"What a terrific atmosphere for college basketball. Great building...great history...18,000 screaming fans. It's big time hoops, baby!" - Dick Vitale ESPN

Seating Chart

USAToday
10 Great Places to Get Pumped for NCAA Action

Rivals.com
Top-16 Home Court Advantages

Sports Illustrated
Top 20 Sporting Venues of the 20th Century

One of college basketball's most famous and recognizable buildings, University Arena is the home of New Mexico men's and women's basketball.

The 2007-08 season will be the 42nd year that University Arena has served as home for Lobo hoops. The first game was played Dec. 1, 1966, with New Mexico defeating Abilene Christian, 62-53. A total of 722 games have been played overall. The Lobos have come away the victor in 582 of those, good for a stunning .806 winning percentage.

What is even more impressive about UNM's home court is that over 11 million fans have flocked into this sunken edifice to see their beloved Lobos play basketball. The exact figure stands at 11,255,079. The Lobos have averaged an astounding 15,589 fans the past 41 years, an amazing 95% of capacity.

The Lobos have finished second in the nation in attendance five times, third on four occasions, and fourth six times.

UNM hosted the NCAA Championship in 1983, won by North Carolina State over Houston, the 1968, '78, '92 and 2000 West Regional, the 1985 and 1996 West Region First and Second Rounds, and 1988 McDonald's High School All-American basketball game. The NCAA Men's First and Second Rounds were here in 2002 followed by the Women's First and Second Rounds and the Midwest Regional in 2003. UNM hosted the women's first and second rounds again in 2004, followed by the men's Albuquerque Regional in 2005 and the West Regional for the women's tournament in 2006. The Pit will again host NCAA women's tournament action in 2008 and 2009.

The UNM women's basketball team is also enjoying the home court advantage The Pit offers. Over the past 12 seasons under current head coach Don Flanagan, The Pit has become one of the rowdiest places in all of women's college basketball. The women have compiled a home record of 172-34 (.834) over the last 12 years. The women's team has also been in the top-10, nationally, in average attendance in each of the last nine seasons. In 2006-07, the women's team averaged 9,582 fans per game, fifth in the NCAA, and posted a 13-2 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 is built in a 37-foot hole on Albuquerque's southeast mesa. First the roof was constructed, then the hole was dug and the Arena built. That all happened in 1966. The unique Behlen roof (338 by 300 feet) was set up by contractors and then 55,000 cubic yards of earth were removed. About 28,000 yards of concrete were poured in the initial construction, which allowed a seating capacity of 14,831. The cost - an incredibly economical $1.4 million.

Arena expansion was undertaken when it became apparent that fan interest was too great even for the original structure. The expansion in 1975 cost near $2.2 million and involved the extension of a cantilevered deck above the existing facility. There are six rows in the deck, with a seating capacity of 2,300. Reserved standing-room-only spots increase The Pit's capacity to 18,018.

A new practice facility and coaches' offices for UNM men's and women's basketball was completed in April 2006. The new practice facility is named the Rudy Davalos Basketball Center after former UNM athletics director Rudy Davalos.

The facility is located at the south end of The Pit and includes a practice floor with six baskets, offices for men's and women's basketball, a video viewing room and an area to accommodate media needs for Lobo games and upcoming NCAA basketball tournaments.

Bob King Court
On October 2, 1992, University of New Mexico President Richard E. Peck announced that the basketball court at University Arena would be named in honor of Bob King, former UNM basketball coach. King coached the UNM men's basketball team to national prominence in the 1960's.

"We wanted to recognize Coach King's contributions to Lobo basketball," Peck said. "UNM's Memorial Committee recommended that we honor Coach King's accomplishments, and the naming of the court has allowed us to do so without diminishing the recognition which has already been paid to his colleagues, including former Director of Athletics Pete McDavid. The Bob King Court and the Pete McDavid Lounge are a tribute to two of the men who are responsible for the success of the facility we fondly call The Pit."

The Bob King Court was dedicated at formal ceremonies on Dec. 1, 1992.

2006-07 Attendance Numbers
The University of New Mexico is one of very few schools to have both its men's and women's basketball programs rank in the top-25 in attendance during the 2006-07 season. The Lobo women were fifth while the men finished No. 23. The UNM men and women have both finished in the top-25 in each of the past nine seasons. The rankings:

UNM women's attendance the past few years:

Although the men's average of 13,387 is its lowest in 25 years, UNM has still finished in the top-25 for 40 consecutive years, or every season the Lobos have played in The Pit. No other school in the country can make that claim.

Sports Illustrated's Top-20 Sports Venues of the Century

In June, 1999, Sports Illustrated listed its top-20 sporting venues of the century and The Pit checked in at No. 13.

Directions
Located on the southwest corner of Avenida Cesar Chavez and University Boulevard, The Pit can be easily accessed by exiting off I-25, just south of the Big-I, at Avenida Cesar Chavez. Head east on Avenida Cesar Chavez and The Pit is located on the right.

Prohibited Items
The following items will not be allowed into The Pit: