Overall Score: 85.1 out of 100

 

We visited Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas on January 2, 2019.

 

Aesthetic:  8.6

Allen Fieldhouse from the outside is a cream colored building, that is nothing special. Wait until you walk in and can feel the history. In the arena, there are red and blue bleacher seats all the way up and down and around the court. There is a special hall of fame outlining the history of basketball with the first set of official rules, James Naismith, and the rich history of the KU basketball team.

 

Atmosphere: 9.9

None can compare to the atmosphere of Allen Fieldhouse. It is known as one of the hardest arenas to play in for college basketball. The arena is bustling with excitement and spirit. It is loud and rambunctious in every little corner, since every game is nearly sold out.

 

Cleanliness: 8.4

The stadium is clean when you arrive. Be careful not to leave valuables. When you leave the bleachers are filled with trash and a group comes in to clean right after the game.

 

Seating Options: 9.0

Allen Fieldhouse is set up in a fish bowl like fashion. It is bleacher seats that start next to the court and go way up high above. For the older folks, it would be advised to bring a cushion to sit on. Most people stand for a lot of the game.

 

Parking: 8.1

Parking close to Allen Fieldhouse is usually for those with parking passes or a higher price to enter. Parking further out on campus and close neighborhoods is a cheaper option.  

 

Pricing: 6.5

Parking- Parking around campus and neighborhoods  is around $5-$10. To get near the stadium you will be spending more. Most people have parking passes.

Food- Food is standard in pricing. Popcorn runs around $5, hot dogs $4, etc.

Tickets- Tickets run from $30+ in the upper sections of the arena to $300+ in the lower courtside sections.

Merchandise- Merchandise is pretty standard for prices. Nike and Adidas are more expensive than the Champion brand, but there are a lot of options for things to buy.

 

Fan Involvement: 9.6

The University of Kansas fans bleed red and blue. The student section is loud, obnoxious, and spirited. They lead many cheers and get the rest of the fans fired up. We have never seen fans at any sporting event so fired up and excited. It is contagious. There were a lot of nice interactive videos on the jumbotron to keep the fans involved.

 

Food: 7.0

Food is nothing too special. It is standard concession food. There is a Russell Stover chocolate stand that sells delicious caramel apples. We advise you eat before hand. Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence about 5 minutes from the fieldhouse has a lot of nice local eateries and bars. One of my personal favorites is Pyramid Pizza.

 

Mascot: 9.2

Big Jay and Baby Jay are very lively mascots that run up and down the stands taking pictures with fans. They participate in cheers with the cheerleaders and are always looking for attention.

 

Souvenir Shop: 8.8

There is one main shop on the first floor of Allen Fieldhouse, a few pop up shops around the concourse, and another decent sized store on the second floor. Adidas is KU’s sponsor.

 

Miscellaneous/Overtime:

• Get there before the game to take in the atmosphere and pregame videos

• Take time to go through the Hall of Fame

• Lawrence can be confusing to get around.