The Thompson-Boling Assembly Center and Arena is one of the largest on-campus arena in the country and the toughest place in the country to leave with a win versus the University of Tennessee Lady Vols. Just ask 294 of the Lady Vols' last 312 home opponents entering the 2008-09 season.

In recent years, UT has enjoyed a number of lengthy home winning streaks. On Dec. 28, 2003, Texas snapped a 24-game run that dated back to the 2001-02 season. A previous streak of 26 consecutive wins in the home confines ended on Jan. 5, 2002, with an 86-72 loss to Connecticut. The Lady Vols broke the NCAA homecourt winning streak record with 69 consecutive victories before Connecticut spoiled the streak with a 59-53 win in game number 70 on Jan. 6, 1996. Tennessee claimed 64 straight home SEC victories before third-ranked LSU snapped the streak with a 72-69 victory - its first ever in Knoxville - on Feb. 9, 2006.

Joining the women’s basketball program in Thompson-Boling Arena for the 2008 campaign is the UT volleyball team, which makes the transition after spending 10 seasons in Stokely Athletics Center. The Lady Vols hope to continue the home-court dominance they displayed in Stokely, where they amassed an impressive 98-34 record during their decade-long stay in the facility. The volleyball configuration at Thompson-Boling Arena will provide seating for up to 7,500 Rocky Top faithful.

The Thompson-Boling Arena is a mammoth structure, located on the banks of the Tennessee River. It was named for B. Ray Thompson and retired UT President Edward J. Boling. The building is 448 feet long and 310 feet wide. It contains more than 411,000 square feet of floor space and more than 17 million cubic feet of space.

Following renovations in 2007, the Thompson-Boling Arena now has an official seating capacity of 21,678. As part of a $19 million renovation of the arena prior to the 2007-08 season, 32 luxury suites were added to the existing north balcony along with a loge area just below the suites that included 166 side court seats. A $3 million center hung scoreboard, new black seats and several concourse refurbishments were also part of the renovation.

The enormous facility houses the Tennessee Lady Vol basketball offices. Ticket facilities are located on the Phillip Fulmer Way level on the west end of the building.

A continuous-ring concourse encircles the building, permitting entrance to eight restrooms, six concession areas and 32 portals that lead to the Arena. The playing floor level provides access to team dressing rooms, the press rooms and storage rooms.

The distance from the playing floor to the roof is 120 feet, the equivalent of a 12-story building. The structure contains 142,000 square feet of roof area, which is approximately three and one-quarter acres.

Nearly every season that the Lady Vols have played in the Arena - attendance records have gone by the wayside. In 1998-99, the Lady Vols played before the largest average home crowd in the history of women's collegiate basketball as 16,565 spectators clicked through the turnstiles at each of the Lady Vols' 14 home games. In all, 231,915 fans viewed home games in Knoxville. During the 1997-98 season, Tennessee raised the roof with a bunch of collegiate attendance records. On Jan. 3, 1998, the Lady Vols entertained a new women's collegiate record 24,597 fans for the game with the Connecticut Huskies. A month later, the first advance sell-out in UT Women's Athletics history occurred when the Lady Vols were set to meet Old Dominion in Knoxville. For the record, 24,373 fans attended the UT-ODU game. The all-time attendance mark was reset during the 2001-02 season when 24,611 fans visited the arena for a #1/#2 clash between UT and Connecticut. It was again reset on Jan. 7, 2006, when the Huskies came to Knoxville in front of 24,653 spectators. The women's basketball attendance mark was established at the NCAA Final Four when 29,619 people filled the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, for the semifinals and finals.

The Lady Vols started the record-breaking trend in women's collegiate basketball attendance in 1987. That season, the Lady Vols broke the (then) world record for single game attendance at a women's basketball game with 24,563 at the Tennessee versus Texas game on Dec. 9, 1987. Three years later, the UT Women's Athletics Department established new NCAA Women's Final Four attendance marks on March 30 and April 1, 1990, with a total paid attendance of 39,490 for the three-game event. The turnstile count of 34,196 (17,601 semis/16,595 finals) also broke all other attendance marks.

The home attendance phenomena for the Lady Vols since 1990 have been incredible. Consider the following:

1990-91: Tennessee's attendance numbered below 5,000 per home game for the first time in five years with 4,738 per game. It marked the first season that a seat premium was attached to the season tickets. 1991-92: The Lady Vols home attendance jumps by almost 2,000 people per game to an average of 6,639 fans per home contest. UT goes undefeated at home (14-0).

1992-93: UT plays just 13 games at home and averages 6,002 per game. UT goes undefeated in Thompson-Boling Arena (13-0).

1993-94: The Lady Vols recorded the then-largest total attendance ever at home with 98,137 spectators for the all-time highest overall average of 6,542. UT goes undefeated at home (15-0).

1994-95: UT annihilated attendance records in practically every category as the Lady Vols' home attendance rose by more than 22,000 people for an amazing total of 120,477 spectators in TBA - an average of 8,032 spectators at home. UT goes undefeated at home (15-0).

1995-96: The Chamique Holdsclaw era began and attendance grew once again. Five games moved into UT's top 25 home crowd list despite the roughest winter weather on record in Knoxville in the last 25 years. Additionally, the Lady Vols ranked second in NCAA attendance reporting turnstile figures. The Lady Vols lose their first game at home in four years.

1996-97: The NCAA News announced that the Lady Vol and the Vol basketball teams combined for the nation's highest attendance at collegiate basketball home games. The Lady Vols were tops in the nation in attendance with 10,500 spectators per game and a total of 167,992 for all 16 games in Knoxville .

1997-98: A watershed year for Tennessee Lady Vol basketball attendance nationwide. In 16 home games, 239,511 clicked through the turnstiles for an NCAA all-time high average of 14,969. Along the way, a new school-record 12 games found their way onto the UT Top 25 All-Time Largest Home Crowd list, headlined by the collegiate record 24,597 who watched the Lady Vols beat the Connecticut Huskies. Almost 400,000 people (386,713, exactly) saw the team in action during the perfect 39-0 season. On Feb. 14, 1998, when the Lady Vols faced Auburn in Knoxville, spectator Wanda Douglas from Sevierville, Tenn., became the "Three-Millionth Fan" to attend a Lady Vol basketball game.

1998-99: The Chamique Holdsclaw Final Season Tour found a new average record of 16,565 fans at 14 home games. In all, almost a half-million fans (413,580) watched the Lady Vols at all venues.

1999-00: Fans continued to flood through the gates as Tennessee once again led the nation in attendance by averaging 15,341 fans per game throughout its run to the Final Four. The Lady Vols posted a home mark of 13-2.

2000-01: In the farewell season for seniors Tamika Catchings, Kristen "Ace" Clement, Semeka Randall and Kyra Elzy, the Lady Vol fans once again helped UT lead the nation in home attendance with an average of 15,510. Overall 384,869 people saw Tennessee post a perfect 15-0 home mark, win its unprecedented 10th SEC regular season championship with a 14-0 record, and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the 20th consecutive season with a 31-3 overall record.

2001-02: In what turned out to be the Lady Vols' 13th run to the NCAA Final Four, fans poured through the gates at a rate of 14,295 per game, allowing Tennessee to lead the nation in attendance for the sixth consecutive season. The Lady Vols defeated five ranked teams and the defending 2001 national champions from Notre Dame in posting a 12-2 home mark. The Jan. 5, 2002, matchup with Connecticut reset the all-time single game attendance mark for women's collegiate basketball when 24,611 fans clicked through the Thompson-Boling Arena turnstiles. The standard later fell at the NCAA Women's Final Four when 29,619 people jammed the Alamodome for the semifinals and finals.

2002-03: A home schedule highlighted by 10 games against ranked opponents, hosting both the First and Second Rounds and NCAA Mideast Regionals and another historic march to its record 14th NCAA Final Four helped UT draw more than 200,000 fans to Thompson-Boling Arena for the sixth consecutive season (201,353). A home average of 12,585 watched the Lady Vols run their consecutive home win streak to 20, as UT picked up wins over 10 ranked opponents, including #5 Stanford, #11/12 Villanova and #15/16 Penn State.

2003-04: Once again, the Lady Vol fans turned out in droves to watch their team compete against the nation's toughest schedule. En route to advancing to the program's record 15th Final Four, Tennessee drew more than 200,000 fans for the seventh straight season (201,638), earning the nation's top home attendance mark (14,403 fans per game). Despite dropping contests to #5 Texas and #4 Connecticut, the Lady Vols claimed 12 wins at home, marking the 27th consecutive season in which the team has earned a double-digit win total in Knoxville.

2004-05: A fourth straight Final Four appearance highlighted the 14 home-win season for the Lady Vols, and coach Summitt became the all-time winningest coach in collegiate basketball on her own home court during the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee's only loss came at the hands of #9 Duke, while the Lady Vols defeated three nationally-ranked opponents at home and swept the conference as well.

2005-06: Tennessee suffered two home losses for just the sixth time since Thompson-Boling was constructed. The Lady Vols stopped four nationally-ranked opponents and eight eventual NCAA Tournament participants. Tennessee averaged 15,356 fans per game, up from 13,449 a year earlier.

2006-07: The Lady Vols fell behind by 24 points to #1 Duke and fell just short of the greatest rally in UT history, for their only home loss of the season. The Big Orange beat five nationally-ranked opponents in Thompson-Boling and went a perfect 7-0 in conference play.

2007-08: UT entertained an average of 15,796 fans for 15 home games, during which time the Lady Vols defeated 14 opponents, including five ranked in the top-25. Their only loss came at the hands of the No. 7 LSU Lady Tigers, who the Lady Vols would defeat for the SEC Tournament Title and a spot in the NCAA Title game later in the season.

All-time Best Women's Basketball Home Court Records

TENNESSEE BASKETBALL FACILITY RENOVATIONS

Thompson-Boling Arena

Tennessee is investing more than $35 million in basketball, including a $20 million investment to renovate Thompson-Boling Arena.

This will be the first major improvement to Thompson Boling Arena, since it was built in 1987.

TBA renovations will be done in a two phase process:

• Phase I of the TBA improvements will begin construction March 2007. Phase I includes concourse improvements, new seats for the entire arena, a center hung scoreboard, luxury suites and loge seating.
• Phase II should begin following the 2007-2008 season is scheduled to include a new lighting system, replacement of ceiling panels, new ticket kiosks and new food courts.

Funding for the project will come from donors to the Campaign for Tennessee Basketball and revenue from premium seating areas such as Thompson-Boling Arena luxury suites and loge seats.

The luxury suites include 32 suites in the 300 level of Thompson-Boling Arena, with each suite adjoining a large kitchen and seating area. The luxury suites are already sold out for the 2007-2008 basketball season.

Loge Seats which will hold 166 large cushioned side court seats, located directly below the luxury suites in the 200 level. The loge seating will have access to a private adjoining hospitality area. Loge Seats are available for a $4,000 annual donation and the ticket fee to both Lady Vol and Vol basketball games.

New Scoreboard and Electronics:

Thompson-Boling Arena will offer fans a complete integrated video, scoring and advertising display system for the first time during the 2007-08 season. The new multimillion dollar system will feature the latest in full-color, light emitting diode (LED) display technology for Big Orange basketball.

The new system is highlighted by a state-of-the-art centerhung display. The focal point of the display features four ProStar® video displays providing high-resolution, crystal clear, live and recorded video and replay. Each of these displays measures approximately 9 feet 6 inches high by 18 feet wide with 10 millimeter (.39 inch) line spacing and will be configured in the 16:9 aspect ratio to accommodate the display of high definition (HD) video. Below the video displays four additional digital displays will inform and entertain fans with full-color animation, game information and statistics. Separating the digital displays are decorative structures identifying and illuminating the Volunteer's logos. Lighting up the top and bottom of the centerhung are ProAd® digital ring displays providing complete message flexibility.

In addition to the main centerhung scoreboard, Daktronics LED technology will be utilized in six LED ProTable® digital scorer's tables, as featured at the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Men's and Women's Division I Final Four® events. The fully digital scorer's tables have the ability to display real-time team and player statistics, colorful graphics, exciting animation and video clips. These ProTable® displays utilize 10 millimeter (.39 inch) LED pixel pitch for exceptional image clarity and wide-angle viewing.

Fans and athletes will also be informed by four large fixed digit scoring displays mounted to the fascia in each corner of the arena. Each of these displays will measure approximately 3 feet high by 41 feet wide and offer basic game information.

Additional components to Thompson-Boling Arena include new shot clocks, locker room clocks and light strips. Pratt Pavilion will also receive new basketball scoreboards, shot clocks and light strips.

LADY VOL LOCKER ROOM

Completed in 1989 and renovated during the summer of 1998, the Tennessee Lady Volunteer basketball locker room was already regarded as the finest women's collegiate facility in the country. That's why it may surprise observers and frustrate opponents when they learn that the area was upgraded to an even higher level. Approximately 1,500 square feet were added to the locker room in the summer of 1998, bringing the total square footage to an eye-popping 4,500 square feet.

Upon entering, visitors will be amazed at the 900-square-foot living room and recreation area, easily the centerpiece of the redesign. This home away from home for the student-athletes includes lounge seating and occasional tables, an enormous projection screen TV for team viewing, along with custom trophy cases. Meanwhile, the recreation area houses an orange felt pool table, several video game systems, tables and chairs for studying or eating, a wall-mounted television and yet another custom trophy case.

Both of these areas showcase the unparalleled Lady Vol success story from the past to the present with displays containing photos of all six National Championship teams, every Lady Vol Final Four entry, SEC Championship squads and highlights of the various teams' visits to the White House. In addition, these rooms feature architectural pilasters of natural oak with brass lettering celebrating Tennessee's program and its unprecedented six national crowns.

Central to the room is a huge circular support pillar, which is traditionally signed by graduating players immediately after commencement ceremonies on the floor of spacious Thompson-Boling Arena. One hundred percent of all Lady Vol basketball players who complete their eligibility have graduated or are completing their degree requirements.

Another feature to the facility is a 550-square-foot team meeting and film room that includes Regal Cinema seating for the players, and a 60-inch plasma flat screen television. The room also displays the impressive individual honors of current and former team members, along with pictures of UT All-Americans and Olympians -- more than any other school in the country for women's hoops.

Prior to the 1998 renovation, the locker room received a complete facelift in 1995-96 with the addition of custom wall-to-wall carpeting, a leather sectional sofa and assorted chairs, a state-of-the-art sound system, and a home theatre/surround sound big screen television. However, these amenities pale in comparison to what the Lady Vols will enjoy as they head into what they hope will be another successful campaign.

Other spaces featured in these palatial digs include a kitchen with a microwave and well-stocked refrigerator, a guest restroom, manager's office and a separate area for storage. Further down the hall is the training and taping area for basketball, the athletic trainer's private office and a physician's examining room. Around one more corner is a large dressing area for the players, complete with individual cubicles. Connected to this area are individual showers, whirlpools and restroom facilities.

The atmosphere is made homey with plush carpeting and fine furniture throughout with the predominant colors being orange, white and columbia blue. Over the past several years, custom rugs were made highlighting each of the NCAA Championships.

Hundreds of collegiate coaches and fans took a tour through the locker room during the Final Four in 1990. Their interest was piqued due to Coach Summitt's eviction of the Lady Vols from their plush pad after a dismal 1989 road swing through California. The story landed on the front page of the USA TODAY sports section and was the topic of conversation with the media for the month the team was kept out of the locker room. Said junior pivot Carla McGhee at the time, "It was like we didn't pay our rent by playing hard and she evicted us."

DIRECTIONS TO THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA

See the Pratt Pavilion Practice Facility

Thompson-Boling Arena's floor was renamed The Summitt to begin the 2005-06 season

From Above

From Lower Level

From The Floor

December 9th game in 1987 vs. Texas
Get a glimpse when Lady Vol fans packed TBA to set the world record for largest attendance (24,563) at a women's basketball game. (100k)

1990 NCAA Final Four in Knoxville
In 1990 The Lady Vols hosted the Women's Final Four(99k)

Arena Seating Map
Do you want to know where your seats are? Visit this color coded and fully labled map.

Parking Map
Find out where to park when attending a game.