A Golden Knight Cap

Official Review by Jim Dietrich, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

I have many friends who have told me that they were University of Central Florida students or alum, though when I moved to Florida in 2003, I hadn't heard a lot about this school. Maybe I was sheltered or just ignorant to the fact, but I'm not sure why I was left in the dark; with an over-1,400 acre campus just east of downtown Orlando and the second-largest enrollment in the United States (behind only Arizona State University), this school, like most good schools in the state, simply hides under the massive radar generated by the likes of Florida, Florida State, and Miami.

So, when I got the green light to review the Knights' UCF Arena in the heart of this expansive campus, I had about eight people who wanted to come with me; students, alums, and overall fans alike, all because of the rising popularity of this hidden gem. UCF Arena, the largest - by almost double with almost 10,000 for basketball - of the on-campus facilities I've reviewed yet, was opened in 2007 to replace the 5,000-seat Venue at UCF Arena, which was built in 1990 and is still standing today for small concerts and the volleyball team.

Food & Beverage    4

Since this stadium is more on-par - size-wise - with other larger venues I've reviewed (like the St. Pete Times Forum, Amway Center, and even the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena), I expected more than the hot dogs and pizza to which I've grown accustomed. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed; while they do maintain those staples, they also have a kiosk called Balagan, that serves Mediterranean cuisine, like hummus and pitas, and keeps it kosher. Also, a barbeque joint helps round out the specialties.

Price-wise, everything's about what you'd expect for a venue that size: a little more expensive than, say, Stetson's Edmunds Center, but cheaper than the Amway Center. The quality of the food is good, and if you leave hungry, that's your own fault.

Atmosphere    4

Since the Arena is only four years old, it's as pristine and shiny as you would expect. Thankfully, I snagged tickets next to the student section (more on that in a moment), so the energy was alive and well where I sat. The audio system, while a bit louder than need-be, delivered a great richness to it that helped me hear everything clearly, even when the students erupted.

My only complaint was the band. They were quite good (though, admittedly, not as good as Bethune-Cookman's), but they played two songs over and over while I was there: the school's fight song and "Sweet Caroline". A little variety would help. However, if that's the only complaint I have, they're doing something right.

Neighborhood    4

I have to start off by saying the off-campus neighborhood is average for Florida: more strip malls (a la North Florida's campus) and residential areas that truly seem to be standard-issue across this sprawling state. Nothing special, nothing fancy, nothing that pops...it's just "there."

That said, the on-campus neighborhood rivals that of St. Petersburg: there are numerous restaurants, shops, and entertainment options on-campus, most of which are directly-adjacent to the Arena in an area called "Knights Plaza." It's like a city of its own on-campus, containing student housing towers, large-chain stores, and even a sports bar (yes, they serve alcohol, too). If I were a student, I'd never need to leave campus, and I guess that's the point.

Fans    4

Just like their counterparts across-town in the Amway Center, these fans are loud, knowledgeable, and live and die with their Knights. Their special move, if you will, is during home free throws, when - as if on cue - they all raise their right fists and, should the shot go in, the following sequence takes place in unison: lower fists, stomp, clap, yell "Swoosh! U-C-F!". They do it each and every time without fail. They also do the "three-point fingers" where they take both hands and hold up the middle, ring, and pinky fingers every time a Knights' three-point shot is in the air.

However, the night I went, when they were playing conference rival Southern Methodist, and the entire end zone portion of the upper deck was empty. Granted, it was a school night and the Knights were no longer ranked at that point, but it was the last home game of the season, so they should have come out for one more hurrah. Because of that, I just can't say they're the best yet. They definitely could and should be; I just hope they pack the place next time I'm there, as I can see the roof coming off that facility if it were.

Access    4

UCF's campus is easily reachable from all points in Greater Orlando: the East-West Expressway (Toll State Road 408) and Colonial Drive (State Road 50) will lead you right to Alafaya Trail (State Road 434), which is the main thoroughfare to their main entrance. Once on campus, go east of Gemini Blvd right to the front of the Arena. It's quite easy to find.

Parking, too, is easy to find, though you will need a good pair of shoes due to the amount of walking you will do from the parking lot to the Arena if you're not one of the lucky people who can park close. If you're not properly equipped (high heels, flip-flops), your feet will have blisters before you make it inside.

Once you've made the trek there, however, the concourses are some of the widest I've seen in any venue and easily navigable. The bathrooms are clean, large, and plentiful.

Return on Investment    4

Come for basketball. Come for a concert. Come for a special event, like MMA or wrestling. Come for a lecture having to do with nothing in your life. You WILL enjoy yourself. Granted the 2011 team wasn't the best in school's history (even though they were ranked 18th in the country at one point). Even with a poor finish to the season, they are set with a great future ahead of them, making the arena a "don't miss."

Extras    3

It's worth mentioning again: Knights Plaza makes this a destination more than just a place to watch basketball. With name-brand shops and food, you can't go wrong coming here just for that, even with nothing going on in the sporting venues.

Besides that obviously-large selling point, this is Orlando, meaning you're no more than 30 minutes from Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld, and no more than 60 minutes from the Atlantic beaches via the Beeline Expressway (Toll State Road 528). Also, the campus is one of the more beautiful, as well as functional and self-sustaining, ones I've experienced.

Final Thoughts

The University of Central Florida has come a long way from its roots as the Florida Technological University in 1963, and its sports programs are becoming forces on the national stage. A school that quietly rose through obscurity is now becoming the school-of-choice for a majority of incoming freshmen across the country, and the Knights play no small part in that rise. With a beautiful, ideally-located campus and a great facility like the UCF Arena located on it, you'd be remiss to leave this off your schedule.