Outdated Mackey Arena Impresses Columbus Columnist

The Boiling Point: Despite being outdated, Mackey Arena was about being loud and having a great atmosphere against Ohio State on Sunday and not many places can claim that.

Obviously, Mackey Arena is behind the times with its lack of suites and chair-backed seats, but there’s a reason athletic director Morgan Burke is keeping Mackey mostly the same despite a mulit-million dollar renovation. Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch found out why on Sunday when the Boilers beat the Buckeyes.

"“Yep, it’s outdated all right, and here’s the thing: It beats the hell out of the Schottenstein Center in home court advantage. Beats it like the proverbial drum. And you know what? That isn’t going to change, no matter how many students OSU officials decide to seat around the court, as significant as that move was. It is the advantage that a small, confined space has over a large, spacious one. The fans in Mackey are close enough to the players that they can almost kiss or (dare I say this?) spit on them. The pep band’s music rattles the ear drums. The noise resonates.”"

As someone who left Mackey overflowing with adrenaline and pride, I can’t explain how happy I am that the athletic department decided against a multi-purpose facility two miles off campus that would have held zero meaning. It’s one of the few things fans can hold onto these days and I’m glad we will still have Mackey Arena in its original form to continue to torment teams.