Mackey Arena
Mackey Arena is a basketball arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, home of the Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1967, making it 59 years old in 2026 and seats 14,848 for basketball. It ranks 9th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
The closest NBA arena is Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, about 59 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- West Lafayette, Indiana
- Home of
- Purdue Boilermakers
- School
- Purdue University
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1967
- Capacity
- 14,848
- Former names
- Purdue Arena (1967–1971)
- Also home to
- Purdue women's basketball
Purdue volleyball (occasional)
Purdue wrestling (occasional) - Size rank in D-I
- 29th of 360
Famous games at Mackey Arena
- Dec. 2, 1967: Lew Alcindor's defending champion UCLA spoiled the opener 73-71 at the buzzer, despite 28 points from Rick Mount in his varsity debut.
- Feb. 28, 1970: Rick Mount scored a Big Ten-record 61 points, but Iowa won 108-107 and ended Purdue's 30-game home winning streak.
- March 18, 2021: Mackey hosted NCAA First Four games during the bubble tournament held entirely in Indiana.
- Jan. 2, 2023: Cam Spencer's late three gave Rutgers a 65-64 win and handed No. 1 Purdue its first loss of the season.
- Feb. 17, 2026: No. 1 Michigan beat No. 7 Purdue 91-80, fueled by a 16-0 first-half run.
Game night
Tradition. The student section is known as the Paint Crew.
Seating & views at Mackey Arena
Mackey is a round arena under a domed aluminum roof that traps noise, and it's often called one of the loudest in the country. It seats 14,876 for basketball. A renovation finished in 2012 doubled the concourse width, added club and loge seats on the lower east side, put premium courtside seats in the west pit and created two club spaces. The Paint Crew student section was reseated for 2011-12, and students line up well before tip.
Parking & tailgating at Mackey Arena
Purdue sells all basketball parking as digital passes, bought ahead in your purduesports.com account and downloaded to your phone before you arrive. For men's games, single-game parking is in the Northwestern Avenue Garage, with Upper H lot reserved for ADA placard holders. Season lots near the arena go to John Purdue Club members. A free shuttle runs from the R and H lots, starting two hours before tip and running about an hour after the game.
Plan your trip to Mackey Arena
Arenas near Mackey Arena10
- 1NBAGainbridge Fieldhouse — Indiana Pacers 59 mi
- 2D-IHinkle Fieldhouse — Butler Bulldogs 59 mi
- 3D-IJames T. Morris Arena — IU Indy Jaguars 59 mi
- 4G LeagueRiverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile — Noblesville Boom 60 mi
- 5D-IHulman Center — Indiana State Sycamores 70 mi
- 6D-IAthletics–Recreation Center — Valparaiso Beacons 73 mi
- 7D-IState Farm Center — Illinois Fighting Illini 75 mi
- 8D-IWorthen Arena — Ball State Cardinals 81 mi
- 9D-ISimon Skjodt Assembly Hall — Indiana Hoosiers 89 mi
- 10D-ILantz Arena — Eastern Illinois Panthers 93 mi
Questions about Mackey Arena
Where do the Purdue Boilermakers play home games?
The Purdue Boilermakers play at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.
How many people does Mackey Arena hold?
Mackey Arena seats 14,848 for basketball.
When did Mackey Arena open?
Mackey Arena opened in 1967.
What other arenas are near Mackey Arena?
Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is about 59 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.