Michael Fields wants to know: Should the UNCG men’s basketball team play at the Greensboro Coliseum or Fleming Gymnasium?

There is a big debate around campus on where the Spartans men’s basketball team should play their home games. The Spartans played in Fleming Gymnasium from the 1989-1990 season through the 2008-2009 season. The Spartans had some success while they played in Fleming Gymnasium. The Spartans had NCAA tournament appearances and were the conference tournament champions in 1996 and 2001. They were also the conference regular season champions in 1995, 1996, and 2002. However, it was time for the men’s basketball program to make some changes. During the 2009-2010 season, the Spartans officially moved their home games to the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Also, former North Carolina basketball player Wes Miller was brought into coach the Spartans starting in the 2011-2012 season. Unfortunately, the Spartans have not had much success while having their home games in the Coliseum. Their best record during this span at the Coliseum is 14-18, which was back during their 2013-2014 campaign. So, the question arises: Where should the Spartans play their homes games? Should they play in the Greensboro Coliseum or Fleming Gymnasium?

I went around campus and ask fellow UNCG students about this topic and asked for their insightful opinions.
“I would much rather go to a basketball game at Fleming Gymnasium” said junior Austin Elmore. “I think that the atmosphere is much better in Fleming. I would love to go to a packed out Fleming Gymnasium with a lot of students close together and having fun, than a less than 1/4 full Greensboro Coliseum, where everyone is so far spread out it doesn’t seem like there is hardly anyone there.”
I would have to agree with Austin on this response. I have been to some UNCG basketball games at the Greensboro Coliseum myself. It seems like everytime that I go to a game at the Coliseum, there is not a lot of support for the Spartans. I have never seen the stands full, actually I have never seen the just bottom level packed out for a Spartans game.
I thought it would be intriguing to see if people would go to more basketball games if they were in Fleming Gymnasium, instead of the Greensboro Coliseum.
“I would probably go to more if it was in Fleming” said junior Kate Ellis. “I am on or around campus a lot and the convenience of being able to just walk over to the gymnasium and take a study break from the library, or watch a game straight after class would be much more exciting to me then having to worry about driving all the way to the Coliseum.”
That is definitely one thing that I learned from these interviews with the UNCG students. It would be so much more accessible to go to a game at Fleming Gymnasium. This is mainly because Fleming Gymnasium is located on campus. The Greensboro Coliseum is not located on campus, which makes it harder for students to get to the game, especially if they do not have a vehicle or feel like riding the bus. If it were on campus, students and faculty and staff could walk to the basketball game and support their Spartans.
Something else that was brought up were some benefits of having the games on campus.
“One of the benefits of having the game on campus would be increased student attendance due to not having to pay for parking” said senior Josh Moore. “Also, having the game on campus
would allow for a better game atmosphere in the Fleming Gym.”
I think that Josh made a good point about the parking situation. Yes, the students get into the games free at the Greensboro Coliseum with their UNCG ID. However, they do still have to pay for parking, which is a hassle when going to the Greensboro Coliseum.
Some people may wonder why should I go to a UNCG basketball game?
“Students should go to the games as a way to assimilate within the university community” said junior Eric Gohn. “It’s a chance for the students to come together as a single unit in support of UNCG and its athletic program.”

3 thoughts on “Michael Fields wants to know: Should the UNCG men’s basketball team play at the Greensboro Coliseum or Fleming Gymnasium?

  1. They should play in Fleming. Exceptions would be when they play Carolina or Duke, etc. Atmosphere in Fleming was great.

  2. The games would be better if on campus. Students don’t want to go off campus, fans don’t want the extra cost of parking and it feels more like a college game on campus. UNCG is not an ACC school and does not have the fan, TV or media interest of an ACC school. The on campus games would likely add 3 or 4 wins per year just because of the energy within fleming gym.

  3. As an alum, I’m all for going back to Fleming. Should’ve never left in the first place. The Kyle Hines years spoiled everyone. The UNCG brass saw the big crowds and started having grand delusions of where this program could go (despite the fact that we only get a Kyle Hines-type player once in a blue moon).

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