Jersey Mike's Arena
Jersey Mike's Arena, known as “The RAC; "Trapezoid of Terror"”, is a basketball arena in Piscataway, New Jersey, home of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1977, making it 49 years old in 2026 and seats 8,000 for basketball. It ranks 17th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
The closest NBA arena is Barclays Center in Brooklyn, about 28 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Piscataway, New Jersey
- Home of
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- School
- Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1977
- Capacity
- 8,000
- Nickname
- The RAC; "Trapezoid of Terror"
- Former names
- Rutgers Athletic Center (1977–1986, 2019–2021)
Louis Brown Athletic Center (1986–2019) - Also home to
- Rutgers wrestling
Rutgers volleyball
Rutgers gymnastics
New Jersey Nets (1977–1981, former) - Size rank in D-I
- 137th of 360
Famous games at Jersey Mike's Arena
- Nov. 21, 1977: Before its official opening, the new arena hosts an exhibition in which Rutgers beats the Soviet Union national team 102-96.
- Nov. 30, 1977: Rutgers christens the arena officially with an 81-76 win over Seton Hall.
- 1985: The arena hosts the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament.
- 1989: The Atlantic 10 men's tournament returns to Piscataway.
Seating & views at Jersey Mike's Arena
Jersey Mike's Arena, long known as the RAC, seats about 8,000 under a distinctive truncated-tent roof held up by four big columns. The seating is steeply raked, which keeps fans right on top of the floor and makes the building loud. Air conditioning arrived only in 2016, and in 2017 the bleachers behind one basket were reworked with premium seats and bar-style high-top tables. State-funded renovations announced since 2022 target concourses, bathrooms, premium seating and luxury boxes.
Parking & tailgating at Jersey Mike's Arena
The arena is on Rutgers' Livingston campus in Piscataway. Rutgers runs event parking in nearby campus lots; check the Scarlet Knights' basketball game-day page for current lot assignments and payment rules before you go.
Plan your trip to Jersey Mike's Arena
Arenas near Jersey Mike's Arena10
- 1D-IJadwin Gymnasium — Princeton Tigers 16 mi
- 2D-ISpiro Sports Center — Wagner Seahawks 17 mi
- 3D-IWellness and Events Center — NJIT Highlanders 22 mi
- 4D-IPrudential Center — Seton Hall Pirates 22 mi
- 5D-IAlumni Gymnasium — Rider Broncs 25 mi
- 6D-IRun Baby Run Arena — Saint Peter's Peacocks 25 mi
- 7D-IOceanFirst Bank Center — Monmouth Hawks 26 mi
- 8NBABarclays Center — Brooklyn Nets 28 mi
- 9D-ISteinberg Wellness Center — LIU Sharks 28 mi
- 10D-IBogota Savings Bank Center — Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 34 mi
Questions about Jersey Mike's Arena
Where do the Rutgers Scarlet Knights play home games?
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights play at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey.
How many people does Jersey Mike's Arena hold?
Jersey Mike's Arena seats 8,000 for basketball.
When did Jersey Mike's Arena open?
Jersey Mike's Arena opened in 1977.
What is Jersey Mike's Arena’s nickname?
Jersey Mike's Arena is known as “The RAC; "Trapezoid of Terror".”
What other arenas are near Jersey Mike's Arena?
Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton is about 16 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.