

In addition to a spruced-up concourse, I'd love to see some major exterior improvements. The plaza outside the place is pretty dull and uninviting. And my pet peeve: The outside of the building should have North Texas or Mean Green or Welcome to the Super Pit in letters big enough to be seen from far, far away. Heck, maybe also put a huge logo on top of the building so people in planes can see it while making the approach to DFW Airport. When you're passing over the Super Pit, you see NORTH TEXAS on the building roof. A second later, over the stadium, you see MEAN GREEN on the field. Another stadium fundraising tie-in opportunity.

[Hilltopper2k]

I've been to Magness. The outside (and DU's campus in general) is gorgeous. On the inside... there is nothing wrong with it, (its nice, new and clean and all that) but I just don't think it is anything that special.

[rockguitarist4life]

Bird of Paradise post from the Belt board. Beleive he's a baseball or basketball announcer for the Cajuns.

UNT--The Super Pit is the arena I'd equate most to the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston. Seats more (10,000) than the TAC, but it's a round facility with bad accoustics. A little older than the TAC, the Super Pit could be the most intimidating home court advantage in the league if attendance would start to show it. Even with 5000 in the stands, it can be the loudest crowd in the league.

Acoustics could be a lot better at the Super Pit, but with that said....even with bad acoustics the crowd noise is unmatched by sunbelt arenas. The Super Pit has a reputation of being a "trap" place to play. Listen to the radio during games...it sounds like we atleast half way fill the stadium. The Pit Crew, Cheerleaders, Talons & Band can really get the crowd going. UNT has stepped it up with their program...From coaching to the overall student participation/campus culture....I'm excited to see what this next year will bring to the books.

[Hilltopper2k]

Acoustics could be a lot better at the Super Pit, but with that said....even with bad acoustics the crowd noise is unmatched by sunbelt arenas.

I'd take that bet.

I'm sure UNT has good crowd noise but when Diddle gets rockin' I'm pretty confident we could match the crowd noise at the Pit.

[SUMG]

I'd take that bet.

I'm sure UNT has good crowd noise but when Diddle gets rockin' I'm pretty confident we could match the crowd noise at the Pit.

It's hard for you WKU fans to know how loud The Super Pit is....since you haven't had to play there since 1982. Or so.

[GreenBat]

I'd take that bet.

I'm sure UNT has good crowd noise but when Diddle gets rockin' I'm pretty confident we could match the crowd noise at the Pit.

I'll take that bet. But we won't know this year as the Toppers are hosting us for what seems like the 5th year in a row.

[Hilltopper2k]

It's hard for you WKU fans to know how loud The Super Pit is....since you haven't had to play there since 1982. Or so.

[Green Lantern]

It's hard for you WKU fans to know how loud The Super Pit is....since you haven't had to play there since 1982. Or so.

++++++1

Comment of the thread. Well done, sir!

[Adub4ever]

ive always loved the pit... when its packed with over 10k its gotta be top 3 in the sunbelt maybe even #2 behind magness

[EEagle]

I'm glad to see this topic pop up.

Perhaps we could get some Super Pit improvements out of a two-fer for businesses interested in new stadium promotions. You're willing to spend X dollars on promotions at the new stadium -- a suite, scoreboard, whatever. For 25 percent more, you'll also get a major promotion at the renovated Super Pit -- anywhere from one to four sides of a new center score/video board, for example, depending on how many dollars are involved.

In addition to a spruced-up concourse, I'd love to see some major exterior improvements. The plaza outside the place is pretty dull and uninviting. And my pet peeve: The outside of the building should have North Texas or Mean Green or Welcome to the Super Pit in letters big enough to be seen from far, far away. Heck, maybe also put a huge logo on top of the building so people in planes can see it while making the approach to DFW Airport. When you're passing over the Super Pit, you see NORTH TEXAS on the building roof. A second later, over the stadium, you see MEAN GREEN on the field. Another stadium fundraising tie-in opportunity.

The problem with that is that the Super Pit isn't controlled by the Athletic Dept., so any fund raising would have to go through the University.