What is the atmosphere like at Vols games?

[Unconditional Surrender]

I've never seen a game at TBA, but watching on TV it sounds loud during big games (UK, Bama, etc.), but otherwise only loud at certain points during games - needing a big stop, after a run, or after a big basket into a time-out.

I was at UT during the Stokely years and loved going to games in that bandbox, which would just get crazy. You still had alumni sitting on their hands, but the students were on one sideline behind the opposing bench, and would make the opposing coaches crazy.

I remember being very disappointed when TBA was opened, and am still a bit envious of those great road environments in the loud smaller buildings, like the one at Illinois earlier this season. But $$$$$$$ rules all

It's not just that money rules all. Can you imagine if Tennessee had a 10,000 capacity arena now? Tickets would be unaffordable and families couldn't go.

 

[tennrich1]

I was at the Oklahoma St. game at Bridgestone in Nashville back in 2006 and even there an old man tapped me on the shoulder and told e to sit down when the game was back and forth. I ignored him the first time and the second time I told him to not touch me again. He threatened to get an usher and I was like "And tell him what, that I won't stop cheering?"

Funniest part is Vols won on a tip in and he was up celebrating and high fived me.

I had what I thought were good seats for that game. I was standing when Dane tipped that ball in and still had to wait to see it on ESPN replay cause I couldn’t hardly see the floor. That was a raucous crowd and exciting game for sure.

 

[sami]

It's not just that money rules all. Can you imagine if Tennessee had a 10,000 capacity arena now? Tickets would be unaffordable and families couldn't go.

Very true, but it's still primarily $$$$$$$.

Duke could easily fill a 22,000 seat arena every night, but they stay in that bandbox.

 

[b_gann]

On TV, Thompson Boling Arena sounds pretty loud, especially for such a huuuge arena. Are fans into it even way upstairs or high behind the baskets? Is it a reactive or proactive crowd? Number of times Rocky Top is played more—basketball or football lol? Some colleges, Texas A&M and Ohio State come to mind, have big arenas, but sound dead as an NBA game.

TBA has came a long way in terms of look and appeal.
Reactive crowd 90% of the time I'd say.
I went to Louisville for the UT game. I thought that atmosphere and areana is well past TBA (until we choked the life out of them).
TBA can be very quiet unless it's a big SEC matchup.
Based on TV, our student section doesn't hold a candle to most big-time college atmospheres.

 

[cardvolfan]

I’ll take the 20,000 plus fans every day of the week over the Ole Miss and Auburn arenas. So will Danny White.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

I’ll take the 20,000 plus fans every day of the week over the Ole Miss and Auburn arenas. So will Danny White.

The Jungle has turned into the best advantage in basketball. I can't stand Bruce, but he always does a good job at making sure the seating and environment works.

 

[The Dog]

Bernard King’s jersey, Number 53, was the first basketball number to be retired in accord with a policy announced in February 2007. His number was retired at halftime of the UT-Kentucky game on February 13, 2007. The number of Ernie Grunfeld, his partner in the “Ernie and Bernie” basketball duo, was retired at halftime of the Kentucky game on March 2, 2008. Here's a photo of Bernie at a UT-UK game ten years later. He always enjoy beating the 'Cats.

Wow, 18 years ago, way to make me feel even older, Sax

 

[tennrich1]

It's not just that money rules all. Can you imagine if Tennessee had a 10,000 capacity arena now? Tickets would be unaffordable and families couldn't go.

Exactly....IMO TBA has turned out to fit the "modern day" basketball atmosphere. I personally like the atmosphere. A good friend was telling me a few weeks ago his company was doing some much needed tile work in TBA and Coach Barnes comes over and starts a conversation with him. Rick ask if he'd ever been to a game....friend told him he had season tickets and went to every game and was close enough to keep a close eye on Rick. Rick was impressed he had such good seats and said "I hope you're charging enough so you can keep those seats" . Friend said...."how do you think I'm able to buy those seats in the first place" ....Rick Barnes messes with everybody...and loves it!

 

[sami]

I’ll take the 20,000 plus fans every day of the week over the Ole Miss and Auburn arenas. So will Danny White.

Obviously Danny will take it, but give me the hostile environment with fans right on top of the action where opposing teams hate to play any day of the week.

 

[Volfan1000]

It looks electrifying on television.

 

[chuckiepoo]

It looks electrifying on television.

Full tilt NBA pregame production. DW has the captive audience sideshow on max!