University Arena
Encyclopedia
The Pit, originally known as University Arena, is a basketball-only arena
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. It serves primarily as the home of the University of New Mexico
Lobo basketball
teams. The arena seats 17,126 for basketball, has 40 luxury suites, and 350 club seats. The Pit opened in 1966 and was known as the "University Arena" until late 2009 when the school officially named the arena after its nickname. The arena is located on the University's South Campus on University Boulevard and Cesar Chavez in southeast Albuquerque, across the street from University Stadium and Isotopes Park
.
, a 7,800-seat multi-purpose gym on the University’s main campus. However, with the surge in popularity following the hiring of Bob King and the team’s appearance in the finals of the 1964 National Invitation Tournament
, it was decided that a new, larger arena was needed for the team’s growing and dedicated following. The site chosen was across University Boulevard from University Stadium on the University’s new South Campus. The design won international recognition for chief architect Joe Boehning, who still resides in Albuquerque. The arena was built with its floor lying 37 feet (11.3 m) below grade, giving rise to its now-famous nickname. The 338-by-300-foot Behlen roof was built first, before the pit was excavated and concrete was poured for the foundations. There are no supporting pillars in the seating area of the arena, so there are no obstructed views. The compact area, steep grade and proximity of the seats to the floor contributes to the legendary noise level. Originally seating 14,831, the $1.4 million arena (inexpensive even in its time) opened on Dec. 1, 1966, with New Mexico defeating Abilene Christian College
, 62-53. In 1992, to honor the coach who made the arena’s construction possible, the basketball court was renamed the Bob King Court.
, The Pit has become one of the rowdiest places in all of women's college basketball. The women have compiled a home record of 187-41 (.820) since his hiring. The women's team has also been in the top-10, nationally, in average attendance in each of the last 10 seasons. In 2007-08, the women's team averaged 8,638 fans per game, sixth in the NCAA, and posted a 12-7 record. On nine different occasions, the women's squad has sold out The Pit. Five times they have filled it to the 18,018 regular season capacity. Four times they sold out NCAA tournament games when the capacity was over 16,000. Each of these nine games has come since the 1999 season.
once likened a visiting team's experience in The Pit to "watching Roman gladiators emerging into a wall of sound". During the 1988-89 season, The Pit registered a crowd at 118 decibels, for the loudest crowd in the country, two decibels ahead of Duke’s
Cameron Indoor Stadium
. (Some sources have claimed that the arena has been as loud as 125 decibels at times.) In 1999, Sports Illustrated
listed the Top Twenty Sporting Venues of the Century, and The Pit came in 13th, ahead of such locations as Daytona International Speedway
, Notre Dame Stadium
, St. Andrews Golf Course
and the Rose Bowl
.
The second renovation, begun in 2009 and completed in time for the 2010-11 basketball season, cost $60 million and brought the facilities up to modern standards. The 2009 renovations included 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) of new space, increasing the number of concession stands and rest rooms, adding new digital signage and video boards, upgrading the locker rooms and training facilities, expansion of the concourse, store, and ticket office, the addition of 40 luxury suites and 300 club seats, and extensive glasswork as well as increased ceiling height, which changed the outside appearance of the arena. As part of the renovations, the capacity of the arena was dropped to 14,586 during construction. When finished, the arena held 17,126.
Final Four
, which was the scene of a memorable championship game upset by North Carolina State over heavily favored Houston. The video clip of NC State coach Jim Valvano
running around the court at the end of the game documents one of the most famous moments in NCAA basketball history and is now a staple of Final Four television coverage.
The Pit hosted Men's NCAA tournaments in 1968
, 1978
, 1985
, 1992
, 1996
, 2000
, 2002
, and 2005
, making it a common venue for NCAA Tournament games. It also hosted the 1987, 1995, and 1996 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournaments
and the NCAA Women's host for the 2003 Regional
, 2004 1st and 2nd round
, 2006 Regional
, 2008 1st and 2nd round
, 2009 1st and 2nd round
, and 2011 1st and 2nd round
. The Pit is scheduled to be a host for the Men’s 2012 2nd and 3rd round
.
Men's NCAA Tournaments:
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. It serves primarily as the home of the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
Lobo basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams. The arena seats 17,126 for basketball, has 40 luxury suites, and 350 club seats. The Pit opened in 1966 and was known as the "University Arena" until late 2009 when the school officially named the arena after its nickname. The arena is located on the University's South Campus on University Boulevard and Cesar Chavez in southeast Albuquerque, across the street from University Stadium and Isotopes Park
Isotopes Park
Isotopes Park is a minor-league baseball stadium located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is the home field of the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Pacific Coast League, the Class AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
History
Prior to the building of the arena, the men’s basketball team played at Johnson GymnasiumJohnson Gymnasium
Johnson Gymnasium is a 4,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It opened in 1957. It was home to the University of New Mexico Lobos basketball team until The Pit opened in 1966. Today, Johnson Gymnasium is the home floor for the Lobo volleyball team. The gym is named after...
, a 7,800-seat multi-purpose gym on the University’s main campus. However, with the surge in popularity following the hiring of Bob King and the team’s appearance in the finals of the 1964 National Invitation Tournament
1964 National Invitation Tournament
The 1964 National Invitation Tournament was the 1964 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
, it was decided that a new, larger arena was needed for the team’s growing and dedicated following. The site chosen was across University Boulevard from University Stadium on the University’s new South Campus. The design won international recognition for chief architect Joe Boehning, who still resides in Albuquerque. The arena was built with its floor lying 37 feet (11.3 m) below grade, giving rise to its now-famous nickname. The 338-by-300-foot Behlen roof was built first, before the pit was excavated and concrete was poured for the foundations. There are no supporting pillars in the seating area of the arena, so there are no obstructed views. The compact area, steep grade and proximity of the seats to the floor contributes to the legendary noise level. Originally seating 14,831, the $1.4 million arena (inexpensive even in its time) opened on Dec. 1, 1966, with New Mexico defeating Abilene Christian College
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
, 62-53. In 1992, to honor the coach who made the arena’s construction possible, the basketball court was renamed the Bob King Court.
Reputation and tradition
The Pit has a reputation as one of the loudest arenas in the country, often resulting in painfully high decibel levels. Traditionally, fans make the shape of a wolf’s head with their hands and they howl and “woof” like wolves, creating a very hostile playing environment for visitors. The Lobos averaged 15,559 fans through the first 42 years, and ranked in the top 10 nationally in total attendance every season from the opening of The Pit in 1966 through the 2000-01 season. Although attendance has declined somewhat in recent years, the team has continued to rank in the top 20, and still boasts large crowds. Over 11.5 million fans had visited The Pit through 2008, which translates to 95% of its all-time capacity. The Lobos men's basketball team has returned the favor by winning 631 of the 776 games played at The Pit through the 2009-10 basketball season, for a .820 winning percentage, along with 14 NCAA tournament appearances and 15 NIT appearances since the opening of the arena.A Mile high, and louder than...
Also contributing to its intimidating environment for visitors is the fact that the elevation in Albuquerque is a mile high. This fact is impressed upon visiting teams in several places in The Pit. The tunnel leading down from the locker rooms to the floor has the following message painted on the wall, "Welcome to the legendary Pit, a mile high and louder than..." Additionally, posters in the visiting team's locker rooms provide information on the warning signs of altitude sickness and urge victims to seek immediate medical attention.The Lady Lobos
The Lobo Women's basketball team also enjoys the home court advantage The Pit offers. Under current head coach Don FlanaganDon Flanagan
Don Flanagan is the former head coach of the University of New Mexico women's basketball team. As of December 23, 2009, he holds the title of most wins by any coach, men's or women's, at the school with 316 victories...
, The Pit has become one of the rowdiest places in all of women's college basketball. The women have compiled a home record of 187-41 (.820) since his hiring. The women's team has also been in the top-10, nationally, in average attendance in each of the last 10 seasons. In 2007-08, the women's team averaged 8,638 fans per game, sixth in the NCAA, and posted a 12-7 record. On nine different occasions, the women's squad has sold out The Pit. Five times they have filled it to the 18,018 regular season capacity. Four times they sold out NCAA tournament games when the capacity was over 16,000. Each of these nine games has come since the 1999 season.
The Pit reviews
The arena has been praised by many different sources. Basketball writer John FeinsteinJohn Feinstein
John Feinstein is an American sportswriter, author and sports commentator who wrote the top two best-selling non-fiction sports books in history, A Good Walk Spoiled and A Season on the Brink.-Early life:...
once likened a visiting team's experience in The Pit to "watching Roman gladiators emerging into a wall of sound". During the 1988-89 season, The Pit registered a crowd at 118 decibels, for the loudest crowd in the country, two decibels ahead of Duke’s
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium is an indoor arena located on the West Campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. It is home to the Duke Blue Devils men's and women's basketball teams, the women's volleyball team, and the men's wrestling team....
. (Some sources have claimed that the arena has been as loud as 125 decibels at times.) In 1999, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
listed the Top Twenty Sporting Venues of the Century, and The Pit came in 13th, ahead of such locations as Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
, St. Andrews Golf Course
Old Course at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
and the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
.
Renovations
The stadium has undergone two major renovations. In 1975, an extension of a cantilevered deck above the original seating, along with dedicated standing-room only space, brought capacity up to 18,018, and cost $2.2 million, more than the original arena itself.The second renovation, begun in 2009 and completed in time for the 2010-11 basketball season, cost $60 million and brought the facilities up to modern standards. The 2009 renovations included 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) of new space, increasing the number of concession stands and rest rooms, adding new digital signage and video boards, upgrading the locker rooms and training facilities, expansion of the concourse, store, and ticket office, the addition of 40 luxury suites and 300 club seats, and extensive glasswork as well as increased ceiling height, which changed the outside appearance of the arena. As part of the renovations, the capacity of the arena was dropped to 14,586 during construction. When finished, the arena held 17,126.
Tournament site
The Pit hosted the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known...
Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, which was the scene of a memorable championship game upset by North Carolina State over heavily favored Houston. The video clip of NC State coach Jim Valvano
Jim Valvano
James Thomas Anthony "Jim" Valvano , nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball coach.While the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University, he won the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament against high odds...
running around the court at the end of the game documents one of the most famous moments in NCAA basketball history and is now a staple of Final Four television coverage.
The Pit hosted Men's NCAA tournaments in 1968
1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 8, 1968, and ended with the championship game on March 23 in Los Angeles, California...
, 1978
1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1978, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in St. Louis, Missouri...
, 1985
1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began...
, 1992
1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
, 1996
1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...
, 2000
2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, 2002
2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia...
, and 2005
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
, making it a common venue for NCAA Tournament games. It also hosted the 1987, 1995, and 1996 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournaments
WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
The Western Athletic Conference has held a postseason tournament to crown a men's basketball champion every year since 1984. The event has alternated between being hosted at campus sites and neutral sites throughout its history...
and the NCAA Women's host for the 2003 Regional
2003 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 22, 2003 and concluded on April 8, 2003 when the Connecticut Huskies won their second straight national title. The Final Four was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6 - April 8, 2003...
, 2004 1st and 2nd round
2004 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 20, 2004 and concluded on April 6, 2004 when Connecticut won a third consecutive national championship, becoming only the second school in history to accomplish such a feat. The Final Four was held at the New Orleans Arena in...
, 2006 Regional
2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Albuquerque:-Bridgeport:-San Antonio:-Cleveland Regional:-Albuquerque Regional:-Bridgeport Regional:-San Antonio Regional:-Final Four – TD Banknorth Garden :...
, 2008 1st and 2nd round
2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the 2007–08 national champion of women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It commenced on March 22, 2008, and concluded when the University of Tennessee Lady...
, 2009 1st and 2nd round
2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The regionals, held in the city rather than the geographic area as a practice that has been used since 2005, were held there from March 28 to 31 at these sites:...
, and 2011 1st and 2nd round
2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 19, 2011 and concluded on April 5, 2011. The Texas A&M Aggies won the championship....
. The Pit is scheduled to be a host for the Men’s 2012 2nd and 3rd round
2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament will involve 68 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball...
.
Men's NCAA Tournaments:
| Event | The Game | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 West Regional 1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 8, 1968, and ended with the championship game on March 23 in Los Angeles, California... |
UCLA 58 New Mexico State 49 Santa Clara 86 New Mexico 58 New Mexico State 62 New Mexico 58 UCLA 87 Santa Clara 66 |
15,345 15,010 |
| 1978 West Regional 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1978, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in St. Louis, Missouri... |
Sweet 16th Arkansas 74 UCLA 70 Cal State Fullerton 75 San Francisco 72 Elite Eight Arkansas 61 Cal State Fullerton 58 |
17,750 18,144 |
| 1983 Final Four 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known... |
Final Four North Carolina State 67 Georgia 60 Houston 94 Louisville 81 Championship North Carolina State 54 Houston 52 |
17,300 17,327 |
| 1985 West First & Second Rounds 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began... |
First Round Texas-El Paso 79 Tulsa 75 North Carolina State 65 Nevada 56 Alabama 50 Arizona 41 Virginia Commonwealth 81 Marshall 65 Second Round Alabama 63 Virginia Commonwealth 59 North Carolina 86 Texas-El Paso 73 |
11,932 12, 256 13,833 |
| 1992 West Regional 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota... |
Sweet sixteen Indiana 85 Florida State 74 UCLA 85 New Mexico State 78 Elite Eight Indiana 106 UCLA 79 |
15, 914 16,160 |
| 1996 West First & Seconds Rounds 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in... |
First Round Syracuse 88 Montana 55 Drexel 75 Memphis 63 Purdue 73 Western Carolina 71 Georgia 81 Clemson 74 Seconds Round Georgia 76 Purdue 69 Syracuse 69 Drexel 58 |
14, 283 14,762 15, 792 |
| 2000 West Regional 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
Sweet 16 Wisconsin 61 LSU 48 Purdue 75 Gonzaga 66 Elite Eight Wisconsin 64 Purdue 60 |
16,004 16,004 |
| 2002 First and Second Rounds 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia... |
First Round Missouri 93 Miami(FL) 80 Ohio State 69 Davidson 64 Wyoming 73 Gonzaga 66 Arizona 86 UC Santa Barbara 81 Second Round Missouri 83 Ohio State 67 Arizona 68 Wyoming 60 |
13,661 15,626 15,867 |
| 2005 Albuquerque Regional 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... |
Sweet 16 Louisville 93 Washington 79 West Virginia 65 Texas Tech 60 Elite Eight Louisville 93 West Virginia 85 |
15,792 15,896 |
Men’s Basketball in The Pit
| The Pit Record | (Enter 2010-2011) |
|---|---|
| The First Game | December 1, 1966 |
| Total Games | 776 |
| All-Time Records | 631-145 |
| Non-Conference Records | 372-67 |
| Conference Records | 259-78 |
| Attendance average | 15,477 |
| Longest winning streak | 41 (2/10/96 - 2/19/98) |
| Since 2004-2005 Season: | 95-13 |
| Under Steve Alford | 49-5 |
| Best Record | 19 win, 4 times, Last time 98-99 |
| Worst Record | 12 lost, last time 79-80 |