10 high school basketball gyms to see before you die

Video: 10 amazing high school basketball gyms

There's something magical about high school basketball basketball gyms. The bright lights and school tones, the orange accents of the rim and ball and the rich browns of the hardwood give them a unique color contrast all their own.

How the stands are constructed — multi-decked, round or square, end zones or concrete walls — makes gyms unique.

All present a theater setting that is magnificent viewing from virtually every angle.

We set out to feature 10 of the most unique venues in the country, both historic and contemporary. Hundreds were considered and no doubt there are many more left to explore. Help us feature high school basketball gym gems by reaching out on Facebook or Twitter.

Listed in order of appearance in the video above, read on for a quick glance at our featured gyms.

Home of the Pottsville Crimson Tide
Year opened: 1970

Seating capacity: 4,100

Briefly: Called the "Heaven of Hardwood," the original wooden upper deck bleachers remain and are a fan favorite. Also known by locals as "The Mecca," Kobe Bryant, Billy Owens and Sam Bowie played games there.

Year opened: 2016

Seating capacity: 2,700

Briefly: The state-of-the-art, $11 million arena, with an NBA-style "floating floor," replaced the 50-year-old Raider Dome that was deemed structurally unsound. Hatchet House (Washington, Ind.)
Home of the Washington Hatchets

Year opened: 1967

Seating capacity: 7,090

Briefly: Originally built in 1925, it was replaced in 1966 with the arena that stands today. An excerpt from stadiumjourney.com: "The nanosecond you walk into the building you feel the aura of various championship teams. … The echoing of the crowds, and the smell of the thick wooden bleachers mixed in with the odor of old popcorn, flat soda, and stale hot dog buns. The Hatchet House is as advertised, a perfect example of a Hoosier Temple."

Year opened: 2003

Seating capacity: 5,662

Briefly: A giant video screen is at the center of the $22-million facility, that also hosted the Summit League men’s basketball tournament from 2005 to 2008.

Wildcat Den (Chinle, Ariz.)
Home of the Chinle Wildcats
Year opened: 2006

Seating capacity: 7,500

Briefly: Featured prominently in the Netflix series "Basketball or Nothing," the $23 million facility was built on the Navajo Reservation and is reportedly the 14th-largest high school gymnasium in the country. Also featured in the MaxPreps Beyond the X series Rez Ball.  

Sandra Meadows Memorial Arena (Duncanville, Texas)
Home of the Duncanville Panthers and Pantherettes
Year opened: 2003

Seating capacity: 2,000

Briefly: Named after the late Meadows, a 25-year coach for the Pantherettes (743-120 record) and a 2002 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. School colors red and blue dominate the gym.

Hinsdale Central Main Gym (Hinsdale, Ill.)
Home of the Hinsdale Central Red Devils
Year opened: 1952

Fighting Scouts Event Center (Fort Defiance, Ariz.)
Home of the Window Rock Fighting Scouts
Year opened: 2004

Seating capacity: 6,500

Briefly: Also built in Navajo nation, Window Rock is Chinle’s No. 1 rival and many believe they tried to top Wildcat Den with a three-level arena divided between a 4,000-seat main level, 2,500-seat upper level and 40-seat hospitality suit.

New Castle Fieldhouse (New Castle, Ind.)
Home of the New Castle Trojans
Year re-opened: 1959

Seating capacity: 7,829

Briefly: Once considered the largest gym in the country when it seated 9,325, The Field House was once tabbed the "Cracker Box" when it sat just 1,800 back in the 1920s before being rebuilt in 1959 at the cost of $875,000.

Year opened: 1979

Seating capacity: 6,000

Briefly: Named after a former school superintendent, the late Reed Conder, this is the considered the Taj Mahal of venues in the basketball-rich Bluegrass State. It hosts the Marshall County Hoopfest, which has featured such NBA stars as Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose and programs from more than 20 states.