Wisconsin Badgers Hockey Kohl Center STADIUM REVIEW.
The Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison is home to the men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and men’s hockey teams. Opening in 1998, this has to be one of the nicest college stadiums in the nation! Just from the exterior it really had the feel of a big-time pro venue with the clean outer aesthetic and proximity to downtown Madison and the Wisconsin State Capitol Building.
The concourse of the arena was jammed packed with fun details that made this a first-class experience. Right inside the main entrance to the arena, the Mendota Wall boasts 1,284 pieces of blown glass from Chihuly – one of the most famous glass artists in the world and a UW grad. I was shocked while taking in the sheer number of jerseys wrapping around the inner wall of the concourse highlighting all former Wisconsin players to play in the NHL. All around the building you really got the feel that this is a great central hub for all Wisconsin sports and doesn’t just cater to one program more than the other.
The seating bowl has 3 full levels and can seat over 15,000 for ice hockey – about the same as the NHL’s smallest arena! But with the team having some rough years lately, the upper level is closed off for hockey games since the attendance has been so poor and the middle level was also poorly dispersed throughout. However, it seems as there’s not a bad seat in the house as the steep slope of the seats provides great views no matter where you’re sitting.
The playing surface itself was unique because it’s not North American standard or Olympic sized but falls just 3 feet shy of an Olympic sized ice sheet. Apparently, this is because the arena was built with more focus on the basketball configuration with hockey as an afterthought creating some unique voids outside the corners of the rink.
To be honest, I was pretty disappointed by how tame the student section was as there was very minimal chanting and taunting of the opposing goalie. Surprisingly, the pep band and the rest of the crowd brought the best energy as some alumni were extremely rowdy… including an old guy I spotted climbing the glass on the back of the visitors bench to yell at them as the Badgers were closing out the game.
The amount of comradery shared between the players and fans was incredible as after the big win, players sang the alma mater and jumped into the glass at the student section. For a program who loves to take glory in their past championships, but currently is on a dismal path, one can only hope that bringing in a new head coach next year can rejuvenate the program as the venue and the fanbase has the potential to be incredible. But right now, the product on the ice is holding back the atmosphere. Regardless, the Kohl Center is still a top-notch venue to take in some college hockey.
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