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This is a new thing that we’ll see how long I’ll be able to keep with and the purpose of highlighting a stadium each month is my fascination with those off-the-radar places that are awesome, but lesser known. Let’s start with one of my favorites, UD Arena, home of the University of Dayton Flyers basketball team. Ever wonder why Dayton has been home to the Play in Game and First Four the last several years? It’s because the Gem City supports basketball like no other. They come out in droves to watch Alabama A&M against Oakland and their support of the hometown Flyers is fantastic.
For 16 straight seasons, Dayton has been in the Top 30 nationally for attendance. Crowds are loud and proud as the cheer “Goooooooo Dayton Flyers” can be heard frequently. Flyer fans travel well too as the amount of red I saw in the stands when visiting the Atlantic 10 Tournament a few years back was abundant. Speaking of the A-10, that is Dayton’s conference and they belong in a better fit league. Maybe as a Midwestern portion of the Big East. Man I want to be commissioner of the NCAA and re-make the “Great Midwest” Conference, with members Dayton, Xavier, Cincinnati, Louisville, Butler, Evansville, Marquette, Loyola and Saint Louis. Argh, I hate this current conference garbage.
Anyway, back to Dayton, the fan support rivals and in some cases exceeds those ‘so-called’ top ten programs. No matter the time of year, the stands are mostly filled and a great basketball experience awaits. The arena was built in 1969 and it has a dark inside, especially near the top. Not many frills, though it has been modernized in some spots and the intimate design makes for great seats. It truly is a great college basketball arena and is well worth a road trip for.
Stadium and Arena Visits 