Bud Walton Arena
Bud Walton Arena, known as “Basketball Palace of Mid-America”, is a basketball arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1993, making it 33 years old in 2026 and seats 19,368 for basketball. That makes it the 7th-largest arena in D-I.
Its record crowd is 20,344 vs. Duke (2023). The closest NBA arena is Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, about 189 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Home of
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- School
- University of Arkansas
- Conference
- SEC
- Opened
- 1993
- Capacity
- 19,368
- Nickname
- Basketball Palace of Mid-America
- Record crowd
- 20,344 vs. Duke (2023)
- Also home to
- Arkansas women's basketball
- Size rank in D-I
- 7th of 360
Famous games at Bud Walton Arena
- Nov. 29, 1993: Arkansas opened the arena with a 93-67 win over Murray State, the start of a 16-0 home season.
- March 5, 1994: Arkansas beat Mississippi State 80-62 to finish an unbeaten first season in the building, weeks before winning the national championship.
- Nov. 29, 2023: Arkansas beat No. 7 Duke 80-75 before 20,344 fans, the largest crowd in arena history.
Seating & views at Bud Walton Arena
Bud Walton Arena seats 19,368 in a lower bowl and an upper deck separated by an LED ribbon ring, and Nolan Richardson's early teams regularly packed more than 20,000 inside. The floor has been Nolan Richardson Court since 2019. Upgrades before 2008-09 added courtside seats and eight suites for a total of 47. The student section was expanded before 2013-14 into the former press area behind the east basket, with media moved to the southeast corner.
Parking & tailgating at Bud Walton Arena
Bud Walton Arena is on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, and basketball parking runs through university lots and garages around the athletics complex. Arkansas Athletics publishes game-day parking details, including any permit or pre-paid requirements, on its website and app each season. Big SEC games and marquee nonconference matchups fill the building, so allow extra time for traffic on the way into campus and for security lines at the doors.
Plan your trip to Bud Walton Arena
Arenas near Bud Walton Arena10
- 1D-IGreat Southern Bank Arena — Missouri State Bears 93 mi
- 2D-IReynolds Center — Tulsa Golden Hurricane 99 mi
- 3D-IMabee Center — Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 99 mi
- 4D-IFarris Center — Central Arkansas Bears 122 mi
- 5D-IJack Stephens Center — Little Rock Trojans 138 mi
- 6D-IGallagher-Iba Arena — Oklahoma State Cowboys 160 mi
- 7D-IK. L. Johnson Complex — Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions 179 mi
- 8NBAPaycom Center — Oklahoma City Thunder 189 mi
- 9D-ILloyd Noble Center — Oklahoma Sooners 190 mi
- 10D-IFirst National Bank Arena — Arkansas State Red Wolves 196 mi
Questions about Bud Walton Arena
Where do the Arkansas Razorbacks play home games?
The Arkansas Razorbacks play at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
How many people does Bud Walton Arena hold?
Bud Walton Arena seats 19,368 for basketball.
When did Bud Walton Arena open?
Bud Walton Arena opened in 1993.
What is Bud Walton Arena’s nickname?
Bud Walton Arena is known as “Basketball Palace of Mid-America.”
What is the attendance record at Bud Walton Arena?
The record crowd at Bud Walton Arena is 20,344 vs. Duke (2023).
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.