The list of sites hosting boys and girls high school basketball state championships features venues that have played host to historic hardwood moments in the NBA, WNBA and college hoops.
There is even a championship venue that has hosted NFL regular season games.
We set out to identify the 25 best state championship venues in the country. The list was compiled based on permanent tenants, aesthetics and each venue's history.
Rupp Arena in Kentucky is the No. 1 building on this list due to a combination of history and the tenant. Named after Hall of Fame head coach Adolph Rupp, the venue hosted the 1985 Men's Final Four and the 1986 Women's Final Four.
Since opening in 1976, Kentucky men's basketball has won four national championships and gone to 10 Final Fours.
The Alamodome in Texas is No. 2. The San Antonio stadium and the demolished Kingdome in Seattle are the only venues in sports history to have hosted the Final Four, NBA Finals, an NBA All-Star Game and NFL regular season games.
Golden 1 Center in California comes in at No. 5. While the Sacramento Kings home doesn't have history comparable to other venues on this list, it is the newest state championship arena and widely regarded as a first-class facility.
The Pit in New Mexico checks in at No. 6. This venue is the home of the New Mexico Lobos and it has one of the best atmospheres in the country. It's also where Jim Valvano and North Carolina State pulled off arguably the greatest moment in college basketball history by upsetting Houston in the 1983 NCAA Championship on an incredible last-second play.
Check out the full list below.
1. Rupp Arena (Lexington, Ky.)
Tenant: University of Kentucky basketball
Year opened: 1976
Notable events: Men's Final Four (1985), 1986 Women's Final Four (1986), NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1996, 2002), NCAA Tournament Women's Regional Final (2016, 2017, 2018), SEC Basketball Tournament (1982, 1986, 1993)
2. Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)
Tenants: Alamo Bowl, San Antonio Spurs (1993-2002)
Year opened: 1993
Notable events: NBA All-Star Game (1996), NBA Finals (1999), Big 12 Football Championship Game (1997, 1999, 2007), Men's Final Four (1998, 2004, 2008, 2018, 2025), Women's Final Four (2002, 2010, 2021), NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2011), NCAA Tournament Women's Regional Final (2021)New Orleans Saints home games (2005), WWE Royal Rumble (1997, 2017, 2023)
3. Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Tenants: Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever
Year opened: 1999
Notable events: NBA Finals (2000), NBA All-Star Game (2024), Big Ten Basketball Tournament (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008-12, 2014, 2016, 2022), WNBA Finals (2009, 2012, 2015)
4. Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Tenant: Phoenix Suns (1968-92)
Year opened: 1965
Notable events: NBA All-Star Game (1975), NBA Finals (1976)
5. Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, Calif.)
Tenant: Sacramento Kings
Year opened: 2016
Notable events: Stephen Curry scored 50 points in Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs first round.
6. The Pit (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Tenant: University of New Mexico basketball
Year opened: 1966
Notable events: Men's Final Four (1983), McDonald's All American Game (1988), NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1968, 1978, 1992, 2000, 2005), NCAA Tournament Women's Regional Final (2003, 2006)
7. Huntsman Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Tenant: University of Utah basketball
Year opened: 1969
Notable events: Men's Final Four (1979), NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1971, 1981)
8. Breslin Student Events Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
Tenant: Michigan State basketball
Opened: 1989
9. State Farm Center (Champaign, Ill.)
Tenant: University of Illinois basketball
Year opened: 1963
10. Williams Arena (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Tenant: University of Minnesota basketball
Opened: 1928
Notable Events: Men's Final Four (1951), WNBA Finals (2017), Frozen Four (1958, 1966), NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1964)
11. Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Winston-Salem, N.C.) Tenant: Wake Forest University basketball
Opened: 1989
Notable events: College home of NBA legends Tim Duncan and Chris Paul.
12. Legacy Arena (Birmingham, Ala.)
Tenant: UAB basketball (1978-88)
Opened: 1976
Notable events: NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1982, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1997), NCAA Tournament Women's Regional Final (2001, 2025), SEC Basketball Tournament (1979-81, 1983, 1985, 1992)
13. Kohl Center (Madison, Wis.)
Tenant: University of Wisconsin basketball and hockey
Opened: 1998
Notable events: NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (2002)
14. Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, Conn.)
Tenant: Connecticut Sun
Year opened: 2001
Notable events: WNBA All-Star Games (2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015), WNBA Finals (2004, 2005, 2019, 2022)
15. Mizzou Arena (Columbia, Mo.)
Tenant: University of Missouri basketball
Opened: 2004
16. Charles Koch Arena (Wichita, Kan.)
Tenant: Wichita State basketball
Opened: 1955
Notable events: McDonald's All American Game (1981), NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1964, 1968, 1971)
17. Xfinity Center (College Park, Md.)
Tenant: University of Maryland basketball
Opened: 2002
18. Jersey Mike's Arena (Piscataway, N.J.)
Tenants: Rutgers basketball and New Jersey Nets (1977-81)
Year opened: 1977
19. Cox Pavilion (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Tenant: UNLV women's basketball
Opened: 2001
Notable events: NBA Summer League
20. Tacoma Dome (Tacoma, Wash.)
Tenant: Seattle SuperSonics (1994-95)
Opened: 1983
Notable events: NBA Playoffs (1995), Women's Final Four (1988, 1989)
21. University of Dayton Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Tenant: University of Dayton basketball
Opened: 1969
Notable events: Men's Play-in and First Four NCAA Tournament since 2001, NCAA Tournament Men's Regional Final (1972, 1975, 1978), NCAA Tournament Women's Regional Final (1998, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011)
22. Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tenant: University of Nebraska basketball
Opened: 2013
Notable events: NCAA Tournament Women's Regional Final (2014)
23. Denver Coliseum (Denver, Colo.)
Tenant: Denver Rockets (select games 1967-75)
Opened: 1951
Notable events: Spencer Haywood scored 42 points in Game 7 of the 1970 ABA Western Division semifinals
24. Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan.)
Tenant: Kansas State basketball
Opened: 1988
25. GIANT Center (Hershey, Pa.)
Tenant: Hershey Bears (American Hockey League)
Opened: 2002
Other state championship venues
Alaska
Alaska Airlines Center
Arkansas Bank OZK Arena
Colorado Bank of Colorado Arena
Blue Arena
Hamilton Gym
Delaware Bob Carpenter Center
District of Columbia
Smith Center
Florida
RP Funding Center
Georgia
Macon Coliseum
Hawaii
McKinley High School
Stan Sheriff Center
Idaho
The Ford Idaho Center
Iowa Wells Fargo Arena
Kansas
Emporia-White Auditorium
Hutchinson Sports Arena
Salina-Tony's Pizza Events Center
United Wireless Arena
Louisiana Burton Coliseum
University Center
Maine
Augusta Civic Center
Massachusetts Tsongas Center
Mississippi Mississippi Coliseum
Montana Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Butte Civic Center
Dahlberg Arena
MetraPark First Interstate Arena
New Hampshire Colby Sawyer College
Keene State College
Lundholm Gymnasium
New Mexico Bernalillo High School
Rio Rancho Events Center
New York
Hudson Valley Community College
Vision Veterans Memorial Arena
North Dakota Bismarck Event Center
Oklahoma State Fair Arena
Oregon
Baker High School
Chiles Center
Forest Grove High School
Linfield University
Marshfield High School
Pendleton Convention Center
Rhode Island
The Ryan Center
South Carolina
Florence Center
South Dakota
Barnett Center
Denny Sanford Premier Center
Donald E. Young Center
Huron Arena
Summit Arena
Tennessee
Hooper Eblen Center
Murphy Center
Utah
American First Event Center
Sevier Valley Center
UCCU Center
Vermont Barre Auditorium
Patrick Gym
Virginia VCU Siegel Center
Washington
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Yakima Valley Sundome
West Virginia
Charleston Coliseum
Wisconsin
Resch Center
Wyoming
Ford Wyoming Center
