Nicely Dunn

Official Review by Chad Minton, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Basketball may have fallen into a rough patch at Austin Peay, but that doesn’t mean that the experience at the Dunn Center has suffered. Built in 1975, the Dunn Center is a great place to check out some college basketball that has plenty of tradition to be explored. When you walk into the Dunn Center, you’ll learn about all of the greats that wore the red and white of Austin Peay.

Food & Beverage    2

There aren't a ton of choices at the two concession stands, but the prices are pretty reasonable. You can get a box of popcorn or a hot dog for $2 each. The typical stadium nachos are available for $3, and you can you add chili for 50 cents more. You can make the nachos a large for two extra dollars. Candy is also offered for $1, and a bag of peanuts costs $3.

Pepsi products and bottled water make up the drink choices. There are two available sizes, priced at $2 and $3.

There's nothing out of the ordinary going on at the Dunn Center concession stands, but the simple stadium favorites are options if you're in need of a snack during the game.

Atmosphere    4

The first thing that stuck out to me during my visit to the Dunn Center was all of the banners hanging inside the building. Even though it's typical for college venues to hang their championship banners, the Dunn Centers red banners really stand out. In addition to the championship banners, the Dunn Center also spotlights their former great athletes on each end of the arena.

Another standout item is the cushioned seats that every fan enjoys. Don't worry about buying a cheap seat at the Dunn Center. You'll still enjoy a comfortable seat that feels like one you would sit in at a nice theater.

All of the red on the court, and throughout the entire arena, gives the strong feel of being at an Austin Peay home game. It is always important to highlight the team's home colors.

Finally, the arena did a great job at highlighting the team's players through player profiles on the two video screens. They had clever sayings such as "Triggs Brings the Thunder" or "Horton Here's Another", which was for whenever Will Triggs or Chris Horton scored a basket.

Neighborhood    4

There are plenty of things to do before or after the game in Clarksville, Tennessee. Clarksville is a city of moderate size that has all of the basic chain restaurants, such as Chili's.

One unique place to Clarksville is Blackhorse Pub and Brewery, and it is located within walking distance of the Dunn Center. They have great beer to go along with some amazing food. It's a very convenient place to check out after the game.

There are plenty of other fun little spots to visit in Clarksville, and walking along the Cumberland River is good for a scenic outing. You can have a very fun time in Clarksville, and the bright lights of downtown Nashville are less than an hour away.

Fans    4

The place may not have been sold out when I visited, but a fair amount of fans showed up to support their struggling team. There was also a decent turnout of students who stayed to the very end of the game when the Governors were trailing by over 30 points.

The fans were clearly frustrated with the team's performance, and they illustrated that by verbally voicing their opinion. It was quite noticeable throughout, and that spells a passionate fan base. It was pretty amazing that the majority of fans chose not to rush to the exits at halftime, because the home team was down by 20 points before some fans could probably even get settled into their seats.

Access    5

It's not tough at all to find Austin Peay's beautiful campus, and all of the athletic facilities are located right next to each other. Once you exit off of Interstate 24, you'll want to take Madison Street all the way to the campus. There are plenty of signs throughout Clarksville that will direct you to the campus. Taking the U.S. 41 Bypass will take you along the Cumberland River and bring you right into the campus.

It is just as easy to find the Dunn Center after you arrive on campus. Plenty of free parking is located next to the building.

Return on Investment    5

An $8 ticket will get you nearly courtside and right in the middle of the action. The product on the court of late may not be worthy of witnessing a game at the Dunn Center, but Austin Peay usually has some solid teams. The Governors also play in the Ohio Valley Conference, which is a conference on the rise with the recent arrival of Belmont and Murray State on the national scene. Courtside seats for less than $10 are a tremendous bargain.

The parking is free, and the prices at the concession stands also help to make a trip to the Dunn Center a very affordable experience.

Extras    4

Being greeted by a friendly stadium staff is always appreciated, and the Dunn Center definitely delivered on that. They gave me a ticket just four rows from courtside, due to the ticket being left behind at will call.

Another extra goes to the overall convenience of Austin Peay's campus, and how they present their athletic facilities. Everything is located right next to each other, and it took me no time at all to get parked.

Seeing all of the player recognition for all of the great players who played in the past was a cool thing to see, and it showed tradition for Austin Peay's basketball program.

Finally, a big extra goes to the halftime ceremony that honored all of the student athletes for how hard they work in the classroom and for their respective teams. The fans gave them a well-deserved round of applause.

Final Thoughts

If you're a college basketball fan, you have to stop by the Dunn Center if you happen to be in Clarksville during college basketball season. The product on the court hasn't lived up to expectations lately (2013), but the Dunn Center will make up for it and treat you to a great overall experience for the fan.