The Thunderdome
The Thunderdome is one of the most feared college basketball venues in the nation. The 6,000 seating capacity allows "The Thunderdome" to hold numerous events, like concerts, basketball games and boxing matches. However, the facility is known for the large turn-outs for basketball and volleyball matches.
During what's known as the Pimm era (1988-1992), The Thunderdome saw record turn-outs of 6,000+ for Men's Basketball games. The students during the Pimm era created an atmosphere which even top-ranked teams found intimidating. "This is as good an atmosphere as you'll find for college basketball", said former UNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian. "I don't believe there's anyplace in the country better than this." Players and coaches alike feared The Thunderdome.
After a decline in fan support, 1998 saw a resurgence with the formation of the Gauchoholics. Once again, sell-out crowds and famous incidents put UCSB's Thunderdome on the college hoops map. ESPN and Fox Sports have broadcasted numerous basketball games because of "the proximity of the students to the court, the loudness and the enthusiasm [that] make The Thunderdome a fabulous college basketball showcase. If I had to pick the three best places in the nation in terms of noise and enthusiasm they would be Duke, UCSB, and Rutgers." ( Tom Odjakjian, the Program Manager at ESPN)
The Thunderdome isn't always about College Hoops. In 2002, it saw 2,794 Gaucho fans attend a Women's Volleyball matchup between UCSB and the USC Trojans. While the Gauchos weren't able to defeat the #1 Trojans, the atmosphere was memorable. "When the men's volleyball team came in in all of their outfits, I was scared", USC sophomore Emily Adams said. "We were expecting a loud crowd, but we didn't anticipate the Gaucho fans that turned out." Earlier that season a record-setting 4,256 rowdy fans cheered the Gauchos on to victory against Long Beach State.
In 2004, The Thunderdome saw record attendance for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. 4,061 fans attended the second round match between UCSB and third-seeded Houston. "That crowd was special", Houston Head Coach Joe Curl said. "It was just tough to communicate out there."
The lesson learned by opposing teams is that The Thunderdome isn't as tame as it may appear when empty. Many opposing coaches and players have come to understand the meaning of "home court advantage" during long nights in The Thunderdome.
The Thunderdome is host to the UCSB Men's and Women's Basketball teams, along with the Women's Volleyball and occasionally the Men's Volleyball team. It is also home to the UCSB Cheerleaders, "Pep Explosion", Gaucho Locos and UCSB Dance Team.
Capacity: 6,000 screaming Locos