Stadium Journey recently released it's rankings of all 351 Division 1 college basketball arenas and I'm happy to report that we made the top half, coming in at number 142. It took SJ four long years to accomplish the goal of visiting every arena but the job was finally done.

Granted, these rankings are extremely subjective (as it probably took close to a hundred different writers to get this list compiled over 4 years) and I know that my list would look quite differently, even in the Top-20 or Top-30 alone. Also, please note that I did not construct the HCC review but I feel it to be a pretty accurate picture on most nights.

I think for us it comes down to atmosphere, as well as tidying up some things, adding a few features, etc., that would give the building a more hospitable (yet hostile to the visitor) feel. If Coach Fox can turn things around I don't see any reason the HCC (or whatever we decide to now nickname the building) can't be a Top-100 facility, as it currently should be based on facility sake alone.

http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/03-2 ... kings-2014

I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

I would assume we would move up the list once we instal video screens.

Gonzo wrote:I would assume we would move up the list once we instal video screens.

Video screens would help substantially, at least they do in my review. To not have them, is (at this level) an immediate point deduction in potentially two categories of the FANFARE scale. If the review were of a DII gym then I probably wouldn't expect them, so I wouldn't give the facility a hit for not having them, but I'd give them a bonus point or two, here or there, if they did have them. To not have them, in the era the HCC was built, was definitely a poor design (or management if it was merely financial) decision. I've heard some things about the ability, or lack thereof, of the structure to support a center-hung board, etc. but video boards are a must in any arena of 3 or 4K plus seats.

AppinVA wrote:I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

Cameron Indoor should be #1 on tradition, uniqueness and atmosphere alone. I went to a conference game there a couple of years ago and was blown away by how awesome it was... and I HATE Duke.

AppinVA wrote:I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

Some of the ones that made the top 25 are really suspect. As suggested, very subjective and holds little credibility for me.

I appreciate the effort to do the reviews but you do have to scratch your head at the rankings.

APPARJ wrote:

AppinVA wrote:I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

Cameron Indoor should be #1 on tradition, uniqueness and atmosphere alone. I went to a conference game there a couple of years ago and was blown away by how awesome it was... and I HATE Duke.

I myself enjoy Cameron quite a bit (and I'm pretty impartial to Duke Basketball). I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's the top venue, simply based on the logistics of all the individual criteria (no category waited more than another) that entails the FANFARE scale, but it's definitely a top-10 building, IMHO.

hapapp wrote:

AppinVA wrote:I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

Some of the ones that made the top 25 are really suspect. As suggested, very subjective and holds little credibility for me.

I appreciate the effort to do the reviews but you do have to scratch your head at the rankings.

It's tough going when making a list like this. It's part of the reason you simply don't see comprehensive lists such as this, and the reason that only Stadium Journey is attempting them. Even then, as I mentioned, it's almost impossible to get a truly accurate representation of 351 venues, short of having a full-time staff of say 5 making the attempt, and then it would still take a few year's cumulative work. Everyone has different things that mean something to them in a sports facility and the FANFARE scale tries to remove some of the bias and such by scaling things into targeted subcategories. Nonetheless, it's impossible to remove bias. I know I've done a few of those basketball reviews, with UNCA & Davidson first coming to mind. Both nice buildings, but each would score their points in different ways, even if the scoring might place them fairly close to each other, if I were constructing the totality of the list. I almost feel like the best way to look at a list like this is my conference, or high-major/mid-major/low-major breakdowns. I feel that there is no way Winthrop Coliseum or USC Upstate be top 30/40 venues nationally but the FANFARE score takes the control out of common-sense in some ways, which is a positive in many regards. But ultimately, it's a subjective rankings list as is the case with most Stadium Journey rankings, albeit the most comprehensive one out there.

HkyMtneer wrote:

hapapp wrote:

AppinVA wrote:I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

Some of the ones that made the top 25 are really suspect. As suggested, very subjective and holds little credibility for me.

I appreciate the effort to do the reviews but you do have to scratch your head at the rankings.

It's tough going when making a list like this. It's part of the reason you simply don't see comprehensive lists such as this, and the reason that only Stadium Journey is attempting them. Even then, as I mentioned, it's almost impossible to get a truly accurate representation of 351 venues, short of having a full-time staff of say 5 making the attempt, and then it would still take a few year's cumulative work. Everyone has different things that mean something to them in a sports facility and the FANFARE scale tries to remove some of the bias and such by scaling things into targeted subcategories. Nonetheless, it's impossible to remove bias. I know I've done a few of those basketball reviews, with UNCA & Davidson first coming to mind. Both nice buildings, but each would score their points in different ways, even if the scoring might place them fairly close to each other, if I were constructing the totality of the list. I almost feel like the best way to look at a list like this is my conference, or high-major/mid-major/low-major breakdowns. I feel that there is no way Winthrop Coliseum or USC Upstate be top 30/40 venues nationally but the FANFARE score takes the control out of common-sense in some ways, which is a positive in many regards. But ultimately, it's a subjective rankings list as is the case with most Stadium Journey rankings, albeit the most comprehensive one out there.

Obviously an impossible undertaking to get an accurate view of all 350+ venues. I understand the ranking system is based on a formula that may make it so that some mid/low major schools get high scores. When one first peruses the list it is a bit shocking but upon understanding the method it makes a bit more sense. Though most folks would not likely equate Winthrop Coliseum with Cameron Indoor Stadium. If nothing else it is an interesting way to see all the D1 arenas.

hapapp wrote:

HkyMtneer wrote:

hapapp wrote:

AppinVA wrote:I think our arena might have been the 142nd name picked out of a hat. Cameron Indoor at 31? John Paul Jones in the 200s? I know there are some hidden gems out there, but you can't put those two arenas that low.

Some of the ones that made the top 25 are really suspect. As suggested, very subjective and holds little credibility for me.

I appreciate the effort to do the reviews but you do have to scratch your head at the rankings.

It's tough going when making a list like this. It's part of the reason you simply don't see comprehensive lists such as this, and the reason that only Stadium Journey is attempting them. Even then, as I mentioned, it's almost impossible to get a truly accurate representation of 351 venues, short of having a full-time staff of say 5 making the attempt, and then it would still take a few year's cumulative work. Everyone has different things that mean something to them in a sports facility and the FANFARE scale tries to remove some of the bias and such by scaling things into targeted subcategories. Nonetheless, it's impossible to remove bias. I know I've done a few of those basketball reviews, with UNCA & Davidson first coming to mind. Both nice buildings, but each would score their points in different ways, even if the scoring might place them fairly close to each other, if I were constructing the totality of the list. I almost feel like the best way to look at a list like this is my conference, or high-major/mid-major/low-major breakdowns. I feel that there is no way Winthrop Coliseum or USC Upstate be top 30/40 venues nationally but the FANFARE score takes the control out of common-sense in some ways, which is a positive in many regards. But ultimately, it's a subjective rankings list as is the case with most Stadium Journey rankings, albeit the most comprehensive one out there.

Obviously an impossible undertaking to get an accurate view of all 350+ venues. I understand the ranking system is based on a formula that may make it so that some mid/low major schools get high scores. When one first peruses the list it is a bit shocking but upon understanding the method it makes a bit more sense. Though most folks would not likely equate Winthrop Coliseum with Cameron Indoor Stadium. If nothing else it is an interesting way to see all the D1 arenas.

I think part of the joy in a list like this comes often from possibly seeing a surprise high-ranking building and maybe deciding to take in a game there. I look at it this way: lots of folks expect the experience at Cameron to be exceptional, same goes for a game at the Smith Center, Carrier Dome, Peterson Events Center, or at the FedExForum, Rupp, Allen Fieldhouse, etc. but what a casual observer might not expect is the atmosphere to be found at a WKU, Murray State, or even an ASU. It's possible to create a Top-50 ranking here, it starts with the team on the floor and subsequently butts in the seats but it has to continue with improvements and enhancements to the HCC to make it worthy of a Top-50 ranking.

Gonzo wrote:I would assume we would move up the list once we instal video screens.

Perhaps we move up once we install an actual basketball team. Too soon?

bigCasu wrote:

Gonzo wrote:I would assume we would move up the list once we instal video screens.

Perhaps we move up once we install an actual basketball team. Too soon?

OUCH....too soon. Cuts are still fresh.

ASUPATCH wrote:

bigCasu wrote:

Gonzo wrote:I would assume we would move up the list once we instal video screens.

Perhaps we move up once we install an actual basketball team. Too soon?

OUCH....too soon. Cuts are still fresh.

It was wide open, had to take the shot!

In all seriousness, I cant wait to see how much better our current team plays with actual teaching and coaching of the game. Roster will have limited turnover pending the 6th year eligibilty of Spagnola.

bigCasu wrote:

Gonzo wrote:I would assume we would move up the list once we instal video screens.

Perhaps we move up once we install an actual basketball team. Too soon?

,,,and a few hundred fans.

HkyMtneer wrote:Stadium Journey recently released it's rankings of all 351 Division 1 college basketball arenas and I'm happy to report that we made the top half, coming in at number 142. It took SJ four long years to accomplish the goal of visiting every arena but the job was finally done.

Granted, these rankings are extremely subjective (as it probably took close to a hundred different writers to get this list compiled over 4 years) and I know that my list would look quite differently, even in the Top-20 or Top-30 alone. Also, please note that I did not construct the HCC review but I feel it to be a pretty accurate picture on most nights.

I think for us it comes down to atmosphere, as well as tidying up some things, adding a few features, etc., that would give the building a more hospitable (yet hostile to the visitor) feel. If Coach Fox can turn things around I don't see any reason the HCC (or whatever we decide to now nickname the building) can't be a Top-100 facility, as it currently should be based on facility sake alone.

http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/03-2 ... kings-2014

Imagine where we could have been ranked if the tarps were off 1/2 the seats and they were filled with people!

Kgfish wrote:

HkyMtneer wrote:Stadium Journey recently released it's rankings of all 351 Division 1 college basketball arenas and I'm happy to report that we made the top half, coming in at number 142. It took SJ four long years to accomplish the goal of visiting every arena but the job was finally done.

Granted, these rankings are extremely subjective (as it probably took close to a hundred different writers to get this list compiled over 4 years) and I know that my list would look quite differently, even in the Top-20 or Top-30 alone. Also, please note that I did not construct the HCC review but I feel it to be a pretty accurate picture on most nights.

I think for us it comes down to atmosphere, as well as tidying up some things, adding a few features, etc., that would give the building a more hospitable (yet hostile to the visitor) feel. If Coach Fox can turn things around I don't see any reason the HCC (or whatever we decide to now nickname the building) can't be a Top-100 facility, as it currently should be based on facility sake alone.

http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/03-2 ... kings-2014

Imagine where we could have been ranked if the tarps were off 1/2 the seats and they were filled with people!

That would be the single biggest improvement to the Holmes Center. Butts in seats can mask a lot of problems in stadia.