Kohl Center
Kohl Center, known as “Herb Garden”, is a basketball arena in Madison, Wisconsin, home of the Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1998, making it 28 years old in 2026 and seats 17,249 for basketball. That makes it the 16th-largest arena in D-I.
The closest NBA arena is Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, about 73 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Home of
- Wisconsin Badgers
- School
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1998
- Capacity
- 17,249
- Nickname
- Herb Garden
- Also home to
- Wisconsin women's basketball
Wisconsin men's ice hockey
WIAA state boys basketball and wrestling tournaments - Size rank in D-I
- 16th of 360
Famous games at Kohl Center
- 2002: The Kohl Center hosts the NCAA men's Midwest Regional, March 22 to 24.
- Dec. 2, 2009: Wisconsin knocks off No. 6 Duke 73-69.
- Feb. 12, 2011: No. 13 Wisconsin beats No. 1 Ohio State 71-67, the Badgers' signature home upset of a top-ranked team.
- Feb. 9, 2013: Wisconsin beats No. 3 Michigan 65-62 in overtime.
- Dec. 2, 2023: Wisconsin upsets No. 3 Marquette 75-64.
- Feb. 13, 2026: Wisconsin routs No. 10 Michigan State 92-71.
Game night
Tradition. The Grateful Red student section, named for the Grateful Dead, wears tie-dyed shirts and fills three decks from floor to roof; student sections are collectively branded AreaRED.
Getting there. Metro Transit buses serve the arena.
Seating & views at Kohl Center
The Kohl Center seats about 17,250 for basketball and was built with cantilevered balconies instead of set-back decks to keep fans closer to the floor. The Grateful Red student section runs from floor to roof across all three decks, about 2,100 students strong. Courtside seats were added in 2006, the upper deck was reconfigured before the 2008-09 season, and a second-level bar and restaurant hosts booster gatherings before games.
Parking & tailgating at Kohl Center
The Kohl Center sits at 601 West Dayton Street, at the corner of North Frances Street, on the UW-Madison campus. Metro Transit buses serve the arena, which is often easier than driving on big game nights. Check UW Athletics' game-day page for current parking ramps, lots and any pre-pay options before you go.
Plan your trip to Kohl Center
Arenas near Kohl Center10
- 1NBAFiserv Forum — Milwaukee Bucks 73 mi
- 2D-IUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena — Milwaukee Panthers 73 mi
- 3G LeagueOshkosh Arena — Wisconsin Herd 77 mi
- 4D-IConvocation Center — Northern Illinois Huskies 87 mi
- 5G LeagueNow Arena — Windy City Bulls 90 mi
- 6D-IWelsh–Ryan Arena — Northwestern Wildcats 112 mi
- 7D-IResch Center — Green Bay Phoenix 120 mi
- 8NBAUnited Center — Chicago Bulls 122 mi
- 9D-IJoseph J. Gentile Arena — Loyola Chicago Ramblers 122 mi
- 10D-IWintrust Arena — DePaul Blue Demons 122 mi
Questions about Kohl Center
Where do the Wisconsin Badgers play home games?
The Wisconsin Badgers play at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
How many people does Kohl Center hold?
Kohl Center seats 17,249 for basketball.
When did Kohl Center open?
Kohl Center opened in 1998.
What is Kohl Center’s nickname?
Kohl Center is known as “Herb Garden.”
What other arenas are near Kohl Center?
Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is about 73 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.