Allen Fieldhouse

Allen Fieldhouse
"The Phog"[1]
"The Cathedral of Basketball"[2][3]
View of the arena during a 2006–07
basketball game v OSU
Map
Address1651 Naismith Drive
Lawrence, Kansas
Coordinates38°57′15.5″N 95°15′8.62″W / 38.954306°N 95.2523944°W / 38.954306; -95.2523944
OwnerUniversity of Kansas
OperatorUniversity of Kansas
Capacity15,300 (2024-present)
16,300 (1994-2024)
15,800 (1986–1994)
15,200 (1964–1983)
17,000 (1955–64)
Record attendance17,228 (March 1, 1955)
(opener vs. K-State)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke ground1952
OpenedMarch 1, 1955 (1955-03-01)
Renovated1986, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2024
Expanded2009
Construction cost$2.5 million (original)[4][5]
($28.4 million in 2023 dollars[6])
ArchitectCharles l. Marshall
General contractorBennett Construction
Tenants
Kansas Jayhawks (NCAA DI) (1955–present)
Website
kuathletics.com/facilities/allen-fieldhouse/ Edit this at Wikidata

Allen Fieldhouse is an indoor arena on the University of Kansas (KU) campus in Lawrence, Kansas. It is home of the Kansas Jayhawks men's and women's basketball teams. The arena is named after Phog Allen, a former player and head coach for the Jayhawks whose tenure lasted 39 years. The arena's nickname, The Phog also pays homage to Allen. Allen Fieldhouse is one of college basketball's most historically significant and prestigious buildings. 37 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament games have been hosted at the arena.[7] The actual playing surface has been named "James Naismith Court", in honor of basketball's inventor, who established KU's basketball program and served as the Jayhawks' first coach from 1898 to 1907.

Allen Fieldhouse has also hosted several NCAA tournament regionals, an NBA exhibition game, and occasional concerts such as The Beach Boys, Elton John, James Taylor, Sonny and Cher, Leon Russell, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Henry Mancini, The Doobie Brothers, Kansas, and Bob Hope,[8] as well as speakers, including former President Bill Clinton in 2004,[9] Senator Robert F. Kennedy (which drew over 20,000) in March 1968,[10][11] and anarchist Abbie Hoffman in 1970.[12][13] Additional free musical performances occasionally occur during the Jayhawks Late Night In The Phog, musical artists that have performed for this include Tech N9ne, Lil Yachty, 2 Chainz, Snoop Dogg, Run-DMC, and DIESEL.[14] Allen Fieldhouse was the filming location for a climactic hospital scene in the 1983 ABC-TV movie The Day After, one of the most-watched made-for-TV movies of all-time.[15]

ESPN The Magazine named Allen Fieldhouse the loudest college basketball arena in the country.[7][16] The arena broke the Guinness World Record for loudest roar on February 13, 2017, against West Virginia at 130.4 dB.[17] The prior record of 126.4 dB at Kentucky's Rupp Arena which lasted less than three weeks also had many Kansas fans present as the Jayhawks beat the No. 4 Wildcats 79–73 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.[18] Arrowhead Stadium, which is only 42 miles away, owns the record for loudest outdoor stadium.

Allen Fieldhouse is often considered one of the best home court advantages in men's college basketball.[19][20][21][22] Despite the venue being open for almost 70 years, entering the 2023-24 season, Kansas men's team has only lost 117 games at Allen Fieldhouse and only 17 under head coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks entered the 2023-24 season with 352 consecutive sellouts dating back to the 2001–02 season. Twenty times since the venue opened, the Jayhawks have finished the season undefeated at home.[23]

  1. ^ Newell, Jesse (January 15, 2018). "The story behind Kansas's 'Beware of the Phog' banner". ncaa.com.
  2. ^ Schulman, Joshua (January 4, 2024). "Kansas basketball: Jay Bilas doesn't believe Allen Fieldhouse is clear No. 1 CBB venue". throughthephog.com.
  3. ^ Kansan, University Daily (March 15, 2017). "Video: Allen Fieldhouse, Cathedral of college basketball". The University Daily Kansan.
  4. ^ Clarkson, Rich (February 28, 1955). "Tuesday night will end this emptiness". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). (photo). p. 14.
  5. ^ "Fabled Allen will get No. 1 honor tonight". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). March 1, 1955. p. 1.
  6. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "KU Facilities: Allen Fieldhouse". University of Kansas Athletics. 2012. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  8. ^ Vance, Doug; Bollig, Jeff (January 2004). Beware of the Phog. ISBN 9781582617183. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  9. ^ "Bill Clinton". Lawrence.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  10. ^ "RFK would serve, but sympathetic on "conscience" issue". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. March 19, 1968. p. 2.
  11. ^ "Kansas Fans Mob Candidate Kennedy". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. The New York Times. March 19, 1968. p. 1.
  12. ^ Gage, Ralph (April 9, 1970). "Profanity-Packed Talk Fails to Excite Students". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). p. 1.
  13. ^ "Hoffman's Huff". KU History. Archived from the original on January 16, 2006. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  14. ^ Bedore, Gary. "Can you remember each and every Late Night at KU?". Kansas City Star.
  15. ^ Niccum, Jon (November 19, 2003). "Fallout from 'The Day After'". Lawrence.com.
  16. ^ Barker, Matt (December 10, 2011). "Roundball Preview: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Kansas". Buckeye Banter. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  17. ^ Bedore, Gary. "KU rallies for 84-80 overtime victory over West Virginia". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  18. ^ "Kansas vs. Kentucky - Game Recap - January 28, 2017 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 15, 2017.
  19. ^ "King's Court: Home sweet home". ESPN.com. January 16, 2013.
  20. ^ "The Top Arenas in College Basketball: Experts poll". AthlonSports.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "College basketball: 5 toughest active places to win at in college basketball". NCAA.com.
  22. ^ "College Basketball: 15 Arenas You Don't Want to Play in". BleacherReport.com.
  23. ^ "Men's basketball 2023-24 media guide" (PDF). KUAtheltics.com.