Wilkinson Hall - Indiana Hoosiers
Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Wilkinson Hall 1151 E 17th St Bloomington, IN 47408
Year Opened: 2019
Capacity: 3,000
Never Daunted
With the passage of Title IX in 1972, colleges and universities began expanding their athletic programs in the mid-1970s. At Indiana University, one of the first programs added was women’s volleyball. Women’s volleyball initially fell under the oversight of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW); the NCAA and Big Ten began sponsoring the sport in 1981.
After initially playing their matches at the hallowed Assembly Hall, the volleyball team moved to a more volleyball-specific facility in 1996. University Gymnasium, which was shared with the wrestling team, was an intimate atmosphere for volleyball, with fans right on top of the action. However, it was too small to continue accommodating a growing Division I volleyball program. In 2019, Wilkinson Hall opened, signifying a major investment and a new chapter in the history of Indiana University volleyball.
Food & Beverage 3
Food options are pretty standard at most concession stands; there is not a great deal of diversity on the menu. The featured item is a pulled pork sandwich, with more traditional options consisting of hot dogs, nachos, and soft pretzels with cheese sauce. There is also a large selection of chips, candy, and other snacks.
Beverages include water and soft drinks from the Coca-Cola line of beverages.
There is an average selection of beer and alcoholic beverage options. Most choices center around typical macrobrews; there is also Dragonfly IPA, a selection from local brewer Upland, as well as the Indiana University-branded Hoosier Game Day Lager. High Noon and Happy Thursday seltzers are also available.
Atmosphere 4
The athletic facilities at Indiana University were designed to complement each other. The high side walls at Memorial Stadium show a striking resemblance to those in Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The curvature and large glass panel windows of Wilkinson Hall are nicely complemented by Gladstein Fieldhouse, which sits directly behind it, and Cook Hall, the practice facility for the men’s and women’s basketball programs, directly next door.
Inside the playing area of Wilkinson Hall, each corner of the arena has either a video board or a scoreboard. The video boards display team and match statistics, while the scoreboards display game and match scores, along with individual player dig and kill totals.
The playing area is surrounded by seating. Plastic bleachers run the length of the sidelines, with the first five rows having individual seat backs and the remaining rows being traditional plastic bleacher seats. Each end also has bleacher seating, with students occupying the east-end stands. A single row of reserved seating runs the length of the near-side floor.
The time between points and breaks in the match is kept lively with music, t-shirt tosses, and skits from Indiana’s mascot, Hoosier the Bison.
Neighborhood 4
Indiana’s athletic facilities are clustered together in the northern reaches of campus. This location does remove them from the epicenter of the town’s food and nightlife on Kirkwood Avenue, which is about a mile and a half away.
Over the past decade, the area just west of the campus’ northern reaches has undergone significant development, with hotels and restaurants sprouting up. Still, the focus of any visit to Bloomington is going to be Kirkwood Avenue and the area around the square. Kirkwood is home to Nick’s English Hut, a must-stop for many alumni, and Upstairs Pub, which has blossomed into one of the more popular pre-game spots. For a more upscale dining experience, Janko’s Little Zagreb steakhouse is a popular option.
The Indiana Memorial Union (IMU), the largest student union building in the world, houses a handful of food kiosks, a pool hall, a bowling alley, and hotel rooms at the Biddle Hotel. If hotel rooms are unavailable at IMU, downtown Bloomington has a large inventory of higher-end chains, while locations just off I-69 offer several more budget-friendly options.
One thing Bloomington does seem to lack is significant attractions that are not university-specific. There is a Dave & Buster’s near the mall, and Bloomington Square does have several shops, but it can be tricky to build a full day around events not connected to the university.
Fans 3
The Big Ten reigns supreme when it comes to fandom. According to NCAA attendance records, the conference more than doubles the average attendance of its next-closest competitor, the ACC. Even though Indiana volleyball does not have the following of programs like Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Minnesota, the Hoosiers do well to hold their own when it comes to filling Wilkinson Hall.
Indiana volleyball averages just under 2,000 fans per match, which is about two-thirds the capacity of Wilkinson Hall. Indiana fans do a great job showing their enthusiasm and support for the Hoosiers. The only thing keeping them from reaching the next level of fandom is consistently filling the building.
The Indiana student body, collectively dubbed “Crimson Chaos,” does a good job coming out to support Hoosier volleyball and creating a real home-court advantage. A lot of credit should be given to head coach Steve Aird, who has made a point of promoting the program not just on campus but throughout the community. Credit also goes to the Indiana University Student Athletic Board, which heads up many of the activities enjoyed by students during the match.
Access 4
The athletics neighborhood at Indiana University is located on the northern reaches of campus, along the State Road 46/37 bypass. This route is directly off I-69, which runs locally from Indianapolis to the north and Evansville to the south. Primary parking can be found directly in front of the volleyball arena, leaving just a short walk to the front door of Wilkinson Hall.
The exterior hallways of Wilkinson Hall are rather narrow, allowing only one-way traffic at times, especially near the concessions area. Once inside the playing area, walkways run behind the courtside seating, making the bleachers easily accessible.
Fans entering on the west side of the arena, though, are directed to access the far side of the seating by going up the stairs, into the stands, and back down so they do not get caught up in the match. Wheelchair and companion seating is located in the front row of the west stands, with a chairlift available to assist fans getting to this section.
Matches can often coincide with parking restrictions the night before Indiana football games. Make sure to check Indiana volleyball’s social media accounts for information on any possible parking constraints.
Return on Investment 4
The Big Ten is home to some of the best collegiate volleyball programs in the country. It is not uncommon for nearly a third of the teams in the Top 25 to come from this conference. With that said, ticket prices starting at $11 are a great deal.
Parking is free, adding to the overall affordability of the experience. If there are attendants at points of entry, it is likely due to parking restrictions related to preparations for football or basketball games. Concessions do seem to be a touch on the high side.
Extras 4
One of the age-old questions to Indiana fans is, “What is a Hoosier?” While there are differing accounts, there is actually no right answer. New to athletic events in 2025 was the return of a mascot; "Hoosier the Bison" makes his rounds at many IU sporting events to interact with fans. While it might not answer the question of what a Hoosier actually is, it does give a fun, new face to Indiana’s athletic programs.
The south-side wall of Wilkinson Hall displays NCAA Tournament appearances and All-American selections.
With every ace by a Hoosier server, fans are rewarded with T-shirts tossed into the stands.
Following matches the team is available for autographs, primarily for the youngest of Hoosier fans.
Final Thoughts
Wilkinson Hall is a modern, comfortable facility that fits nicely into Indiana’s athletic venues and provides a considerably better home for the program than the old University Gymnasium.
The experience of attending a volleyball match at Indiana is more than simply the match itself; the match is the centerpiece of a college sports experience that happens to focus on volleyball.
The combination of an attractive facility, an enthusiastic student presence, easy access, free parking, and affordable ticket prices makes Indiana volleyball an easy event to recommend.
