The WORST College Basketball Arenas of 2023

Worst college basketball arenas 2023

[@CreightonRabs]

That's not Northeastern State (which is located in Oklahoma); that's Northeastern University in Boston.

[@DNSKansas]

Yeah if he's going to do a video, get the facts right!

[@fishflake1209]

Matthews Arena predates the Boston Garden, and thus was the original home of both the Bruins and Celtics. In fact, it is the only arena of the NHL’s Original Six era still used for hockey, and the only arena from the BAA/NBA’s inaugural 1948 season still used for basketball.

[@michaeloptv]

Matthews arena was actually home to the Boston Bruins for their first 5 years BEFORE the original Boston Garden. It’s a huge historic site.

[@jricoc3475]

A lot of curious commentary here: - Vermont, and the America East are not flashy at all. The fact that a gym in Vermont doesn't seat many is not a knock. Clearly you've never been to Burlington, to have developed an understanding of their priorities or population. - Northeastern State and Northeastern are two completely different schools. Northeastern's arena is an old barn. This is pretty common for schools such as Northeastern that are hockey powerhouses. Hoops are a lower-priority in the Northeastern athletics landscape. - While OSU has off-cycle graduation ceremonies in Value City Arena, the real (Spring) graduation is held in the Stadium, in which each grad receives his diploma. The old arena is named "St. John Arena". It's not a part of the school on Queens. - With regards to Princeton, Cornell, or any Ivy arena ... these are all old, historic locations for schools that have higher priorities than athletics. - That school is called USC [South Carolina] Upstate. They used to compete at NAIA and NCAA Div II levels prior to their transtioning earlier this century. Men's hoops barely moves the needle in SC, and this school only has about 6,000 students.

[@aaronnachazel247]

Northeastern is a hockey school, so it’s not surprising this is what it looks like. Honestly a nice barn.

[@dancingdog60]

The late great Reggie Lewis played basketball for Northeastern University.

[@jdredwine7224]

Syracuse should be on here too. The largest crowd doesn't make up for the eyesore it is.

[@shsav2012]

Question for depressed ginger. When you were mentioning the college teams that basically play in professional arenas, I was wondering what your take was on the University of Connecticut splitting home duties between Gampel Pavilion on campus and the XL center in Hartford. One thing that needs to be remembered about the hartford arena is that it used to be in NHL arena for the Hartford Whalers between 1979 in 1997 and currently houses an AHL team. Another thing with that particular facility is that it is 25 miles or so from campus.

[@jg2977]

I’ve been to some UConn games at the XL Center. Great atmosphere and the place gets loud. The women’s team plays there too.

[@a.j.adderley786]

I would encourage you to again watch ESPN 30 For 30: Requiem for the Big East. Your argument is flawed when it comes to Big East basketball. The conference was built on playing in the NBA Arenas and it still works for them. It works even better when a team is really good.

[@GeneralZodFDNY77]

Thank you. This guy exudes Millennial thinking at it's worst.

[@coaster_corner]

I live in the same town as Middle Tennessee state university and they have pressure washed the concrete and replaced the old windows with some newer ones Fun fact Michael jack preformed at murfe center

[@jamespyle777]

Welsh-Ryan arena at Northwestern. That one is considerably sad at the Big Ten level. Even based on the remodeled version. It looks like the Wisconsin Field House which was built in 1929. Welsh-Ryan was built in 1952 and now it has a similar seating layout of the Wisconsin Fieldhouse while the Badgers play at the Kohl Center which is the 4th largest arena and is also used for Hockey. Hell, the Wisconsin Field House is still bigger than Welsh-Ryan area.

[@PCSPounder]

The Hornet’s Nest, Sacramento State. Maybe 1,300 capacity. It evokes a military Quonset hut from the outside. People in the alumni center don’t even know where it’s located. The Sac State website does less than the bare minimum to publicize it. Looks like someone bought a 60” flatscreen to act as the video board. Usually half full, and that itself kind of kills the buzz. Now, on the other hand… I’ve now seen two new arenas (Portland State, Idaho) in the Big Sky Conference in the last 5 years. Both planned as 5,000-seaters. Both reduced to 3,100 or 3,500 seats. Both overbuilt. Both nice, but my point is not to knock size, because maybe everyone just isn’t into college basketball. For that matter (sorry, but shifting to hockey), I was in an “arena” just over the border from Washington, in Langley, British Columbia. George Preston Recreation Centre, nicknamed The Lodge. Log siding at both ends, and the overhead scoreboard was papered up to look like it was a log structure. Listed capacity of 500, which doesn’t seem to count the tables and “suites” on one side. It had an element of cute. That side without arena seats, including tables that might have been getting steakhouse service, points to a future for sports. That side is comparable to view bars in some newer pro arenas and stadiums. It’ll generate more money from fewer people than those plastic seats you won’t fill. For smaller schools, and even for pro leagues like the G-League, that seems to be a smarter idea than paying someone to give you twice the arena that you’ll fill.

[@scotttild]

Most of those small schools don’t have a large wealth alumni that can fund projects. States are not giving money to colleges to build a new building like the pros. Most of those schools don’t have big time programs that generate a lot of revenue, in fact I would say most are losing money. So they are stuck with what they have and make the best. Vermont is a perfect example. Good school, good program no money.

[@michaelmiller9458]

It's actually USC-Upstate, formerly USC-Spartanburg. They tried to upgrade to a new facility, but haven't been able to raise the $

[@cole3363]

crazy to think the stadium they have cost $6.1 mill

[@Brian-lc4wz]

Value city arena was built the way it was because at the time it was thought that it was going to be the only arena in town for any type of event that could be brought in. The city and county pushed OSU to make it that way. Of course 3 years or so later Nationwide arena was built downtown for the NHL team the Blue Jackets.

[@RobertDavis-db3fs]

Yes, pretty much true. The Columbus metro area, despite having over 1 million people, was lacking a large indoor event Center until VCA was built. In a perfect world, OSU would have built a 15,000 seat facility for basketball and a separate 5,000 seat facility for hockey.

[@bebobebo4407]

NBA arenas that have college basketball teams are not that bad for college basketball.

[@CUB3Jsg22]

I love college basketball arena's with natural light coming through the windows. Reminds me of tournament time when they play at places like nationwide Arena with the windows letting light in.

[@skiparkcityut]

Vermonts stadium looks way worse empty , it’s super old. It’s actually kind of charming old in real life. Vermont are regulars in the NCAA tournament and sell out all the time, they should do the new stadium. Princeton’s arena is way worse than Vermont in real life. Vermont is more charming old, princetons is junky old. I’d still rather see a game in Princeton than any nba arena, worst college atmosphere possible

[@alexanderprovenzano5347]

You seem to have a very strong visceral hatred for old and historic venues. Why? Most modern venues like any kind of character whatsoever. A lot of times to the point where is completely bland and soulless. And why does a scoreboard need to have a fancy digital screen? Just because something is old doesn't mean it is bad. I personally prefer older venues over new venues.

[@TKJLife]

I wonder how many of these arena he’s actually taken the time to visit

[@enzoorlando3984]

What is wrong with a Ohio State basketball arena looking like an NBA arena looks fine to me

[@thomashennessey7272]

In basketball terms St. John arena was far better basketball atmosphere

[@mcalsooner91]

Have you been to a Memphis Tigers game at FedEx Forum? Those crowds are amazing and they don't want to build a smaller arena on campus.

[@owenmalenius8965]

they have also played great at home too 10:38

[@Unknown-us6xh]

I’m actually surprised UTSA’s Convocation Center isn’t on this list. It’s absolutely hideous on the outside, and laughably small for a school it’s size (only seats about 4000). There’s talks of them building a new 10,000 seat arena, but so far that has yet to happen

[@AustinBeal1]

Lol I came to the comments looking for this. The Convo is the most odd building on the entire UTSA campus and it’s exterior is so ugly. My dad also went to UTSA back in the 80’s and said the Convo has barely changed since then 😅

[@jacklike5449]

Ohio State needs to tear down St John’s and build a new 12-13,000 seat arena on the site

[@danymosqueda3]

UTSA Convocation Center deserves to be on this list. Exterior of the Murphy Center with the interior of Newman Arena.

[@AustinBeal1]

Fellow UTSA Alumn, the exterior is easily the worst in the NCAA. Won’t be sad when it’s finally replaced.

[@alecerdmann8505]

Looks a little odd with the basketball court, but I have heard that Mathews is a great little hockey arena.

[@mindphaserxy]

I've been to an end stage concert at Schottenstein (Value City Arena) and it was great. Kentucky plays in an arena that is nearly NBA sized and the fans love it.

[@dancingdog60]

Matthews was home to the Boston Celtics, Bruins, and the old AHL New England Whalers. I've gone to games there, and the atmosphere is like the original Boston Garden (not the new TD Bank Garden). The history and players who played in that arena alone make it great place.

[@ctkatz]

the kfc YUM! center is an nba arena built for a college team. don't say that place doesn't have atmosphere. when there is a home team that's just average, the place gets loud. unfortunately the last time a team was at least average was the covid year but even then the place was still loud.

[@wildfiremicro6877]

Kentucky fan here. I hope both of our teams get better, for both of our sakes. I miss those crazy game days.

[@AustinBeal1]

UTSA Alumn here, and I am surprised to see The Convo at UTSA is not on this list.

[@jonathanlocy3374]

Marquette plays at the Milwaukee Bucks stadium. Electric atmosphere when they are good and they sell beer

[@nomadicsloth1272]

You forgot the Lloyd Noble Arena in Norman, OK

[@cmlrun11]

Would love to hear about the basketball arena this guy's college played in? It was probably some barn no one outside of the local community heard of before, like some D-III school that gets no attention from the alums either.

[@PrinceAnt722]

That's Northeastern University. Matthews Arena is one of the oldest arenas in the country. Princeton University plays at JAD-winn Gymnasium. Value City Arena was mainly built for the ice hockey team.

[@robfreedman6496]

Your videos are awesome and keep up the good work! I subscribed to you recently.

[@CGAWFA]

Matthews Arena is awesome. You probably hate Fenway and Wrigley too.

[@aaronerikson4034]

The Murphy center is a Soviet library 🤣

[@danielflynn8530]

Have you seen the new Fairfield University basketball arena? It’s amazing how a small arena is that nice. Maybe do a video of best small arenas that are under 10,000 seat capacity

[@jg2977]

CCSU is basically a high school gym too. They’re in the Northeast Conference. This is probably standard for small conferences to have small gyms.

[@Chris_The_One_Official]

Bro the USC Upstate arena, (or rather, gym) is literally smaller than my middle school's gym.

[@dontedrake2316]

At least northwestern upgraded the basketball and football whoever thought all they need is a hockey program at northwestern wildcats and and that would be awesome

[@watermanplace6721]

Northwestern built a fabulous brand new stadium for basketball. Excellent, very old school, 1950s vibe. Planning a new smaller European style soccer stadium for football. $800 million budget. Hockey is a club sport. Varsity level will not happen. Don’t hold your breath on that one.

[@kct1975]

The Murphy Center looks like a late `70's Office Building! 😆

[@darrenlinville3120]

You forget about Rupp Arena and Central Bank Center. It was upgraded a couple of seasons ago. They turned it into an NBA arena. Its ugly and as a lifelong Kentucky fan. I do not like it at all. The University of Vermont is getting a new gym. It is supposed to open I think in 2024.

[@clemsonowns]

USC Upstate is tiny for sure. But you are pretty much on the court and it gets LOUD. Fun atmosphere.

[@22SotoShuffle]

Played a conference tournament at the University of Hartford gym. It's nice but it could be a high school gym. It's just big

[@albertpacella1846]

I live in Youngstown, the beeghly center is very nice. Sitting in the bleachers with buddies is a blast during big games.

[@IsaiahHurley]

Need to do High School basketball

[@rafterman5072]

Matthews Arena is cool. Those old arenas have a charm to them. It’s also Northeastern and not “Northeastern State.”

[@johnnyboy8653]

I go to a small school that doesn’t even have a wooden court so these look nice, but my our gym has more seats than usc upstate

[@nemothezeus6587]

can i see your top euro league arenas and your favorite mls stadiums ?

[@yunglean7783]

NJIT used to easily have the worst arena till they got the new one

[@zacmartin7729]

You should do a best or hardest to play ar

[@Princess_Aurora]

The last one looks likes Middle school Gym.

[@ryangryglewicz4274]

You thought the worst DI arenas are rock bottom look at the DIII arenas. Most of them are high school gyms.

[@bigtimersclub]

Koessler center canisius college Buffalo must be added to list . It’s a High school gym

[@williamjones3615]

What the fuck in wrong with Youngstown State's gym? It's small, but well set-up...

[@gemnifan6045]

The fans inside that throw crap at other teams...

[@jordantakeoff]

you should do the smallest arenas next!

[@lakerskid2013]

Middle Tennessee’s arena wouldn’t look too bad on the exterior if they changed that upper area above the windows to their team colors.

[@caleb4735]

sac states basketball arena looks like an elementary school gym

[@michaeloptv]

University of New Hampshire IS a high school gym. My D3 college was in better shape than theirs!! The American East unfortunately as a whole is pretty poor with basketball gyms 😦😓

[@johnappleton9349]

Princeton, that looks like the inside of a giant tire.

[@Rowdy-runner]

A bit suprised utsa's convection center wasn't on here.

[@aidanreasons7421]

How are you not gonna put UTSA on this list

[@MrOfficialscotty]

Upstate Arena looks like a high school gym

[@xxjuliusgamingxx6048]

HTC Center at Coastal Carolina should’ve been on this list

[@crowhurd]

Didn’t you have the Citadel and Midd Tenn State on the most unique arenas list?

[@ItsNeezy]

Dude is always all over the place. He said he liked what Liberty did with their seating in the new Liberty Arena only to turn around and say it was tacky.

[@davehahn3578]

The Boston Bruins used to play in Matthew’s

[@6jsmack]

You forgot fogelman arena where Tulane university plays

[@JonathanLenzyMusic]

You picked non-updated photos of The Historic Murphy Center lol

[@bp2608]

You rail against the modern arenas like Value City but criticize "old school" look that are classic, such as Citadel and Manhattan. Make up your mind. And you left out Sacramento State.

[@gavin8tor245]

UTSA escaping this video with some dignity

[@evog35viii]

Northeastern STATE??? 💢Really?!!! Come on man

[@gilleanblair5814]

Vermont's sure looks like an old HS gym! Even the bleachers aren't up to date or code!

[@GrubWarp]

1:04 bro said khrwauuaauu

[@chillyproductions6595]

Hammel court home of Merrimack is pretty bad

[@Clptthyhy]

Cough cough high school arenas

[@xxjuliusgamingxx6048]

1:02 💀💀💀

[@retroguy1976]

northeastern's arena isnt bad it has character

[@fin3ssegawdd901]

lol Memphis we have a great environment

[@ItsNeezy]

Calls Northeastern, "Northeastern State" while the photo clearly states University... 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@gumbyshrimp2606]

#1 Kansas University

[@jonpike9991]

Swisher Gym Jacksonville University

[@aaronhigginbottom347]

Fordham is small and so is Howard

[@THEEGoat1400]

You think these are bad, check out the swac conference arenas

[@mhedberg6478]

Jacksonville has the worst by far

[@rodneygarner9055]

Who is this guy?

[@YesprodZ]

Northeastern State🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@zickyd42]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHrWZaiajbGJhrc Here’s a video showcasing Rutgers’ homecourt advantage inside MSG

[@jc.cards8]

Can you get your facts right

[@monexpo86]

You complain about old and small places. Some school cant afford new arenas .get over yourself

[@garydavis8213]

😂

[@ACL617]

It is not Northeastern "state".....