WVU basketball: Coliseum dazzled in front of national audience

MORGANTOWN, WV - JANUARY 15: The West Virginia Mountaineers huddle before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the WVU Coliseum on January 15, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - JANUARY 15: The West Virginia Mountaineers huddle before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the WVU Coliseum on January 15, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The WVU basketball team is blessed to have some of the best facilities in college basketball.

The fairly new practice facility behind the WVU Coliseum is large and state-of-the-art in every aspect. The Coliseum, itself, may be showing its age, but it is still so unique in many ways. As shiny and new places are being built, like the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville and the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, there is just something special about a classic venue.

The Coliseum isn’t as old as Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse or as large as Kentucky’s Rupp Arena, but it’s getting up there in age and size. The Coliseum can fit well over 14,000 people where as most new arenas barely can get in 10,000.

They just don’t make places like the Coliseum anymore. It’s an intimidating place for visitors, while at the same time, it’s becoming more welcoming for all fans. The concourses are becoming wider and there are more decorations and fresh paint all around.

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The fans are showing up in droves this season and displaying their support loud and proud all game. Plus, the WVU sports marketing department is attempting to make the whole experience more fan friendly. John Antonik recently wrote a story praising the fans and administration, alike, for their strong effort. As the world of sports viewership changes everyday, there are becoming so many options and amenities around sports media.

Physically going to a sporting event may be a thing of the past in future generations. With cell phones, tablets and big screen televisions, there are many cheaper alternatives to going to a game. By making the fan experience a priceless memory, the WVU Coliseum can still provide a great bang for the buck and a nice vantage point to watch the WVU basketball team.

The WVU Coliseum is a place for all West Virginians. It is the Mountaineer Madhouse and, quite simply, it is Huggs’ House. Bob Huggins has made the Mountaineers into a perennial contender. Win or lose, and too bad they lost that game on Saturday, Huggins fields and fun and exciting team who really does try to win every game.

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Fans are taking notice of this effort and providing the support and energy to win each game, too. The players notice and the national media notice. West Virginia is on the rise and the WVU Coliseum is getting the respect it deserves after all these years.