Purdue beating no. 2 OSU at Mackey with E'Twaun Moore scoring 38. There was a point when Jajuan Johnson iced the game with a fierce breakaway dunk and my ears blacked out.
I own an E'twaun jersey specifically because of that game. Not sure if they still do it now, but back then the Universal Book Store gave discounts based on how many three pointers Purdue hit that home game. Needless to say, this broke college student jumped on the chance.
I was on a night-shift project in the middle of no-where Oklahoma. Woke up early to watch that game and even on the shitty hotel tv I could tell that mackey was bonkers.
I don't get up for many games as a neutral fan but this one had me amped. I remember security immediately swarming the court after the final buzzer to prevent a court rush lol
I visited Mackey for PU vs UI a couple of years ago. It was a big matchup, but the stadium was so loud it gave me chills. The Paint Crew was the best student section I’ve seen in person.
Unfortunately Assembly is not what it used to be. The redesign of the seating area moved the students. They used to be right up on the court. Now they’re back away. Sucked the life out of the place.
I wish I had been there for Caleb Love's half-court shot against Iowa State, as that's the loudest I've ever heard McKale on TV.
The two loudest I've ever heard in person were: (1) 2012 vs. #5 Florida, where we were down 6 in the last minute and came back to win. That was the same day that Arizona scored 2 TDs in the final two minutes to beat Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl, so fans were already pretty hot when they entered the arena; (2) 1999 vs. #3 Stanford, when Jason Terry hit a shot with 3 seconds left to take the lead, one of the only times in the Lute Olson era where the crowd stormed the floor.
Yup, I’ve heard some insanely loud games at Hilton Coliseum but that was easily the loudest game away game I’ve ever attended. I’m hoping our upcoming trip to Tucson ends with a better result for us, but it’s going to be a tall task to say the least.
Glad to hear you're coming down. Talked with a few ISU fans that game, you all are pretty cool. I like having healthy good-natured competition.
Full warning though, Caleb Love is getting inducted into the McKale ring of honor this year and I'm guessing they are going to do it during the ISU game.
And that's gonna just be some good natured ribbing. We can dish it out (see: 2023 game vs Texas where the fans threw monopoly money in the air mocking Tyrese Hunter who transferred from us to Texas for $$$), so we can take it. There's no hard feeling after the game last year, just great competition.
I was there. It when the ball went in the roof came off. I didn't hear properly for 2 days after.
About half our row had left already thinking the game was over. I gave them shit about it the next game and they told me they could hear the scream for the garage.
Like 2013-2015 when ucla played Arizona at the pac 12 tourney the MGM got incredibly loud. Wasnt the same since it moved to T Mobile and obviously both teams are in different conferences now
Was also there. Roof damn near came off. Even had Arizona fans hugging me with complete disregard of my ISU gear. And you know what? I’m as much a fan of the sport as I am the Cyclones and congratulated them on their moment. They deserved it and college basketball is better when fans aren’t toxic to each other.
Was at the edge of the student section right next to the tunnel. Had a guy in the normal seats ask if we were gonna rush. I wish we did.
McKale is great but I feel like U of A sports have been less loud after 2022. The ISU game, ASU, Duke, and BYU last year were all very loud but nothing has felt like that
This happened in the Lute and Sean Miller eras after a period of sustained winning. I don't think it's complacency, but more just that the crowd starts to save it for a special game, that it's almost expected that we win so why should we have to be loud. I mean, I don't know that I agree with that philosophy, but that's my read of it.
That's the one. Killingsworth hit that dunk and I thought the place was going to fall down (which, in hindsight, it might have lol).
I was also at the Grayson Allen game in 2017.
We were within one score at around the 4-5 minute mark and the place was going berserk then also.
The Killingsworth dunk is probably the loudest moment I've ever experienced, with the only thing close being the Colts unveiling the Super Bowl banner at the RCA Dome, and the Thunderbirds flying at treetop level over my head at an airshow.
AFH holds the record at 130.7. It’s fun. To be fair any big game that’s close is fun. I went to a play-in game in Dayton one year and it was a good game. Although lesser known teams the fans appreciate a good game.
That game had a steal into a breakaway dunk just before half that I specifically remember being the loudest I ever heard Mackey in my 5 years at Purdue
Naz Mitrou-Long's buzzer beater over Oklahoma State in 2014.
Marcus Smart came to Hilton in 2014 and flopped his ass all over the building. Cowboys were up 3 with their best FT shooter at the line with 5 seconds left. Missed the FT, Naz gets the ball and buries a 30 footer to give us free basketball. Swear that Hilton shook as the ball went in.
Rupp is deluxe as hell now. The renovation looks stunning, even though I have nostalgia for the old food court, the little mall, and I love Memorial. I always love taking the Lexington skywalks from my secret parking spot, get to see Triangle Park fountain lit up or ice skaters and the tree. The Hyatt Regency has a beautiful open atrium space with dining, bars, TVs, fountains, fireplaces. I used to go with my grandfather and just the mass of people all dressed in Kentucky or visitor gear crowded around having breakfast, you can feel how important it is to the people you see who have clearly driven from across the state or country. It felt like being in Valhalla or something lol. Makes me happy seeing people with their families giving their kids the same experience I got.
I'm not sure there is a venue in CBB where the arena practically has its own adjoining hotel. Much of downtown Lexington depends on Rupp, and its a special day when you have so many people taking part in the economy and life of downtown Lexington. ESPECIALLY now that Gatton Park is finished.
Like it is crazy to me that you can wake up at the Hyatt, and the lobby is connected to the arena, eat, EASILY walk into the game. And now that Gatton Park is now on the opposite side of the arena, you can just leave your seat, step out of the concourse and be right at the entrance of a beautiful brand new park. Kids today have it so nice going to the games, Gatton has some serious playground equipment that makes me extremely jealous. I'm so excited to see it in March, Ive got tickets to the Florida game. Kentucky fans respect UNC fans and we try to give you as good of a game as possible.
Also 2 blocks from Rupp Arena is the best dessert in the state - Sorella Gelateria. That's the real Rupp ice cream...
I was at Rupp in like 04 (in the nosebleeds of course) when Florida came in undefeated. It was the loudest I’d ever heard Rupp in my life. Some FL fans in front of us, I was legit worried about their well being, fans were going ballistic. Outside of our fans acting like complete assholes to a Florida dad and son, it was the craziest environment I had ever been involved in. My skin was crawling with electricity, you could feel it in the air.
I wanna try to do both Lucas Oil and Assembly in a couple years. It’s a long shot to do both for sure (especially getting a ticket to the game in Bloomington) but I’d love to. Didn’t grow up with the rivalry but it’s become one of my favorites for sure
I specifically remember that after a Kyle Kuric dunk the volume was unbelievable. It’s the only time in my life that my ears actually began ringing at a sporting event.
My buddy took a picture with his brand new Motorola Droid of Syracuse’s bench with one guy (I think an assistant) covering his ears.
I was at the Phog when we set the record for loudest indoor arena against West Virginia in 2017, it was insane. Also helps that KU came back from down 14 with 3 minutes left to force overtime and win
Got flashbacks to that game during our recent tcu comeback. I loved those teams in that era so much. Will never forgive Villanova and I hate the knicks now too
That game was way up there for loudest times in Allen.
A few others that stand out are the OU triple overtime #1 vs. #1 game in 2016, 2005 New Year’s Day vs. GT when Langford hit the buzzer beater, the 2005 game against OSU that went down to the wire, 2024 UConn, 2014 vs. OSU that went to the wire, 2012 vs. Baylor, the Durant game against UT, 2002 vs. OU…
But the best was and always will be 2012 vs. mizzou for the “final” time, tying the greatest comeback in AFH history. I think it’s about time to rewatch that one again.
Here’s to hoping we bring the noise tonight. We’re gonna need it. Rock chalk!
Breslin obviously. Also was really impressed by Xfinity Center for last year’s top ranked MSU/Maryland game. Although it went from deafening to silent pretty quickly at the end there lol
I think its a combination of if we finished the upper ring we'd be pushing the capacity past what we can reliably fill.
I think its also more common in modern arena's designed for multi-use. Even stuff like concerts with higher expected attendance those seats would all behind the stage anyways. So there's just really no purpose in putting them in.
They absolutely wanted it to be the crown jewel of the whole haymarket revamp, and concerts were part of that. I think the whole thing was pretty damn successful.
I was at the game in 2017 when we were ranked 15 at the time, and Rutgers ended the game on a 17-2 run to get the upset. Most intense sports environment I've ever witnessed live.
Craziest I’ve ever seen/heard the place was against Seton Hall during the 19-20 season. Hall came in ranked, Rutgers came out hot and started the game on a 20-3 run. Couldn’t hear myself think and my ears were ringing for hours after that one. It’s always a loud venue when Rutgers is playing well but the Seton Hall game always manages to bring out a little extra.
2015 Hilton Coliseum when #17 Iowa state came back against #15 Oklahoma going on a 21-0 run over the span of 5 minutes capped off with a corner 3. To take the lead. Down 48-28 with 15 minutes left and won 77-70 scoring 59 in the 2nd half.
Assembly the night Oladipo had his “almost dunk” was insane. Mackey is always crazy. Shoutout to Kohl Center too, Johnny Davis hit a shot to complete the 20 point comeback and that place was deafening.
I wish it was that loud EVERY time but it's still the best. Personally, the loudest I've ever heard it was on New Year's Day 2005 playing against Georgia Tech, when Keith Langford hit a turnaround (start at 5:55 - https://youtu.be/eIYkssHAYLQ?si=w260UygHWA0uwwEm) to win it in OT.
The 2012 Mizzou game is definitely up there too, though I wasn't there for that one.
1995 KU vs. UCLA. Down 15 at the half, go on a run, Jacque Vaughn hits the spin move to take the lead and 16,300 collectively lose their fucking minds. No sound system, no flashing lights, just 16k plus absolutely taking leave of their senses. This was before they moved the kids back from the floor for the wheelchairs and media, so they were on top of the baselines. People were falling out.
UCLA called timeout and those guys walked to the bench looking around like, "What in the actual fuck is happening here?"
Appropriately for tonight's game, mine are Hilton Coliseum and Allen Fieldhouse.
It's tough to pick the loudest I ever heard Hilton but one that stands out is a game against Iowa in '03 when John Neal, a walk-on from Iowa playing in basically his first real action of the year, hit two massive threes during a 21-8 run to finish the game. Hilton is special because the fans have a real belief that they WILL affect the game and they take it upon themselves to kickstart a run even before it's happening.
The loudest I heard AFH was after Ben McLemore banked in a 3 at the buzzer to tie it up against ISU. It was unbelievably loud and then, on top of that, they cranked Thunderstruck up to 11 leading up to the OT tip. It was just obvious that the final result was already decided.
Another vote for The Pit. I wear earplugs every time I go to a game. The first time I went was for a Rio Grande Rivalry game and I left with my ears ringing like I just left a metal concert. It gets loud as fuck in there. Got the same earplugs for both occasions shortly after and my experiences at both have improved dramatically.
Probably the only place I've been that was noticeably louder than The Pit has been Rammstein's stadium tour concerts (San Antonio 2022 and Klagenfurt 2024). But I feel like it would be hard for any basketball arena full of humans to get as loud as a Rammstein show. You can't make lungs and vocal cords compete with that amount of amplification. And when they set off the flash pots of course it's way louder on top of how loud the music already is.
Jenison Field House. The sound just echoed back and forth off the walls. I was a kid, so I probably thought it was louder than it actually was, but I miss that place.
Purdue and Kansas need to schedule a home and home when both teams are really good because right now, the "loudest arena" argument breaks down into 1) people who have been to Mackey; or 2) people who have been to Allen. Let's just get both of these teams into each other's arenas so that these two fanbases can settle the "loudest" debate themselves.
Here’s how that debate goes for everyone who goes to both of those games: “Wow, hats off, they were incredible, best arena I’ve been to other than ours.” Same as the debate with Cameron. We haven’t had anyone take a run at our Guinness record since UK beat our old record in 2017 and then we took it back a few weeks later. That’s honestly a blast to do. Maybe if you guys give Guinness a call we could both have some fun.
Xfinity center when we went on a 27-4 run to take the lead and beat #3 ranked Purdue in Willard’s first year, when we flipped the lead you couldn’t hear anything it was incredible
The 2019 ovc championship was absolutely electric between Murray and Belmont, and then in 2018 auburn came to CFSB and that’s still the loudest arena I’ve ever been apart of
Im a touch biased, but it's between Mackey and Allen Fieldhouse if all we are talking about is sound. They're just a tier above the competition in terms of making ears ring.
Other arenas I've been to that are honorable mentions: Rupp, Assembly Hall, Breslin, and I'm sure there are some I'm forgetting. I've also never been on campus for a Duke or UNC game yet.
Been to a number of games at Cameron Indoor Stadium when it got ringing-in-the-ears loud.
Probably the loudest venues I have been to include Assembly Hall at IU and Mackey Arena at Purdue. When IU is good, few venues will get that loud..it is almost sound engineered to amplify noise.
Smith Center in Chapel Hill in 1993 when UNC came back from 21 down with 9 1/2 left to beat FSU and move to #1. Was sitting in the 3rd row behind the Carolina bench. Place went absolutely nuts when George Lynch stole the ball at halfcourt and went down for the dunk to put them ahead.
UCLA vs Princeton. RCA Dome in 96. The funniest part was when they showed Reggie Miller on the big screen. Everyone stared chanting "Reggie" until he turned his UCLA hat around and everyone started booing. He just laughed his ass off.
Lowkey love the drama we've gotten because it has rejuvenated typically sleepy Rupp crowds. Even this team disappointing has made fans more engaged (I dont like people booing their own team but we started winning right after that happened, and the people booing typically cheer twice as hard). Cal coming back was cinema, the kid who decommitted and went to UNC coming here was cinema, Indiana with Vitale and Barkley... Last year's Florida game... this year's Florida game is gonna be Oweh's senior day.... God we've been spoiled as Hell the last two years. Having Pitino back on Madness, having Wall back this past year, having Pat Riley and Rupp's Runts back the other night... the Pope press conference man it is super super special.
Seems like a healthy perspective to have my man. My brother and I loved visiting Lexington last year and all the UK fans were super friendly so I got no hate in my heart for yall!
I think MSU vs Michigan at the Breslin in 2013 was the loudest college arena I’ve ever heard. There’s a few other games that are right up there with it though. Any of the years that Michigan is decent, the rivalry game is insanely loud.
I think the loudest venue I’ve ever heard in general though was the pacers @ the pistons in the 04 eastern conference finals. You could feel it in your chest.
Every game in Mackey leaves a constant ringing in your ears. And that’s just the appetizer for the biggest conference games where the whole place is a madhouse for two hours
Tech vs Houston at Tech last season. Was already gonna be a crazy game because of how we won in Houston, and then the stadium screen had a pre-recorded Mahomes going “get loud” or some such then it cut to live feed of him actually at the game and people went fucking nuts. That whole game was one of the loudest events I’ve ever been to
Yeah I remember hearing yall through my TV and smiling. Absolutely love an energetic crowd.
The game we lost to you guys at Fertitta was very loud as well. It’s a small arena, but low ceilings and a bunch of of people packed in tight makes it a great environment for noise.
WVU randomly putting a 20 beat down on number 1 Baylor at home with Press Virginia. Fun fact, we beat number 2 Kansas 4 days later at home. Had the rankings reset we would have been the first team to ever beat two number ones in the same week.
Those two games were the loudest sporting events I’ve been to
I've been to quite a few Xavier games and they're usually a good crowd, but nothing crazy. The Crosstown Shootout though is a whole different animal. That place was shaking towards the end of that game. Unlike UC, even their old folks are going nuts. Ours just sit there with a thumb up their ass.
For D1, I was shocked at how loud the O’Rena was at Oakland. My MS team got some deal for tickets and got to meet Greg Kampe, and this was for one of Oakland’s good teams that made the tournament iirc. It was loud af in that tiny arena.
For P4/higher level, I had tinnitus after a game at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.
The rest of the major schools I’ve seen have either been at games that weren’t sold out or super important (Breslin, Crisler, Smith, etc), teams that sucked so there weren’t a lot of students (Calihan Hall at UDM), or at neutral sites that are known for being loud in general.
Mohegan Sun Arena for the Big East Women’s Basketball Final last year Creighton v UConn. I could not hear myself think. The larger arenas can get loud, but they’re so cavernous that even with more people it’s not quite as much sustained noise. I’ve been to March Madness games at NBA arenas, and was at Creighton’s wins vs #1 Kansas and #1 UConn a couple of years back, and you get your loud moments, but I’ve never been somewhere as loud for the entire game as Mohegan Sun.
Illinois' arena atmosphere sucks nowadays because of all the old farts and how lame our student section has become...but to this day the loudest and craziest environment I've ever been to in any sporting event (and I've been to WC qualifiers in the Balkans) is when Eric Gordon came to Champaign in 2008.
You could literally feel the mob hatred in Assembly Hall that day. IIRC Gordon's parents had like trays of food/drinks thrown at them throughout the game, and the university had to apologize afterwards for the shit being said and done throughout the game by the fans. Not mad at it though, fuck them and Indiana.
Every time I go to Mackey I leave unable to hear. It can be a Thursday night game in a down year for us, it will still be the loudest sporting event I’ve ever been to.
Pretty much any bigtime game at the Assembly Hall would make my ears ring that night while I was trying to sleep, but I’ve never heard anything like the old IU/UK series when they used to split the Hoosier/RCA Dome 50/50. In the Knight/Pitino era there would be 20k on each side and the noise would blow you away. I have nightmares of C-A-T-S CATS! CATS! CATS!
I went to a GCU game vs. UT-Arlington in 2023, that was wild. My personal feelings about GCU aside, the students were loud the entire time and there were a couple made 3s in the 2nd half that nearly blew my ears off. It was so loud.
FSU beating #11 Louisville in 2020 at home. That arena was bouncing louder than any sports venue I’ve been to (and I’ve been to probably 30+ CFB stadiums for games).
Final 4s are something else. Both the Superdome and Arizona's state farm center were electric. It's not any louder that Allen/Mackey/Hilton it's just so sustained. It never gets quite which is what always amazes me. As soon as someone's fans starts calming down the other teams picks up. Kansas vs Villanova and UConn vs Alabama were meh since they were not close. The duke vs North Carolina final 4 game is the loudest overall game I have ever been to. Absolutely crazy from start to finish, there was a dunk that game were the entire place erupted and I couldn't hear myself talk.
Cameron in 1985 when UVA traveled to play #2 Duke. Got to sit on the floor under the basket as photographer for The Cavalier Daily. UVA came back late in the game but got edged out. The place and tbe crowd were insane. I'll never forget that.
One of the loudest places I've been is Cameron Indoor Stadium during a Duke-UNC game. The energy was unreal, especially when the Blue Devils made a big play. You could feel the tension and excitement in the air, making it an unforgettable experience. There's nothing quite like it in college basketball.
Purdue beating no. 2 OSU at Mackey with E'Twaun Moore scoring 38. There was a point when Jajuan Johnson iced the game with a fierce breakaway dunk and my ears blacked out.
This was my pick too. Not the play you were talking about but here’s how loud the crowd was
https://youtu.be/ShJs9hE5so4?si=J80tIoZFViXA45h9
My pick as well. Bonus points for that game when the Paint Crew sang Party in the USA to Jared Sullinger. It felt like the roof was going to come off on that JJ dunk.
That was back when OSU liked Diebler.
E'twaun is my GOAT at Purdue. Love that guy.
Different Diebler
I own an E'twaun jersey specifically because of that game. Not sure if they still do it now, but back then the Universal Book Store gave discounts based on how many three pointers Purdue hit that home game. Needless to say, this broke college student jumped on the chance.
I've got his black on black jersey. Those things were incredible.
That Smooge dipsy do layup was crazy
I was on a night-shift project in the middle of no-where Oklahoma. Woke up early to watch that game and even on the shitty hotel tv I could tell that mackey was bonkers.
Well, I was at Texas Tech's United Supermarkets Arena the night Chris Beard made his return after leaving for UT. That'd be hard to beat.
One of my favorite games, Texas was rattled at how loud it was
Every basket we scored sounded like a 3OT game winner lol
This is the one
Genuinely don’t think a building has been louder
I don't get up for many games as a neutral fan but this one had me amped. I remember security immediately swarming the court after the final buzzer to prevent a court rush lol
I visited Mackey for PU vs UI a couple of years ago. It was a big matchup, but the stadium was so loud it gave me chills. The Paint Crew was the best student section I’ve seen in person.
Respect. I love the layout of your guys student section. I wanna catch a game there someday
Unfortunately Assembly is not what it used to be. The redesign of the seating area moved the students. They used to be right up on the court. Now they’re back away. Sucked the life out of the place.
McKale during a big game. Nothing has beaten UCLA in 2022-2023 season when college gameday came to town
I wish I had been there for Caleb Love's half-court shot against Iowa State, as that's the loudest I've ever heard McKale on TV.
The two loudest I've ever heard in person were: (1) 2012 vs. #5 Florida, where we were down 6 in the last minute and came back to win. That was the same day that Arizona scored 2 TDs in the final two minutes to beat Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl, so fans were already pretty hot when they entered the arena; (2) 1999 vs. #3 Stanford, when Jason Terry hit a shot with 3 seconds left to take the lead, one of the only times in the Lute Olson era where the crowd stormed the floor.
I was there. It was absolutely fucking insane how nuts the place went.
And then he kept hitting 3 after 3 in OT...
I'm so fucking glad I bought tickets for March 2nd back in October.
Yup, I’ve heard some insanely loud games at Hilton Coliseum but that was easily the loudest game away game I’ve ever attended. I’m hoping our upcoming trip to Tucson ends with a better result for us, but it’s going to be a tall task to say the least.
Agreed. Hilton is incredible, but McKale is no joke either.
Glad to hear you're coming down. Talked with a few ISU fans that game, you all are pretty cool. I like having healthy good-natured competition.
Full warning though, Caleb Love is getting inducted into the McKale ring of honor this year and I'm guessing they are going to do it during the ISU game.
I actually live here lol.
And that's gonna just be some good natured ribbing. We can dish it out (see: 2023 game vs Texas where the fans threw monopoly money in the air mocking Tyrese Hunter who transferred from us to Texas for $$$), so we can take it. There's no hard feeling after the game last year, just great competition.
I was there too and that game was also electric. Sad I will never get to storm the court but that just means we are so successful
I was there. It when the ball went in the roof came off. I didn't hear properly for 2 days after.
About half our row had left already thinking the game was over. I gave them shit about it the next game and they told me they could hear the scream for the garage.
They didn't leave early anymore games.
That game was wild
Not even the Duke game was nearly as crazy
Like 2013-2015 when ucla played Arizona at the pac 12 tourney the MGM got incredibly loud. Wasnt the same since it moved to T Mobile and obviously both teams are in different conferences now
Was also there. Roof damn near came off. Even had Arizona fans hugging me with complete disregard of my ISU gear. And you know what? I’m as much a fan of the sport as I am the Cyclones and congratulated them on their moment. They deserved it and college basketball is better when fans aren’t toxic to each other.
Was at the edge of the student section right next to the tunnel. Had a guy in the normal seats ask if we were gonna rush. I wish we did.
McKale is great but I feel like U of A sports have been less loud after 2022. The ISU game, ASU, Duke, and BYU last year were all very loud but nothing has felt like that
This happened in the Lute and Sean Miller eras after a period of sustained winning. I don't think it's complacency, but more just that the crowd starts to save it for a special game, that it's almost expected that we win so why should we have to be loud. I mean, I don't know that I agree with that philosophy, but that's my read of it.
our game felt like a rivalry game idk....not like chippy or anything but just two really good teams battling it out.
Oh shit, I was actually there for that one! Randomly got tickets while visiting my best friend in Tucson
Dam what a game to randomly go to. In a senior now and freshman year was still the loudest I’ve experienced
We ultimately lost, but Assembly Hall when #1 Duke came to town was ridiculously loud.
I was halfway home before my ears stopped ringing.
Another "almost" scenario, but for the life of me, I wish Oladipo would've made that ridiculous alley oop against Michigan in 2013 (I think).
Had he made that, Assembly Hall would have toppled over
Was that 05-06 Marco Killingsworth?
That's the one. Killingsworth hit that dunk and I thought the place was going to fall down (which, in hindsight, it might have lol).
I was also at the Grayson Allen game in 2017.
We were within one score at around the 4-5 minute mark and the place was going berserk then also.
The Killingsworth dunk is probably the loudest moment I've ever experienced, with the only thing close being the Colts unveiling the Super Bowl banner at the RCA Dome, and the Thunderbirds flying at treetop level over my head at an airshow.
The RCA dome would get so freaking loud. I miss it.
That was Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Friday after Ponds’ pick six. I told people back home it was like the Wat Shot but with 70k people.
My buddy’s Apple Watch started giving decibel alerts during that pick. That was fun.
Ive never been in a louder more intimidating arena than as a UConn away fan at Allen Fieldhouse.
I still tell people about it whenever I get the chance.
We lost and it’s still one of the greatest games I’ve ever been to
Thankfully we won when I went in 2025!
AFH holds the record at 130.7. It’s fun. To be fair any big game that’s close is fun. I went to a play-in game in Dayton one year and it was a good game. Although lesser known teams the fans appreciate a good game.
Mackey vs. MSU when I was a student a few years ago. It was the white out t-shirt game.
That game had a steal into a breakaway dunk just before half that I specifically remember being the loudest I ever heard Mackey in my 5 years at Purdue
Yep and Izzo got T’d up and looked like he flipped the bird (now that I saw this again his ring and pinky fingers are still up lol)
https://preview.redd.it/7648w5euh7dg1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=550c5ebb224d81814e928f1939817b3eb90ca598
Naz Mitrou-Long's buzzer beater over Oklahoma State in 2014.
Marcus Smart came to Hilton in 2014 and flopped his ass all over the building. Cowboys were up 3 with their best FT shooter at the line with 5 seconds left. Missed the FT, Naz gets the ball and buries a 30 footer to give us free basketball. Swear that Hilton shook as the ball went in.
Saw that shot live as a high school kid and it solidified me as a life-long cyclone!
Mackey Arena (Purdue) is crazy loud.
I know Rupp can be a funeral parlor but it got turnt for the IU game this year, best atmosphere I’ve been in by far
Thank you IU bros for being the only team that can get the Rupp geezers to scream
I’ve been inside Rupp but not for a game. I’d love to get back to Lex sometime and give it a shot for a big matchup.
The Dean Dome’s on my bucket list too. If UK ever goes back there I’d love to make the trip
Rupp is deluxe as hell now. The renovation looks stunning, even though I have nostalgia for the old food court, the little mall, and I love Memorial. I always love taking the Lexington skywalks from my secret parking spot, get to see Triangle Park fountain lit up or ice skaters and the tree. The Hyatt Regency has a beautiful open atrium space with dining, bars, TVs, fountains, fireplaces. I used to go with my grandfather and just the mass of people all dressed in Kentucky or visitor gear crowded around having breakfast, you can feel how important it is to the people you see who have clearly driven from across the state or country. It felt like being in Valhalla or something lol. Makes me happy seeing people with their families giving their kids the same experience I got.
I'm not sure there is a venue in CBB where the arena practically has its own adjoining hotel. Much of downtown Lexington depends on Rupp, and its a special day when you have so many people taking part in the economy and life of downtown Lexington. ESPECIALLY now that Gatton Park is finished.
Like it is crazy to me that you can wake up at the Hyatt, and the lobby is connected to the arena, eat, EASILY walk into the game. And now that Gatton Park is now on the opposite side of the arena, you can just leave your seat, step out of the concourse and be right at the entrance of a beautiful brand new park. Kids today have it so nice going to the games, Gatton has some serious playground equipment that makes me extremely jealous. I'm so excited to see it in March, Ive got tickets to the Florida game. Kentucky fans respect UNC fans and we try to give you as good of a game as possible.
Also 2 blocks from Rupp Arena is the best dessert in the state - Sorella Gelateria. That's the real Rupp ice cream...
I was at Rupp in like 04 (in the nosebleeds of course) when Florida came in undefeated. It was the loudest I’d ever heard Rupp in my life. Some FL fans in front of us, I was legit worried about their well being, fans were going ballistic. Outside of our fans acting like complete assholes to a Florida dad and son, it was the craziest environment I had ever been involved in. My skin was crawling with electricity, you could feel it in the air.
Me and my dad were there two rows from the top center court. Only game in Rupp i can remember where the crowd stood the whole time. LOUD!
Definitely try to come when it’s at Lucas Oil next season. The old games in the dome were incredible.
I wanna try to do both Lucas Oil and Assembly in a couple years. It’s a long shot to do both for sure (especially getting a ticket to the game in Bloomington) but I’d love to. Didn’t grow up with the rivalry but it’s become one of my favorites for sure
The geezers remember the glory days in the 70's and 80's when that rivalry was at its most fierce.
The final game in Freedom Hall vs #1 Syracuse.
https://youtu.be/0_3hTAWP1C0?si=jJ9EPyM4-apkTj_b
I specifically remember that after a Kyle Kuric dunk the volume was unbelievable. It’s the only time in my life that my ears actually began ringing at a sporting event.
My buddy took a picture with his brand new Motorola Droid of Syracuse’s bench with one guy (I think an assistant) covering his ears.
As a guy that was unfamiliar with Freedom Hall, that place is huge AND loud. Dang, don't make them like they used to
Freedom Hall did not have a bad seat. It was such a great place to watch a basketball game.
I remember going to a few games in the late 80s when my dad got free tickets and the cigarette smoke would form a cloud at the top of the arena.
The only smell that competed with the cigarette smoke was that of the roasted candied nuts they sold in the concourse.
Arkansas vs Auburn at Bud Walton in February 2022. Ears were ringing after the game.
I was at the Phog when we set the record for loudest indoor arena against West Virginia in 2017, it was insane. Also helps that KU came back from down 14 with 3 minutes left to force overtime and win
Got flashbacks to that game during our recent tcu comeback. I loved those teams in that era so much. Will never forgive Villanova and I hate the knicks now too
Amen. Devonte' Graham is still my favorite Jayhawk to ever do it
Haha same actually. Probably because that’s when I was a student but they were just different.
BIFM, Devonte, Svi, Malik Newman. Damn I wish they got a ring
That game was way up there for loudest times in Allen.
A few others that stand out are the OU triple overtime #1 vs. #1 game in 2016, 2005 New Year’s Day vs. GT when Langford hit the buzzer beater, the 2005 game against OSU that went down to the wire, 2024 UConn, 2014 vs. OSU that went to the wire, 2012 vs. Baylor, the Durant game against UT, 2002 vs. OU…
But the best was and always will be 2012 vs. mizzou for the “final” time, tying the greatest comeback in AFH history. I think it’s about time to rewatch that one again.
Here’s to hoping we bring the noise tonight. We’re gonna need it. Rock chalk!
Breslin obviously. Also was really impressed by Xfinity Center for last year’s top ranked MSU/Maryland game. Although it went from deafening to silent pretty quickly at the end there lol
☹️☹️☹️
Sorry terp buddy
The Pete during the Old Big East was easily top 5 for loudest arena in CBB. Hasn’t been the same for a while unfortunately.
The Oakland Zoo was downright terrifying back in the day
I’m very biased but PBA gets loud as shit.
I think PBA also needs more credit for being a very nice arena
The Big is littered with raucous arenas
and then there's the Penn State Mausoleum. Very difficult to play in in its own right.
That’s the secret sauce.
Can confirm, I've seen Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Tool, Ghost, etc there. Oh and Garth.
That’s the thing is when they built it I believe they designed it specifically for concert acoustics, so it’s built for sound.
Always been curious about PBA and Devaney both being such asymmetrical designs - you don't see it that often.
I think its a combination of if we finished the upper ring we'd be pushing the capacity past what we can reliably fill.
I think its also more common in modern arena's designed for multi-use. Even stuff like concerts with higher expected attendance those seats would all behind the stage anyways. So there's just really no purpose in putting them in.
They absolutely wanted it to be the crown jewel of the whole haymarket revamp, and concerts were part of that. I think the whole thing was pretty damn successful.
No Sit Sunday against Wisconsin was insanely loud
Rutgers Trapezoid of Terror. Purdue knows what I'm talking about.
Thanks for the shout out. Unfortunately, it is dormant for the time being.
I was at the game in 2017 when we were ranked 15 at the time, and Rutgers ended the game on a 17-2 run to get the upset. Most intense sports environment I've ever witnessed live.
Craziest I’ve ever seen/heard the place was against Seton Hall during the 19-20 season. Hall came in ranked, Rutgers came out hot and started the game on a 20-3 run. Couldn’t hear myself think and my ears were ringing for hours after that one. It’s always a loud venue when Rutgers is playing well but the Seton Hall game always manages to bring out a little extra.
2015 Hilton Coliseum when #17 Iowa state came back against #15 Oklahoma going on a 21-0 run over the span of 5 minutes capped off with a corner 3. To take the lead. Down 48-28 with 15 minutes left and won 77-70 scoring 59 in the 2nd half.
"Mercy" Hogue dunk
UD Arena in Dayton. (Zero bias btw /s)
Assembly the night Oladipo had his “almost dunk” was insane. Mackey is always crazy. Shoutout to Kohl Center too, Johnny Davis hit a shot to complete the 20 point comeback and that place was deafening.
I remember the exact missed dunk you're talking about, roof woulda blown off (or fallen into the stands)
Allen Fieldhouse everytime I’ve been.
I wish it was that loud EVERY time but it's still the best. Personally, the loudest I've ever heard it was on New Year's Day 2005 playing against Georgia Tech, when Keith Langford hit a turnaround (start at 5:55 - https://youtu.be/eIYkssHAYLQ?si=w260UygHWA0uwwEm) to win it in OT.
The 2012 Mizzou game is definitely up there too, though I wasn't there for that one.
1995 KU vs. UCLA. Down 15 at the half, go on a run, Jacque Vaughn hits the spin move to take the lead and 16,300 collectively lose their fucking minds. No sound system, no flashing lights, just 16k plus absolutely taking leave of their senses. This was before they moved the kids back from the floor for the wheelchairs and media, so they were on top of the baselines. People were falling out.
UCLA called timeout and those guys walked to the bench looking around like, "What in the actual fuck is happening here?"
Nobody brings it every game like AFH.
Specifically the epic comeback against WV. I think they set that record for loudest indoor arena at that time?
Yes they did. I think they broke it again a few years later too.
I had a class from 6-9 that night and I went from that game to the last 45 minutes of class and couldn't hear a thing the professor said
Yep, I have the little paper saying I’m a Guinness world record holder from that game haha. They were handing them out at the exits afterward
I was actually working AT the game and didnt get one 😭
2020 top ten matchup between fsu and duke at Cameron indoor
I was fortunate enough to get to go to a few games when NC State still played in Reynolds. It was deafening at times in there.
Appropriately for tonight's game, mine are Hilton Coliseum and Allen Fieldhouse.
It's tough to pick the loudest I ever heard Hilton but one that stands out is a game against Iowa in '03 when John Neal, a walk-on from Iowa playing in basically his first real action of the year, hit two massive threes during a 21-8 run to finish the game. Hilton is special because the fans have a real belief that they WILL affect the game and they take it upon themselves to kickstart a run even before it's happening.
The loudest I heard AFH was after Ben McLemore banked in a 3 at the buzzer to tie it up against ISU. It was unbelievably loud and then, on top of that, they cranked Thunderstruck up to 11 leading up to the OT tip. It was just obvious that the final result was already decided.
Surprised it has been mentioned:
The Pit.
Another vote for The Pit. I wear earplugs every time I go to a game. The first time I went was for a Rio Grande Rivalry game and I left with my ears ringing like I just left a metal concert. It gets loud as fuck in there. Got the same earplugs for both occasions shortly after and my experiences at both have improved dramatically.
Probably the only place I've been that was noticeably louder than The Pit has been Rammstein's stadium tour concerts (San Antonio 2022 and Klagenfurt 2024). But I feel like it would be hard for any basketball arena full of humans to get as loud as a Rammstein show. You can't make lungs and vocal cords compete with that amount of amplification. And when they set off the flash pots of course it's way louder on top of how loud the music already is.
As a Gonzaga fan, I was kind kind of blown away by how loud Storrs South was when we played their last year.
I've been to some epic Big East games (our first turn in the Big East) in MSG.
I've only been to a few places, but anytime a ranked team is in Lincoln, The Vault is rocking. There's a reason we have so many big home wins.
The Assembly Hall (State Farm Center) in '13 when Tyler Griffey hit the game winner against #1 Indiana.
Jenison Field House. The sound just echoed back and forth off the walls. I was a kid, so I probably thought it was louder than it actually was, but I miss that place.
That sounds awesome, I always wished they do one game a year there as a throwback
I have several memories of Cameron literally shaking during big games I somehow lucked into tickets to.
Allen Fieldhouse was incredible for the first 10 minutes until the game got out of hand. A truly special venue.
No Sit Sunday in Lincoln in 2014 when we beat the eventual Final 4 Wisconsin team was the loudest sporting event I’ve ever been to.
Cameron.
Also TBA was rocking when I went a couple years ago for the Alabam - Vols game when AL was #1
For me, it was the 2011 second half comeback win against UNC. It just kept getting louder and louder each time Duke chipped away at the lead until the whole place exploded.
Nolan Smith and Seth Curry leading the way with an injured Kyrie on the bench. Really good team, should have gone further.
Purdue and Kansas need to schedule a home and home when both teams are really good because right now, the "loudest arena" argument breaks down into 1) people who have been to Mackey; or 2) people who have been to Allen. Let's just get both of these teams into each other's arenas so that these two fanbases can settle the "loudest" debate themselves.
Here’s how that debate goes for everyone who goes to both of those games: “Wow, hats off, they were incredible, best arena I’ve been to other than ours.” Same as the debate with Cameron. We haven’t had anyone take a run at our Guinness record since UK beat our old record in 2017 and then we took it back a few weeks later. That’s honestly a blast to do. Maybe if you guys give Guinness a call we could both have some fun.
The first time we beat Kentucky under Bruce in like 15 or 20 years was the loudest I ever heard Auburn Arena
This year Duke at Sparty!!
Tbh the loudest experience I ever had was the Arkansas vs Tennessee game. I lost some hearing and now I call it, Welcome to FayetteHELL!
I think I once heard someone fart in the Bryce Jordan Center. That was wild.
It was me, I farted.
Xfinity center when we went on a 27-4 run to take the lead and beat #3 ranked Purdue in Willard’s first year, when we flipped the lead you couldn’t hear anything it was incredible
2024 Elite 8 in Boston. Storrs North was going ballistic during the 30-0 run
The 2019 ovc championship was absolutely electric between Murray and Belmont, and then in 2018 auburn came to CFSB and that’s still the loudest arena I’ve ever been apart of
Im a touch biased, but it's between Mackey and Allen Fieldhouse if all we are talking about is sound. They're just a tier above the competition in terms of making ears ring.
Other arenas I've been to that are honorable mentions: Rupp, Assembly Hall, Breslin, and I'm sure there are some I'm forgetting. I've also never been on campus for a Duke or UNC game yet.
Surprised u/everymanawildcat hasn't chimed in. Bramlidge rocks your eardrums.
The Breslin on senior night, or any time we played Purdue and Michigan
I was at the game where the Spectrum got up to 132 decibels. Can confirm it gets loud as shit during big games.
What game was it?
The Pit, but I'm biased.
The floor rumbles and you can't even think.
The Oladipo missed alley oop game versus Michigan was crazy loud in Assembly Hall
Been to a number of games at Cameron Indoor Stadium when it got ringing-in-the-ears loud.
Probably the loudest venues I have been to include Assembly Hall at IU and Mackey Arena at Purdue. When IU is good, few venues will get that loud..it is almost sound engineered to amplify noise.
RIP Cole Field House
Smith Center in Chapel Hill in 1993 when UNC came back from 21 down with 9 1/2 left to beat FSU and move to #1. Was sitting in the 3rd row behind the Carolina bench. Place went absolutely nuts when George Lynch stole the ball at halfcourt and went down for the dunk to put them ahead.
Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas) is the loudest venue in CBB and it isn't even a debate.
Washington huskies beating the zags a couple years back it was LOUD. Zags were still ranked in the top 10 I believe.
And then I’d say earlier this year, NC State fans got rowdy as hell when KU came to town. I couldn’t hear myself think when it went to OT.
I haven’t been to a ton of games in my life, but Colonial Life Arena when the Cocks beat Kentucky in 2014 it was insanely loud.
I ran in to our president at half court when we rushed and I heard him yell “I HEARD WE WERE GETTING FINED SO I SAID FUCK IT! LET’S PARTY!”
UCLA vs Princeton. RCA Dome in 96. The funniest part was when they showed Reggie Miller on the big screen. Everyone stared chanting "Reggie" until he turned his UCLA hat around and everyone started booing. He just laughed his ass off.
Not the xl center/peoples bank (UConn) this year….cricket city
XL Center is a dumpster fire.
The Dome when they broke the attendance record back in 2010 vs Villanova.
Rupp last year for the UK/Arkansas game was insane. Breslin Center was on that level as well
Lowkey love the drama we've gotten because it has rejuvenated typically sleepy Rupp crowds. Even this team disappointing has made fans more engaged (I dont like people booing their own team but we started winning right after that happened, and the people booing typically cheer twice as hard). Cal coming back was cinema, the kid who decommitted and went to UNC coming here was cinema, Indiana with Vitale and Barkley... Last year's Florida game... this year's Florida game is gonna be Oweh's senior day.... God we've been spoiled as Hell the last two years. Having Pitino back on Madness, having Wall back this past year, having Pat Riley and Rupp's Runts back the other night... the Pope press conference man it is super super special.
Seems like a healthy perspective to have my man. My brother and I loved visiting Lexington last year and all the UK fans were super friendly so I got no hate in my heart for yall!
Every time this question is asked the whole comment thread is just [insert flair] saying their own stadium
I think MSU vs Michigan at the Breslin in 2013 was the loudest college arena I’ve ever heard. There’s a few other games that are right up there with it though. Any of the years that Michigan is decent, the rivalry game is insanely loud.
I think the loudest venue I’ve ever heard in general though was the pacers @ the pistons in the 04 eastern conference finals. You could feel it in your chest.
Houston vs Texas was electric at the Fertitta Center
Shout out Cal , happy he is our coach now. But bud walton a few years ago when Cal got ejected when we were playing UK was awesomely loud
Every game in Mackey leaves a constant ringing in your ears. And that’s just the appetizer for the biggest conference games where the whole place is a madhouse for two hours
Kansas game @ fertitta in 2024.
Tech vs Houston at Tech last season. Was already gonna be a crazy game because of how we won in Houston, and then the stadium screen had a pre-recorded Mahomes going “get loud” or some such then it cut to live feed of him actually at the game and people went fucking nuts. That whole game was one of the loudest events I’ve ever been to
Yeah I remember hearing yall through my TV and smiling. Absolutely love an energetic crowd.
The game we lost to you guys at Fertitta was very loud as well. It’s a small arena, but low ceilings and a bunch of of people packed in tight makes it a great environment for noise.
Marriott Center, Provo, UT. I’d be shocked if there is a louder venue.
I was there for that 2020 win over Gonzaga. Legit magical
The Hilton makes the floors vibrate and shake
WVU randomly putting a 20 beat down on number 1 Baylor at home with Press Virginia. Fun fact, we beat number 2 Kansas 4 days later at home. Had the rankings reset we would have been the first team to ever beat two number ones in the same week.
Those two games were the loudest sporting events I’ve been to
Xfinity Center when we’re a good team. Gonna be real quiet in there for the foreseeable future
I've been to quite a few Xavier games and they're usually a good crowd, but nothing crazy. The Crosstown Shootout though is a whole different animal. That place was shaking towards the end of that game. Unlike UC, even their old folks are going nuts. Ours just sit there with a thumb up their ass.
I know I’m biased, but Diddle Arena goes crazy for such a small school.
Does mid-major count?
For D1, I was shocked at how loud the O’Rena was at Oakland. My MS team got some deal for tickets and got to meet Greg Kampe, and this was for one of Oakland’s good teams that made the tournament iirc. It was loud af in that tiny arena.
For P4/higher level, I had tinnitus after a game at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.
The rest of the major schools I’ve seen have either been at games that weren’t sold out or super important (Breslin, Crisler, Smith, etc), teams that sucked so there weren’t a lot of students (Calihan Hall at UDM), or at neutral sites that are known for being loud in general.
Mohegan Sun Arena for the Big East Women’s Basketball Final last year Creighton v UConn. I could not hear myself think. The larger arenas can get loud, but they’re so cavernous that even with more people it’s not quite as much sustained noise. I’ve been to March Madness games at NBA arenas, and was at Creighton’s wins vs #1 Kansas and #1 UConn a couple of years back, and you get your loud moments, but I’ve never been somewhere as loud for the entire game as Mohegan Sun.
Random one, but when I was a kid, my ears were blown out when UofA came back to beat Oregon at McKale.
Bro.
Autocorrect got me.
Illinois' arena atmosphere sucks nowadays because of all the old farts and how lame our student section has become...but to this day the loudest and craziest environment I've ever been to in any sporting event (and I've been to WC qualifiers in the Balkans) is when Eric Gordon came to Champaign in 2008.
You could literally feel the mob hatred in Assembly Hall that day. IIRC Gordon's parents had like trays of food/drinks thrown at them throughout the game, and the university had to apologize afterwards for the shit being said and done throughout the game by the fans. Not mad at it though, fuck them and Indiana.
Storrs South
Every time I go to Mackey I leave unable to hear. It can be a Thursday night game in a down year for us, it will still be the loudest sporting event I’ve ever been to.
Bramlage coliseum when kstate broke the losing streak to ku...Feb 14,2011...Jacob Pullen went off !
Loudest for my school was the 2010 St John’s game. Last time Fordham fans stormed the court too.
Cameron Indoor at the AZ game in 2023- couldn't hear my dad next to me even though he was shouting.
Next loudest is McKale 2005, Salim vs UCLA... incredible
Gampel Pavilion, #2 UConn vs #6 Syracuse, 1/23/95.
It was so loud the court was shaking. You could actually feel the air.
Could’ve just asked what’s the name of the stadium your team plays in based on these responses
Pretty much any bigtime game at the Assembly Hall would make my ears ring that night while I was trying to sleep, but I’ve never heard anything like the old IU/UK series when they used to split the Hoosier/RCA Dome 50/50. In the Knight/Pitino era there would be 20k on each side and the noise would blow you away. I have nightmares of C-A-T-S CATS! CATS! CATS!
Viejas Arena, D Glenn Smith Spectrum
The Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. The event was the Jane's Addiction show. Loud AF.
I went to a GCU game vs. UT-Arlington in 2023, that was wild. My personal feelings about GCU aside, the students were loud the entire time and there were a couple made 3s in the 2nd half that nearly blew my ears off. It was so loud.
Siegel Center for a big game can get very loud.
Maryland, when good, is a complete hornets nest. The Dave Neal pick against duke was as loud as I’ve ever heard anywhere
Koch used to be one of the loudest when ranked, but sadly it's been maybe 10 years since my ears have rang after a game.
Mackey vs OSU Mackey vs MSU
Hinkle Fieldhouse vs Gonzaga (sad but great game) Hinkle vs Nova
Not on the list, EA Diddle for Stony Brook vs Western Kentucky State Fair Grounds Iupui vs anyone
Mackey by far
FSU beating #11 Louisville in 2020 at home. That arena was bouncing louder than any sports venue I’ve been to (and I’ve been to probably 30+ CFB stadiums for games).
Cintas Center - Xavier U
The RAC
Assembly Hall Bloomington, Valentines Day 1993 IU takes down the Fab 5 93 -92. Even the Hoosier faithful fans were exhausted after that one.
Somehow, the kids field trip game this year at Maryland for the women. The team scored 67 points and I thought I was going to lose my hearing.
Duke at UNC 2005
Michigan state at Wisconsin 2007
Final 4s are something else. Both the Superdome and Arizona's state farm center were electric. It's not any louder that Allen/Mackey/Hilton it's just so sustained. It never gets quite which is what always amazes me. As soon as someone's fans starts calming down the other teams picks up. Kansas vs Villanova and UConn vs Alabama were meh since they were not close. The duke vs North Carolina final 4 game is the loudest overall game I have ever been to. Absolutely crazy from start to finish, there was a dunk that game were the entire place erupted and I couldn't hear myself talk.
Cameron in 1985 when UVA traveled to play #2 Duke. Got to sit on the floor under the basket as photographer for The Cavalier Daily. UVA came back late in the game but got edged out. The place and tbe crowd were insane. I'll never forget that.
SIU arena back in the early 2000's was electric. They had a long home win streak and multiple teams ranked in the top 25. Now, not so much ..
Allen fieldhouse. The thundersticks game.
University of Florida’s arena is crazy.
One of the loudest places I've been is Cameron Indoor Stadium during a Duke-UNC game. The energy was unreal, especially when the Blue Devils made a big play. You could feel the tension and excitement in the air, making it an unforgettable experience. There's nothing quite like it in college basketball.