Kohl Center Basketball And Hockey Games In Madison

The Kohl Center serves as host to the Badgers Basketball and Hockey teams.  As they gear up for a great 2012-13 season, let's take a moment to break down the features that make the Kohl Center such a great place to watch NCAA sports.

For Badgers basketball fans, the venue is one of the best in the nation.  Students tend to sit behind the hoop, in sections 113-117, and the two levels behind that. The media sit at mid court, between sections 207 and 208.  At any given time, there are nearly 17,000 people cheering on their home team.

For Badgers Hockey, the blue line lines up with sections 109, 107, 123, and 121.  The Kohl Center suites are on the second level, and provide fans with a great view of the action. In the uppermost deck, you will find the most affordable seating.  There are no poles obstructing views of the court or ice.  The sound inside the venue can be incredible. Fans of college sports say that the Kohl Center is one of the more intimidating places for opposing teams to play.

Keep in mind that the venue can be configured for concerts.  The main floor can be covered with folding chairs, or set up as a general admission area.  Concerts at the Kohl Center are few and far between, but that also has something to do with the size. Bands will tend to skip Madison, as Milwaukee and Chicago are nearby. Still, there have been many great shows, and there will be more to come.  

Badgers Hockey Team Moves to LaBahn Arena

The construction of the LaBahn Arena (a permanent on-campus practice facility for the Badgers hockey team,) brings forth mixed feelings. While many players and fans alike see the new building as a sign of progress for the historic organization, others have are saddened by the vacancy of the now abandoned Bob Johnson Hockey Rink.

“Badger Bob” was, of course, the University's most notable head coach. He led the the men's hockey program to seven NCAA Tournaments, winning three. The practice facility, his namesake, became the team's weekday workout rink during the mid-sixties, when the Coliseum became the program's new home. The Hartmeyer Ice Arena was the Badger’s main rink prior to that move, serving the team well for just three years.

LaBahn Arena On Badgers Campus
The quote “Rust Never Sleeps” also applies to dated hockey structures. With the opening of LaBahn Arena, the team completes its transition from what was a predominately off-campus focus to a more efficient location, directly connected to the Kohl Center. Players always have double duties as scholars and athletes. The distant location of the old hockey arena drew complaints related to post-class travel time from the UW Madison campus to the BJHF. Their complaints included the point that their counterparts enjoy the luxury of on-campus practice facilities, something hockey players have lacked for over four decades. The sorry condition of the complex had also been a point of contention for those who wanted to see the program get in line with competing college programs.

As we say goodbye to the Bob Jones hockey facility, players and coaches both young and old recognize the great memories that will be lost when the team moves out of the arena next week. Keegan Meuer, a Badgers sophomore forward, joined fellow teammates and reflected upon the memories of the players, coaches, Badgers hockey games lost, and championships won. Time moves on for Badgers hockey players, as the LaBahn Arena will be the place for new memories.