List of largest high school gyms in the United States

The largest high school basketball gyms in the United States refers to gymnasiums primarily used by secondary schools for basketball purposes. Most of the largest school gyms are located in the state of Indiana,[1] and in 1998 the New York Times reported that 14 of the 16 largest high school gymnasiums were located in that state.[2]

In March of 2019, The Indianapolis Star reported that the Indiana High School Basketball Historical Society had done research through actual on-site counts, conducting personal interviews, and reviewing architectural blueprints to confirm the accuracy of the list of the largest high school gyms in Indiana. This research confirmed a reordering of the top three sites was necessary, moving Seymour's Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium to the top spot[3]. The previous number one, New Castle's Fieldhouse, was moved to third.

Current list

The top fourteen in total seating capacity are as follows:

StateCityVenueCapacity
1 Indiana SeymourLloyd E. Scott Gymnasium8,228[3]
2 IndianaEast ChicagoJohn A. Baratto Athletic Center8,054[3]
3 IndianaNew CastleNew Castle Fieldhouse7,829[3]
4 IndianaRichmondTiernan Center7,786[4]
5 IndianaMuncieMuncie Fieldhouse7,635 [5]
6 IndianaMarionBill Green Athletic Arena7,560 [6]
7 TexasDallasAlfred J. Loos Fieldhouse7,500[1]
8 IndianaElkhartNorth Side Gymnasium7,373[1]
9 IndianaMichigan City"The Wolves' Den" Gym7,304[1]
10 IndianaGaryWest Side High School Gym7,217[1]
11 IndianaLafayetteJefferson High School Gym7,200[7]
12 IndianaSouthportSouthport High School Gym7,124[7]
13 IndianaWashington"The Hatchet House"7,090[8]
14 IndianaColumbusMemorial Gymnasium7,071[7]


Notes
  • One other high school-owned facility has a basketball capacity that would place it in this list—the Round Valley Ensphere, at Round Valley High School in Eagar, Arizona. Although it has a maximum capacity of 9,200 for court sports, it is not included in this list because it is a domed football stadium.[9]
  • The Anderson High School Wigwam in Anderson, Indiana, which was once one of the largest high school gyms in the country with a purported capacity of 8,996, closed in 2011, and remains standing but closed as of August 2016. In August 2014, the school board accepted a plan that will allow for redevelopment of the site while maintaining the gymnasium through at least 2030. When renovations are complete, the school district will have rent-free access to the arena for at least 12 event days per year, plus practices.[10][11]

See also

References
  1. Ruibal, Sal (February 25, 2004). "Fieldhouse a cathedral to high school hoops". USA Today. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  2. Johnson, Kirk (March 19, 1998). "High School Basketball; 'Hoosiers' No More, but Heroes All the Same". The New York Times.
  3. "You'd better sit down: Indiana's largest high school basketball gym changes after seating count". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  4. Richmond High School official website (accessed April 3, 2010).
  5. "Top Ten Famous High School Gyms in the US". Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  6. "largest Indiana high school gymnasiums". Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  7. "largest Indiana high school gymnasiums". Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  8. "The Hatchet House–one of Indiana's great high school basketball gyms" at Washington High School official website.
  9. "Round Valley Dome: Information". Round Valley Unified School District. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  10. Cook, Bob (February 21, 2013). "Anderson, Indiana's Once-Mighty Wigwam Gym: Still Dead". Forbes. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  11. Hirsch, Stuart (August 28, 2014). "Wigwam saved from wrecking ball". The Herald Bulletin. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
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