Photos by Matt Fiedler and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
John J. Lee Amphitheater 70 Tower Parkway New Haven, CT 06511
Year Opened: 1932
Capacity: 2,532
Old School Vibes In New Haven
It’s majestic and tall. It’s impressive yet old. Fans look up and side to side to take it all in as they approach with amazement and mystery.
On this Stadium Journey visit, a driver slowed down and called out to ask “Is that Yale’s gymnasium?” The answer was yes, but nobody could fault the question.
Payne Whitney Gymnasium, better known as John J. Lee Amphitheater, in New Haven Connecticut on the campus of Yale University is hardly your typical basketball structure. Yale, founded in 1701, plays in the Ivy League. The gymnasium is housed in a 9.5-story tower building which looks more like a cathedral and includes a third-floor swimming pool, fencing facilities, and a polo practice room. The building has many teams including basketball, fencing, gymnastics, squash, swimming, and volleyball. It is the second-largest gym in the world by cubic feet and contains 12 acres of indoor space. The facility is the 8th oldest Division I facility in the nation. Matthews Arena (Northeastern University) in Boston is the oldest, but will be torn down after this season which will make Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University in the Bronx the oldest (opened in 1925).
The building, designed in gothic revival style, was donated to Yale by John Hay Whitney, class of 1926, in honor of his father Payne Whitney. The exterior walls are made of brick faced with stone.
Basketball has been played at Yale University since 1896. Payne Whitney Gymnasium, renamed John J. Lee Amphitheater in 1996, has been the home of the Yale Bulldogs since 1932. Yale named the venue in honor of alumnus John Lee ’58, who set several Yale records in basketball and helped lead the Bulldogs to the first official Ivy League Championship. The arena is also home to women’s basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
Men’s basketball is seeking its second consecutive NCAA bid and third in the past four seasons. The highlights were the 2024 tournament upset of 4th-seeded Auburn Bears and the 2015 upset of 5th-seeded Baylor. The Bulldogs are led by coach James Jones, the winningest coach in Yale men’s basketball history, in his 26th season.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a concession stand just outside the entrance to John J. Lee Amphitheater. It offers the stadium essentials. In terms of beverages, fans will find Coca-Cola products at this arena and they will not find any alcohol as this is an on-campus venue. There are also two vending machines as you enter the lobby area filled with snacks and drinks. There is a table selling snacks and drinks on the balcony. Although the prices are reasonable, eating before or after the game in New Haven is the best decision.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere at John J. Lee Amphitheater is unique. While the building is not a cathedral in the true sense, it is a cathedral of basketball. The arena is all about the sounds and sights of the game and fans are close to the action with unobstructed views.
There are no jumbotrons, just one board on each side of the arena that shows the relevant information. Statistical information is at a minimum and no replays are shown.
Yale has a solid pep band and combined with the cheerleaders add excitement to the game. There is not the typical blaring music that you find at most Division One arena, so the pep band adds most of the music. The atmosphere is more of what you used to see at college basketball venues with no MC or endless contests and promotions. The Bulldog was on hand but watched the game from the balcony and did not mingle much with the fans.
Neighborhood 5
New Haven, the third largest city in the state with a population of around 135,000, has branded itself as the Pizza Capital of the United States, but it has so much more. The city is also home to great entertainment and culture from the Shubert Theater (opened in 1914) to The Connecticut Children’s Museum, the Yale Peabody Museum (free admission), the Yale Art Gallery and the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center can all be found in New Haven.
The food scene is hardly limited to pizza with some great establishments such as Geronimo for southwestern fare, Mecha Noodle Bar for Dumplings, Ramen, and Pho, Villa Lulu for Italian, Pacifico for Latin, and of course for burgers Louis’ Lunch since 1895 and Prime 16 (also noted for its craft beers and specialty cocktails).
Of course, a stop at a pizza shop is mandatory. Old-school Frank Pepe’s or Sally’s Apizza on Wooster Street are the mainstays, but a newcomer to the scene Zeneli is making its mark on the same block. Then there’s Bar on Crown Street, Modern on State Street, and Nextdoor close by on Humphrey.
The only caveat is New Haven can be a bit sketchy at night so be vigilant.
Fans 3
Basketball has typically fallen behind hockey in fan interest but with fortunes reversed, they are splitting fan support these days. Basketball made the NCAA tournament in 2024, 2022 and 2019. Hockey has not made the tournament since 2016.
Yale finished 11-0 at home and was third in the Ivy League in attendance at 1,666. The leader is Princeton as the Tigers average over 2,700 per contest.
The gym does not pump much music or artificial noise into the building. The fans that are in attendance know when to cheer and the band pumps up the volume during time outs.
Access 4
There are a lot of ways to get to New Haven. The city itself is located off the busy I-95 and I-91 interchange. There are several free parking lots in the area around the arena that are gated. There is also parking on the side streets that surround the arena. As you enter the lobby, make a right to find the entrance to the John J. Lee Amphitheater.
Taking public transportation is another way to get to New Haven. Union Station in New Haven is only eight minutes away from John J. Lee Amphitheater by car, but a 35-minute hike by foot. If coming from NYC or from Boston you can take the Amtrak train to Union Station or Metro North if coming from local towns and then take an Uber or Lyft to the arena.
Once inside, the layout of the seats is unique. Fans enter the building in the upper portion of the arena and walk down to the lower seating area. There is also the option to stand and watch the game from above in the balcony which affords a fabulous view of the action. There are stairwells to get to the club seating and upper balcony areas behind each basket. The club seats and lounge are on the opposite side as you enter. The only thing that detracts from the accessibility is the concourse itself as the bathrooms are located downstairs.
Return on Investment 5
Going to see a Yale men’s basketball game is an experience that will not punish the wallet. Tickets range from $13 (youth and senior) for corner or upper baseline to $50 for courtside and preferred seating. Sideline seats are $20 and only $15 for youth/seniors. The arena offers mostly wooden seats with ample legroom. The original brown seats are a throwback to the past and have wires under each seat to stash your Stetson or top hat. There are benches down low for students and the band.
There are several free parking lots (Lot 78 is a good option) around the arena but there is also street parking. Be mindful of parking meters when parking on the street as most meters are in effect until 9 pm. except on Sunday.
Extras 2
One point is awarded for the experience of attending a game at John J. Lee Amphitheater. It’s old in a good way. Fans are close to the action and can appreciate the sport without too much else getting in the way.
Legendary columnist John Feinstein said in his book The Last Amateurs: “There is no gym, arena, or field house in America that looks like Payne Whitney. It is nine stories high and from the outside, it looks like a twelfth-century European cathedral.”
Lee Amphitheater was selected as one of college basketball’s historic venues by ESPN The Magazine in 2011.
Another point is given for the excellent food scene of New Haven. It’s almost a requirement to sample some pizza either before or after the game. But cuisine from almost any country is readily available. New Haven is one of the first planned cities in the US founded by English Puritans in 1638 and established in 1640.
Final Thoughts
Lee Amphitheater has to make the bucket list for all sports fans. The uniqueness and no-frills atmosphere gives fans a glimpse of the past and the city of New Haven provides plenty of entertainment and educational opportunities to complement the experience.
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