Paul Porter Arena - Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

Photo by Brian Wilmer, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86

Paul Porter Arena 110 S Main St Boling Springs, NC 28017

Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs website Paul Porter Arena website

Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 4,500

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The Dogs' House

Jacksonville, Louisville, San Antonio and...Boiling Springs, North Carolina? These four cities would seem to have very little in common, but they all hold a special place in basketball history. Naismith Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore played in each of these cities as a collegian or professional. Gilmore's legendary ABA and NBA career got its start in this Tarheel State town of fewer than 5,000 residents, as a student and player at what was then Gardner-Webb Junior College from 1967-69.

Gardner-Webb eventually made the transition to NAIA and NCAA Division I, and is now a member of the up-and-coming Big South Conference. The Runnin' Bulldogs program now calls Paul Porter Arena its home. Built in 1982, this facility hosts basketball games, volleyball and wrestling matches, convocations, graduations and just about any other major event that may take place on the university's campus. The multiple uses for the arena provide for an interesting and unique layout, helping make Paul Porter Arena a fun place to watch a game.

Food & Beverage 3

The dining options have changed a bit since our last visit, as the pizza that was once available at the lone stand on the mezzanine-level concourse is no longer available. There are, however, still plenty of options available to at least satisfy during a game. The school offers popcorn or nachos ($2) as the primary options. The portions are reasonable in either selection.

There are also salty or sweet snacks available. Baked items (Little Debbies; $2), Slim Jims ($1 large, $.50 small), peanuts ($.50), crackers and assorted snacks ($1 each) are also good portable options. Candy ($1 for large candy bars and assorted candies, $.50 for small) will help satisfy your sweet tooth.

Pepsi serves as Gardner-Webb's bottler, and bottled sodas, water and sports drinks are available for $2.50.

Atmosphere 3

Paul Porter Arena is a multi-purpose facility. This provides some unusual features as you walk around the concourse. Fans enter on a concourse above the arena floor, with a level of chair back seats below the concourse toward the floor and a level of chair back seats above the concourse. Bleachers make up the final section of seating, above the upper level of chair back seats. Even with the concourse dividing the seating bowl, there is not a great disconnect from the action on the floor in any seat in the house. There is also no center-court scoreboard to hinder the view from any seat. There is a wall-mounted scoreboard in each end zone, along with video boards in the upper levels opposite the corner in which the concession stand resides. The arena seats 3,500 fans for basketball, and the concourse is not too far from any of those seats.

The proximity of the concourse is a great thing for fans, but it can also pose some problems. The concession stand is just inside the main arena entrance along the inner concourse, meaning the only time you will miss any of the action is if you need to step outside to use the restroom. Be advised, however, that the line can get a bit long during halftime. There is no real place for the line to go other than to stretch onto the concourse behind the basket. As fans walk outside to use the restroom or mingle in the lobby, they have to cut through the line of patrons waiting for concessions to get back to their seats. A defined area to allow fans to line up while still allowing some traffic flow may be a beneficial addition.

Gardner-Webb offers a quite talented pep band, which takes up the seating area across the floor from the home team's bench. The band plays the fight song as the team leaves the floor for halftime and after the game, as well as during certain breaks in the action. Compared to other arenas, though, the band feels a bit like an afterthought at times. The band does not play during breaks in the action, in many cases. Pep bands are a huge part of the atmosphere at college basketball games, so it would be nice to see them utilized more often.

Neighborhood 4

Like many towns its size, Boiling Springs is not blessed with a number of entertainment and dining options, but there are plenty of places to grab a meal before or after a game. There is a Hardee's at the main entrance to the campus, with a McDonald's and KFC/Taco Bell just across Main Street. A number of choices are available a short distance away on Main or College Streets, including the Snack Shop, Italian Garden and Papa's Pizza. Italian Garden offers Italian and Greek food, which is a combination not commonly found in small-town dining. Broad River Coffee Company is at the corner of Main and College, across from the campus. This is a nice place to pick up a cup of coffee, surf the web or listen to live music. Taking a picnic lunch to the Broad River Greenway is also a scenic option for just $5 per car.

If you want to venture outside of Boiling Springs, a number of options are available to you, assuming you have a car. The North Carolina town of Shelby is just minutes away, offering a mall, big box stores and dining options. Shelby is also the annual home of the American Legion World Series, bringing amateur baseball teams from around the country to compete for a championship. Gaffney, South Carolina is approximately 15 minutes south of the campus, with many of the same options Shelby offers, as well as an outlet mall for those who want -- or need -- to pick up some items.

The Gardner-Webb campus is also a great place to simply spend a day. With a friendly small-town atmosphere, Division I athletic facilities and a beautiful campus, you may find that you want to go see another Runnin' Bulldog athletic team or simply take a walk before or after a game.

Fans 4

We told you earlier that there is no seat too far from the floor in Paul Porter Arena, and one of the first places you will notice this is the behavior of the fans. The size of the town and sense of community means that many generations of Gardner-Webb fans are often in attendance. The size of the building also allows for a loud and intimidating crowd, reaching a level that rivals that of much larger facilities. The layout of the building and the seats' proximity to the floor makes this a great home-court advantage.

There is a student section across from the Gardner-Webb bench called the Dawg Pound. This group playfully -- but respectfully -- heckles the opposing team, participates in promotions, dons funny outfits and, most importantly, truly supports their home team. The group sits next to the band, making for a pretty boisterous corner of the arena. This section is also extremely close to the floor -- close enough, at times, to reach out and yell in the face of opposing players attempting to bring the ball inbounds.

Former Gardner-Webb and current Butler coach Chris Holtmann's arrival at Gardner-Webb in 2010 started the process of taking the program to the next level, and as current coach Tim Craft and the Runnin' Bulldogs continue to build a successful program, one would hope that the arena will fill up on a regular basis. This is the logical next step in the program's success. The bleacher seats above each basket are rarely used, and these would seem to be a good place to enjoy the game.

Access 3

As we noted in our review of Gardner-Webb's football facility, Spangler Stadium, Boiling Springs does not offer a number of direct routes. Fans flying to visit the campus have the option of flying into Charlotte-Douglas International or Greenville-Spartanburg International (both about an hour away) or Asheville (approximately two hours). There is also only one hotel in town (AmericInn), so staying in Shelby or Gaffney may present a better option. The university is located on North Carolina Highway 150, with US Highway 74 minutes away in Shelby, and South Carolina Interstate 85 in Gaffney.

Parking is free and plentiful at Paul Porter Arena. The lot is just steps away from the arena's entrance, and contains more than enough spaces for even the largest crowd. There are also several nearby lots, should this lot be full. The route to and from the university is mostly free of traffic delays, and you should be able to be on your way to your destination without much concern.

You are aware by now that the main concourse serving the seating bowl is inside the arena. The only real traffic problem is near the concession stand, with plenty of room available to walk elsewhere. Even if a traffic problem does occur, you are still able to see the floor. The restrooms are just outside the entrance to the arena, and are clean and capable of serving the intended purpose.

It also bears noting that Gardner-Webb does not offer online ticketing. Tickets may be purchased over the phone or in person at the school's ticket office, but an online ticketing option would be a great touch to bring the school in line with many of its Big South Conference counterparts.

Return on Investment 5

Gardner-Webb, like many schools in its conference, offers a great value to fans attending a game at Paul Porter Arena. Adult tickets are $10 for each game, with non-GWU student tickets priced at $5. The Big South Conference offers a quality level of Division I basketball, and the price to see a game is more than fair. The Runnin' Bulldogs are routinely competitive in the league, and are in the middle of their most successful era at college hoops' highest level.

When you factor in these ticket prices with the low concession charges and free parking, Gardner-Webb basketball is a great entertainment option for families. A family of four can go to a game, park their car and buy nachos and a drink each for under $60. In an age where dollars are stretched to the limit, this is a rather minimal punch to your wallet.

Extras 5

Gardner-Webb may not have centuries of athletic history, but they certainly do honor the school's past athletic successes. Championship banners for the sports that share Paul Porter Arena hang throughout the building, along with retired numbers of Runnin' Bulldog greats. Artis Gilmore's number 53 is among those hanging in the arena. Gilmore shares a spot with George Adams, John Drew and Eddie Lee Wilkins in the group of former GWU stars to play in the NBA.

The Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame is honored on the lobby wall just outside the main entrance to the arena. This is a great place for arena visitors to learn about the greats to have graced the courts and fields in Boiling Springs. There is also a commemorative wall for Gardner-Webb All-Americans, allowing the history lesson to continue.

There is no shortage of in-game promotions at Paul Porter Arena. There are frisbee tosses, blindfolded potato chip tastings (believe it or not) and a number of other fun diversions to pass the time during timeouts. There are two bulldog mascots in costumes -- a male and female -- who help with many of these promotions and interact with fans throughout the game. The male bulldog seems to be more prevalent throughout the game, however.

Legendary Voice of the Runnin' Bulldogs Fabian Fuentes is on the radio call for Gardner-Webb basketball. Each game can be heard on WGWG-FM (88.3) in Boiling Springs and worldwide via the station's website. Fuentes is quite excitable, and if you ever happen upon any Runnin' Bulldog highlights on YouTube, chances are it is his voice you will hear calling the action.

Last, and certainly not least, you will find some of the nicest people around if you visit a Gardner-Webb game. The phrase "southern hospitality" is a bit overused, but it certainly applies to the staff employed by the school. Everyone you see will greet you with a smile and make you feel appreciated. Service goes a long way, and Gardner-Webb certainly grasps this concept.

Final Thoughts

College hoops fans likely do not have Paul Porter Arena atop their must-see list. However, with ESPN and ASN showing more Big South games, this may -- and should -- soon change.

If you want to see a good game surrounded by loud fans in an intimate atmosphere, the trip to Boiling Springs is absolutely worth your time. Sure, go visit North Carolina and Duke, but plan an extra day to see this hidden gem. You'll be more than glad you did.