It’s hard to believe that Rupp Arena, the home of the Kentucky Wildcats and the greatest tradition of college basketball, didn’t make Andy Katz’s ranking of the top 10 men’s college basketball arenas.
Katz, the longtime NCAA reporter and analyst, included venues such as Allen Fieldhouse, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Mackey Arena, Madison Square Garden, and Bud Walton Arena, while highlighting history, atmosphere, and fan energy as key factors.
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Yet somehow, Rupp Arena, which has hosted four national championships, 12 NCAA Tournaments, and countless SEC showdowns, was left off entirely.
Opened in 1976, Rupp Arena has been home to nearly 90% of Kentucky’s victories and currently holds 20,500 fans. While some critics occasionally say the arena isn’t loud enough, when Kentucky gets on a roll or needs added motivation, the crowd can get rowdy and create a truly electric environment that can throw opponents off their game.
From championship teams to unforgettable Final Four runs, Rupp Arena has been a cornerstone of college basketball for decades. The absence of Rupp Arena from Katz’s list is a shocking oversight, given its history, atmosphere, and the passionate Wildcats fanbase that fills it to capacity time and again.
To see his full list of rankings and why he placed which arena in each spot, you can click HERE.
Also if you want to hear some of the loudest moments, you can watch below:
