Gallagher-Iba Arena
Gallagher-Iba Arena, known as “The Madison Square Garden of the Plains”, is a basketball arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma, home of the Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big 12, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1938, making it 88 years old in 2026 and seats 13,611 for basketball. It ranks 9th of 16 in the Big 12 by capacity.
Its record crowd is 14,059 for wrestling vs. Penn State (2017); 14,044 for men's basketball vs. Missouri. The closest NBA arena is Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, about 49 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Stillwater, Oklahoma
- Home of
- Oklahoma State Cowboys
- School
- Oklahoma State University
- Conference
- Big 12
- Opened
- 1938
- Capacity
- 13,611
- Nickname
- The Madison Square Garden of the Plains
- Former names
- 4-H Clubs and Student Activities Building (1938–c.1939)
Gallagher Hall (1939–1987) - Record crowd
- 14,059 for wrestling vs. Penn State (2017); 14,044 for men's basketball vs. Missouri
- Also home to
- Oklahoma State Cowgirls basketball
Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling - Size rank in D-I
- 40th of 360
Famous games at Gallagher-Iba Arena
- Dec. 9, 1938: Henry Iba's Oklahoma A&M beat Phog Allen's Kansas 21-15 in the first basketball game in the building.
- Dec. 19, 2000: The expanded arena opened with a 70-60 win over Arkansas-Little Rock, delayed 35 minutes when Jason Keep shattered a backboard with a dunk.
- Jan. 15, 2005: Oklahoma State beat Iowa State 83-73 for Eddie Sutton's 768th win, passing Iba, and the floor was named Eddie Sutton Court.
- Jan. 16, 2007: Mario Boggan's 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left won a 105-103 triple-overtime classic over Texas, despite 37 points from Kevin Durant.
- Jan. 12, 2008: The Cowgirls beat Oklahoma 82-63 before a sellout crowd of 13,611, then the largest crowd for a women's sporting event in the state.
- Feb. 27, 2010: James Anderson scored 27 as Oklahoma State knocked off No. 1 Kansas 85-77.
Game night
Tradition. Students camp outside in a tent town called "Camp Sutton," named for coach Eddie Sutton, to claim seats for big games.
Seating & views at Gallagher-Iba Arena
Gallagher-Iba holds 13,611 after a 2000 expansion built a larger arena around the 1938 original while keeping its sightlines and white maple floor, now Eddie Sutton Court and billed as the oldest original court still in use. Floor-level seats are limited to students and floor ticket holders, and students fill about a third of the building. Fourteen suites line the west side, and two concourse seats in the southeast corner are permanently reserved for Gallagher and Iba.
Parking & tailgating at Gallagher-Iba Arena
Gallagher-Iba sits next to Boone Pickens Stadium on the Oklahoma State campus. Lots closest to the arena are reserved for POSSE donors and staff and open about 90 minutes before men's games, while free campus parking is available a short walk away if you arrive early. Lot 6, directly south of the stadium, handles ADA and mobility overflow for men's games. Students famously camp outside in Camp Sutton before big games, and some fans tailgate in nearby lots.
Plan your trip to Gallagher-Iba Arena
Arenas near Gallagher-Iba Arena10
- 1NBAPaycom Center — Oklahoma City Thunder 49 mi
- 2D-IReynolds Center — Tulsa Golden Hurricane 61 mi
- 3D-IMabee Center — Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 61 mi
- 4D-ILloyd Noble Center — Oklahoma Sooners 65 mi
- 5D-ICharles Koch Arena — Wichita State Shockers 110 mi
- 6D-IBud Walton Arena — Arkansas Razorbacks 160 mi
- 7D-IUNT Coliseum — North Texas Mean Green 201 mi
- 8G LeagueComerica Center — Texas Legends 208 mi
- 9D-IThe Field House — East Texas A&M Lions 209 mi
- 10D-IBramlage Coliseum — Kansas State Wildcats 217 mi
Questions about Gallagher-Iba Arena
Where do the Oklahoma State Cowboys play home games?
The Oklahoma State Cowboys play at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
How many people does Gallagher-Iba Arena hold?
Gallagher-Iba Arena seats 13,611 for basketball.
When did Gallagher-Iba Arena open?
Gallagher-Iba Arena opened in 1938.
What is Gallagher-Iba Arena’s nickname?
Gallagher-Iba Arena is known as “The Madison Square Garden of the Plains.”
What is the attendance record at Gallagher-Iba Arena?
The record crowd at Gallagher-Iba Arena is 14,059 for wrestling vs. Penn State (2017); 14,044 for men's basketball vs. Missouri.
What other arenas are near Gallagher-Iba Arena?
Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is about 49 miles away. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
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.