Ranking and discussion of the Big East Arenas

[dmac80]

This could be an interesting discussion, unfortunately most of us have probably only been in our own or in MSG, but perhaps we could discuss the state of each venue, if and when there are plans to renovate, and such. I got the idea from this bleacher report article.

For all fans of college basketball, the adjustment period from the old Big East to the new realigned Big East will not be an easy one.

The traditional powers like Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Notre Dame are now gone from the conference, and so are the spectacular venues they call home.

Entering the conference to join the so-called "Catholic Seven" are three new basketball programs that are rich in tradition, but which of the 10 teams has the best arena in the Big East?

Based on fan turnout, atmosphere, capacity and a few intangibles, I gave it my best try to rank all the basketball arenas where Big East basketball will be played in this season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1785 ... est-arenas

Article includes a slideshow with comments on each arena.

His final rankings (I've added in year opened and capacity)

1.Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler) Opened: 1928 (renovated 2011), Capacity: 10,000
2.Verizon Center (Georgetown) Opened: 1997, Capacity: 20,308
3.CenturyLink Center (Creighton) Opened: 2003, Capacity: 18,320
4. The Pavilion (Villanova) Opened: 1986, Capacity: 6,500
5.Cintas Center (Xavier) Opened: 2000, Capacity: 10,500
6.BMO Harris Bradley Center (Marquette) Opened: 1988, Capacity: 18,850
7.Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence) Opened: 1972 (renovated 2008), Capacity: 12,400
8.Madison Square Garden (St. John's) Opened: 1968 (renovated 2013), Capacity: 19,033
9.Allstate Arena (Depaul) Opened: 1980, Capacity: 17,500
10.Prudential Center (Seton Hall) Opened: 2007, Capacity: 18,711

[anXUfan]

Fans from other schools might say the same, but I wouldn't trade Xavier's arena situation for any other in the conference. Having a state of the art arena on campus immediately adjacent to the dorms is a huge recruiting tool. Our guys practice where they play, and have around the clock access to the facility. It's truly their house.

[dmac80]

PC has the Dunk, and although the name is kind of goofy and it is off campus, it has had a major $80M renovation in 2008 that along with the usual refresher and amenities has very nice luxury suites... Its a fantastic venue with great sightlines and appropriate capacity. There literally isn't a bad seat in the house.

[dmac80]

Fans from other schools might say the same, but I wouldn't trade Xavier's arena situation for any other in the conference. Having a state of the art arena on campus immediately adjacent to the dorms is a huge recruiting tool. Our guys practice where they play, and have around the clock access to the facility. It's truly their house.

Looks newer, perfect size, on campus. CAn't beat it. Care to share a picture or two of it for us?

[aughnanure]

Georgetown shouldn't be that high. Fine arena, but they don't fill it up too well (where are the students?).

The Bradley Center was made with hockey in mind and so it has these weird (and HUGE) gaps at the ends and bad sight lines (pic below).

When there's 19,000 though, it's rocking. There has been some movement (and push from the NBA) recently to get a new arena downtown as its now the 3rd oldest NBA arena in use and is missing much of the amenities, club levels, etc that new arenas have - so I'd guess within 6-10 years Marquette will be playing on a new shiny court.

[handdownmandown]

The only other one I've been to besides the C-Link was the Bradley Center for a Bucks game. I thought it was a dump, and that was in 1996, but it probably had 11K people there, so it's hard to tell how good it was when it was half empty.

I do agree that Hinkle should be #1. I'm trying to figure out how to get there for the CU/Butler game this year.

[Bulldog_Muskie]

I've only been in Hinkle and the Cintas Center and I've got to say they are both great in their own ways. You get the cool atmosphere and history at Hinkle, and a great modern experience at Cintas. From what I've seen there is not a bad sightline in either building. Plus they are in the middle of a renovation at Hinkle to modernize the facilities, while maintaining the overall look of the building. Here's a link to what they're doing

http://www.butler.edu/hinkle-campaign/

[Bostonspider]

Cintas Center

[Bostonspider]

The Pavillion at Villanova

[muwarrior69]

I have been to the Prudential Center (The Rock) and it is a great venue for basketball. However the capacity of 18000+ is misleading as Seton Hall has contracted for the lower bowl which is about 11000. Wonder if that will change with their highly rated recruiting class coming in.