Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
McCamish Pavilion 965 Fowler St Atlanta, GA 30332
Year Opened: 1956
Capacity: 8,600
McCamish Pavilion – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Basketball has been played at the Georgia Institute of Technology since the early 1900s. One of its earliest leaders was college football legend John Heisman, who served not just as the second basketball coach in the school’s history, but also its football and baseball coach during his tenure.
It would be under William Alexander, who like Heisman, led both the Yellow Jackets’ football and basketball programs, where the Jackets would find stability as an established program. Following a rotation of coaches in its early history, Georgia Tech would enjoy its first sustained success under head coach Whack Hyder through the 1950s into the 1970s, but it would be under the leadership of Bobby Cremins from the early 1980s to 2000, that the Yellow Jackets would prove themselves as a program to be reckoned with on the national scene.
Georgia Tech has spent time as an independent program, as well as members of the Southern Conference, SEC, Metro Conference, and as a part of the ACC since the 1979-80 season.
Previously named the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, the venue has served as the host of not just Georgia Tech’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, but also as an occasional venue for Georgia Tech volleyball, the initial home of the Atlanta Dream, and as a temporary location for the Atlanta Hawks when State Farm Arena replaced The Omni, as well as boxing during the 1996 Olympic Games.
Food & Beverage 4
Concessions go a bit beyond common arena food and beverages – the typical hot dogs, nachos with cheese dipping sauce, popcorn, and pretzels are readily available at any of the concession stands. Individual sized Papa John’s pizzas are also an option. However, the largest of the concession stands does go further with their offerings, including a limited menu from Sonny’s BBQ showcasing pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, nachos, BBQ egg rolls, and even smoked wings. In addition, a limited Chick-fil-A menu consists of original and spicy chicken sandwiches, as well as grilled chicken wraps.
Sweet treats at McCamish Pavilion include your typical packaged candy, Philadelphia water ice, and Elise organic ice cream, while beverages include items from the Coca-Cola line of soft drinks, along with lemonade and iced tea at the Chick-fil-A counter.
Alcoholic beverages here include beer from the Budweiser line, Bud Lite seltzers, Nutrl vodka seltzers, and Line 39 and Stella Rosa canned wines. Georgia Tech has also partnered with New Realm Brewing Company for two signature brews, Ale of an Engineer and Helluvienna Lager. New Realm’s flagship beer, Hazy Like a Fox IPA is also available.
Atmosphere 4
The in-game atmosphere at McCamish Pavilion is a nice balance of Georgia Tech traditions and modern stadium entertainment that keeps fans both well engaged and entertained.
Following major upgrades that were completed in 2012, the bones of the arena remained, but the feel of both the exterior and interior received a drastic makeover – the exterior added a large glass entry and industrial modern décor, while the interior moved from a bright white paint job to a more theatric dark ambiance. The main seating bowl was altered from a bit of a pit set up, similar to the layout of Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum prior to its renovations, to more of an athletic performance layout.
Throughout the game, Tech uses a classic college basketball presentation to complement the game; the pep band typically plays a few of the school’s favorite pieces before breaks in the action are turned over to the in-house DJ, who blends in popular music paired with scoreboard pieces to fill the break, before bringing the focus back to the game. It is a nice mix of keeping the traditions of the game alive, as well as keeping up with modern fan interests.
Much like any of the top college athletic experiences in the country, Georgia Tech does an outstanding job creating a consistent brand across all its athletic programs. One of those traditions is the popular Bavarian notes of the “Georgia Tech Budweiser Song”, where fans quickly jump to their feet in unison, toss their arms around those seated around them, and alternate bobbing up and down like the pistons of an engine, in anticipation of calling out “when you’ve said Buuuuuudweiser, you’ve said it all!”.
Neighborhood 5
The Georgia Tech campus is in Atlanta’s midtown neighborhood – McCamish Pavilion itself is on the northern most reaches of campus, in an athletics neighborhood of sorts, which also boasts the tennis complex, outdoor track, volleyball’s O’Keefe Gym, softball’s Shirley Clement Mewborn Field, and baseball’s MacNease Ballpark at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech’s campus will never be confused with being a college town by any means, but if strolling the heart of campus, it can be easy to forget you are in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.
Being in Midtown, the area around Georgia Tech provides near endless food and entertainment choices. Just across the Downtown Connector, several entertainment venues and restaurants line Peachtree Street; within a mile of McCamish are three iconic Atlanta eateries – The Vortex (burgers), Antico Pizza Napoletana, and The Varsity’s diner style burgers and hot dogs.
Tech is also only slightly over a mile away from Centennial Olympic Park, surrounded by attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and the College Football Hall of Fame. In addition, the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center is conveniently located near campus, but is just one of several lodging options in the area.
Fans 3
McCamish Pavilion takes a bit of warming up to fill – early season contests are rather lightly attended with crowds running 3,000 to 4,000. Once the Yellow Jackets hit the conference portion of their schedule, however, typical attendance grows to 5,000 or 6,000. By contrast, games against the heavyweights in the ACC, specifically Duke and North Carolina, as well as the bi-annual visit from the in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs, commonly fill the 8,600-seat arena.
The students are the lifeblood of the top college basketball experiences in the country, and the Yellow Jackets are no different. At Tech, while early season games may only have a modest gathering of students filling the courtside seating across from the team benches, they certainly pack the full allotment of their designated seating once the ACC schedule begins, and the pep band joins them along the visiting baseline.
Even with smaller crowds early in the season, energy levels at McCamish Pavilion stay high, and much of that credit should be paid to the students who are in attendance, and to the pep band for their involvement when not performing.
Access 4
Getting to McCamish Pavilion for a Yellow Jackets game may pose some challenges, but knowing some of the workarounds can ease some of the traffic frustrations.
McCamish Pavilion is located off Atlanta's Downtown Connector, just off 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta – this area of Atlanta is often extremely congested, from the highways and access roads to the surface streets.
For fans coming from the northwest side of Atlanta via I-75, moving to the right at first sight of the 16th, 14th, and 10th Street exit signs will alleviate difficulties with merging at the last moment; easy rule of thumb – when in doubt, merge right. For those on I-85, taking the opportunity to turn right onto Techwood Drive can help avoid congestion on the exit ramp. Unfortunately, fans arriving from the south via the Williams Street exit may not experience the same relief from the backups along 10th Street.
While Atlanta does have a serviceable subway system, MARTA, its reach is somewhat limited. Also, while not completely a deterrent, the most accessible stop for McCamish Pavilion leaves about a half mile walk. What is nice though, especially if flying in for a game, is that MARTA does provide direct service from Atlanta’s airport. Given the number of hotels, restaurants, and attractions located in proximity of the MARTA stops, it certainly is convenient for out-of-town visitors.
With Tech’s location in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, it limits the amount of parking available in immediate proximity to McCamish Pavilion, though parking decks are available within a short walk to the south and west. Once inside the venue, the main level concourse does seem a bit tight given the majority of the seating is at court level, whereas the upper level has limited seating but its walkways seem much wider. Early season games with their lower attendance numbers don’t seem to have much of an issue, but when attendance swells during the ACC schedule, it can create some navigational challenges.
Return on Investment 4
When considering the return on investment for Georgia Tech men’s basketball, much of the cost centers around who the Jackets are playing – non-conference games can run as low as $15, while a premium non-conference game against bitter rival Georgia starts at $50 for upper-level seats, and tickets against college basketball’s blue bloods such as Duke and North Carolina will begin at $75. Fees are kept to a minimum, which is nice in a time when add-on fees tend to be more punitive than the actual cost of doing business.
Parking rates, at $15, seem to be consistent with what would be paid at similar sized programs, and are even possibly a bit on the low side. Concession prices though do seem to be a touch on the high side, with a basic hot dog going for $6.
Though tickets for premium games can get expensive, there certainly is value to be found in the non-conference schedule, or in conference matchups against non-traditional foes. In all, there certainly is value to be found when attending a Georgia Tech men’s basketball game.
Extras 4
When McCamish Pavilion essentially replaced Alexander Memorial Coliseum, the old floor found a new purpose as trim around the new arena's support structures – the Yellow Jacket and “GT” logos from the old coliseum now adorn the ceilings and a section of the wall in the Calloway Club.
Buzz, Georgia Tech's beloved mascot, roams the stands during games, engaging kids, students, and anyone eager for a photo opportunity; Buzz definitely puts in a full night’s work.
The main entry and rafters recognize the history of Georgia Tech basketball, from players, coaches, and the long-time radio voice of Yellow Jackets basketball. Regular season and conference tournament titles, along with NCAA tournament appearances and achievements, are also on display, and recognized individually are the Yellow Jackets’ two trips to their NCAA Final Four.
Those who want to avoid the immediate rush for the exits following the game will be rewarded with the fun of the pep band playing “The Horse” – fans, the band, and spirit squad members slide and clap along with the music until the break in the song, when all scatter about the arena to complete the performance. It is a bit of a silly/fun way to cap off the evening, even if you choose simply to be a spectator of it rather than a participant.
Final Thoughts
While early season games do tend to lack the energy in the building when compared to the Yellow Jackets’ conference slate, the game presentation at McCamish Pavilion is a well thought out and choreographed presentation that highlights all that is great about college athletics.
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