"The Pit" - Albuquerque

The Pit, originally known as University Arena, is a basketball-only arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It serves primarily as the home of the University of New Mexico Lobo basketball teams. The arena seats 17,126 for basketball, has 40 luxury suites, and 350 club seats. The Pit opened in 1966 and was known as the "University Arena" until late 2009 when the school officially named the arena after its nickname. The arena is located on the University's South Campus on University Boulevard and Cesar Chavez in southeast Albuquerque, across the street from University Stadium and Isotopes Park.

-Wikipedia

The Pit is known for its raucus fan atmosphere and earsplitting acoustics. It has variously ranked as one of the best collegiate arenas in terms of overall fan experience.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6c/UNM_Lobo_Logo.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UNM_Lobo_Logo.png

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5273210174_77064b5014_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/5273210174/)
The Pit (Newly Renovated), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/5273210174/) by Ken Lund (http://www.flickr.com/people/kenlund/), on Flickr

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c168/Stealthdriva/800px-University_Arena_Albuquerque_2010.jpg
http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=27157

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5292742962_8d8bb60f18_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/longnguyenphotography/5292742962/)
Blog_122610_023 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/longnguyenphotography/5292742962/) by longnguyenphotography (http://www.flickr.com/people/longnguyenphotography/), on Flickr

^^Was asking myself 'why such a big arena for New Mexico?' Since I never pictured New Mexico as being at all competitive in B-Ball, but the Wiki tells me otherwise. The more you know I suppose.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/soyjames/4198805813/ by SoyJames

This is during renovations

^^Was asking myself 'why such a big arena for New Mexico?' Since I never pictured New Mexico as being at all competitive in B-Ball, but the Wiki tells me otherwise. The more you know I suppose.You've never attended a college basketball game until you've seen the Lobos in the Pit. A Florida newspaper once measured the decibel count at the arena and it hit 120. That's as high as a jetliner taking off.

They're compensating for their football team

They're compensating for their football team

What football team? :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIB8M5UT_Ic

This is a really good video to check out.

PIB8M5UT_Ic

This venue reminds me of that highly reliable classic car you own that is just a bit beat up on the outside.. That all changed with the Renovation.

Post renovation, this venue finally feels complete. It has always had charisma and personality, but that surfaced from the inside.

With a bare bones bowling alley/Warehouse type appearance, for decades people laughed it off. The magic had always eminated from the inside where fans are packed in like sardines. Where 3/4s of the seating bowl are benches. Modern day facilities give paying guests the allure of cushioned chairbacks and comfort. Here, even post renovation, the average fan better be ready to make noise and participate.

This makeover, in my personal opinion, has created that "WOW" factor, or curb appeal, missing from this venue.

Google sketchup actually has a 3d rendering of the outside.
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=b2dbadfdd03d0b7c164596d8946fe6d6

Venue history and Tour:
http://thelobopit.com/


Some photos pre- and post renovation

Before:

Main North East entrance
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/15/1532064-The_Pit_Albuquerque.jpg
http://www.virtualalbuquerque.com/VirtualABQ/ThePit/ThePit2.jpg

AFTER:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Pit_night.jpg
inside NE corner foyer
http://www.dailylobo.com/media/00/00/00/80/8020_ThePitOpen_big.jpg


North West corner Before
http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jqB2LY15K-k/SLTcE4rpVjI/AAAAAAAADCI/pHJi3KiXntw/IMG_0981.JPG

At night, years before the desert sun turned the red siding into maroon
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/141334151_4a0787a95f_z.jpg?zz=1

East side Before
http://ryanneises.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/cimg0706.jpg
*photo too large to show

West side Before:
http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/7860/2180445130025589278S500x500Q85.jpg
*bigger image here:
http://image55.webshots.com/555/4/45/13/2180445130025589278qmUdpz_fs.jpg
-------
Entire North side BEFORE
http://i21.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/16/10/99e8_12.JPG

Close up AFTER:
http://www.sourcesanddesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/The-recently-completed-UNM-Pit-arena.jpg
-------------

NORTH, NW, WEST side AFTER:
http://extras.denverpost.com/media/photos/neighbors/ae02c1a0a972ce8603c05eaea39c7f08.jpg

East and North East side during renovations (~80% completed)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4701165569_63baaa3c7d_b.jpg


An entire renovation photo gallery here:
Nov. 2009
https://picasaweb.google.com/RedPitSea/129PitReno11
October 2010
https://picasaweb.google.com/RedPitSea/PitPreview101476

Looks like a department store.

Looks like a department store.

Or a Target :lol:

Most of it was dug underground hence 'The Pit'. It was economical back in 1966 when all they had to spend was $3 million. The latest renovations cost around $60 million while a full replacement would have been nearly $300 million. I wonder how Pauley Pavillion's big renovation is going...

Shame they couldn't get into the Pac 10 or 12.... whatever the heck it's called these days.

Shame they couldn't get into the Pac 10 or 12.... whatever the heck it's called these days.

They need a strong football program to enter the big leagues. I think if UNM dropped football, they might sneak in as a basketball powerhouse. Also UNM has the no.1 soccer team in the country.

They need a strong football program to enter the big leagues. I think if UNM dropped football, they might sneak in as a basketball powerhouse. Also UNM has the no.1 soccer team in the country.

UvEobeNfGcc

Virtual tour of The Pit

http://www.vabq.com/ThePit/TourWeaver_ThePit.html

Lobos reach the NCAA Tournament!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6922657907_7c815b9db8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/longnguyenphotography/6922657907/)
NCAA Basketball 2012- Feb 18- University of Nevada Las Vegas at New Mexico (http://www.flickr.com/photos/longnguyenphotography/6922657907/) by longnguyenphotography (http://www.flickr.com/people/longnguyenphotography/), on Flickr

Shame they couldn't get into the Pac 10 or 12.... whatever the heck it's called these days.