Men's Basketball | 10/27/2026 1:28:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Basketball arenas earn their reputations with decades of success and seats full of fans.
 
For people paying attention to college basketball, Charles Koch Arena carries a long history – from overflow crowds to see Dave Stallworth and the Shockers in the 1960's to the MTXE era in the 1980s. Former coaches Mark Turgeon and Gregg Marshall reignited passions and turned Koch Arena into a tough ticket and a favorite of ESPN (GameDay visited in 2015) for much of the past 25 years.
 
"Buckets List," shows SLAM Media is paying attention. It lists Koch Arena among its "64 Iconic College Basketball Experiences," in a limited-edition coffee table book published earlier this month.
 
"There are remarkable basketball experiences all over the globe," writes Peter Robert Casey. "Buckets List is narrowed to college hoops for good reason. The passion is unmatched, the rivalries stretch across generations, and the traditions feel like an inheritance."
 
The book encourages fans to check out college basketball experiences ranging from the NAIA Tournament to Hinkle Fieldhouse to the Crosstown Shootout. The three Kansas NCAA Division I universities are included. The back of the book features a check list for fans to document their travels.
 
Koch Arena (capacity 10,506) is listed among the nation's "Hidden Gems," alongside Gonzaga's McCarthey Athletic Center, UConn's Gampel Pavilion, Kansas State's Bramlage Coliseum and others.
 
"Wichita doesn't get enough credit. And neither does the Roundhouse," Casey wrote. "Koch Arena's iconic circular design maximizes the proximity of seats to the court, packing over 10,000 fans close enough to the hardwood to make opposing teams feel surrounded."
 
Opened as the WU Field House in 1955, the arena averaged attendance of more than 10,000 fans from 2004-2020. The teams of the 1960's first filled the arena, averaging 9,000 or more from 1964-1972 and 10,000 or more during height of that era. A 71-54 win over No. 2 Ohio State in 1962 drew 11,357 and remains the arena record.

In the 1980's, stars such as Antoine Carr and Xavier McDaniel again made winter nights in what was then called Henry Levitt Arena a social event.
 
Turgeon's teams started the latest streak of 10,000-plus in 2003-04 in recently renovated Koch Arena. Marshall's tenure raised the level of excitement. Stars such as Jamar Howard, Paul Miller, Toure Murry, Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet and Landry Shamet kept the team rolling and the arena full.
 
Attendance rose late last season to more than 8,000 as the Shockers constructed a seven-game winning streak and finished second in the American Conference. Current coach Paul Mills makes it his goal to get those 10,000 seats filled. He tapes a note to a seat in the upper rows each game in hopes his team's success will put a fan there once again.
 
"Wichita State has a passionate fan base," Mills said. "What makes it special are the crowds."

SLAM looked across college basketball's 365 teams and saw a remarkable level of tradition and support at Wichita State. Long-time fans remember games vs. Iowa, Florida State, Creighton, Houston, Tulsa and Cincinnati and understand what makes Koch Arena special. 
 
"With a population of around 400,000, Wichita may be a mid-sized city," Casey wrote. "But inside the Roundhouse, it feels like the center of the college basketball universe."
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.