Williams Arena
Williams Arena, known as “The Barn”, is a basketball arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1928, making it 98 years old in 2026 and seats 14,625 for basketball. It ranks 11th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
Arena facts
- Location
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Home of
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- School
- University of Minnesota
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1928
- Capacity
- 14,625
- Nickname
- The Barn
- Former names
- Minnesota Field House (1928–1950)
- Also home to
- Minnesota women's basketball
Minnesota volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics (Maturi Pavilion) - Size rank in D-I
- 32nd of 360
Famous games at Williams Arena
- 1928: The Minnesota Field House opened, and the Gophers moved in midseason on January 31, 1928.
- March 27, 1951: Williams Arena hosted the NCAA championship game, where Kentucky beat Kansas State 68-58.
- 1964: Michigan beat Ohio 69-57 in the NCAA Mideast Regional final at Williams Arena to reach the Final Four.
- Oct. 4, 2017: The Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-76 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to win their fourth title before 14,632 fans.
- 2018: A school-record 14,625 fans turned out for Lindsay Whalen's debut as Minnesota's women's coach.
Game night
Tradition. The student section is known as "The Barnyard."
Seating & views at Williams Arena
"The Barn" seats 14,625 under an arched, hangar-like roof. Its signature is the raised floor: the court sits about two feet above the ground, so benches and the scorer's table are below playing level and front-row fans are roughly knee-high to the players. Theater-style seats went in in 1993, and 21 "barn lofts" above the second deck added 304 seats in 1997. Some upper-deck seats are partly blocked by the roof trusses. The student section is called the Barnyard.
Parking & tailgating at Williams Arena
Williams Arena sits at the southwest corner of University Avenue and 19th Avenue SE on the East Bank campus, in the Stadium Village neighborhood. Parking is in University of Minnesota ramps and lots managed by Parking and Transportation Services, which posts event parking details on its site. The Metro Green Line's Stadium Village station is a few blocks away, a handy option from downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul. Stadium Village bars and restaurants are the pregame scene.
Plan your trip to Williams Arena
Arenas near Williams Arena10
- 1NBATarget Center — Minnesota Timberwolves same city
- 2D-ILee and Penny Anderson Arena — St. Thomas Tommies 10 mi
- 3D-IFirst Bank and Trust Arena — South Dakota State Jackrabbits 177 mi
- 4D-IMcLeod Center — Northern Iowa Panthers 178 mi
- 5G LeagueSanford Pentagon — Sioux Falls Skyforce 197 mi
- 6D-IHilton Coliseum — Iowa State Cyclones 204 mi
- 7D-IScheels Center — North Dakota State Bison 213 mi
- 8D-IKnapp Center — Drake Bulldogs 231 mi
- 9D-IKohl Center — Wisconsin Badgers 234 mi
- 10G LeagueCasey's Center — Iowa Wolves 235 mi
Questions about Williams Arena
Where do the Minnesota Golden Gophers play home games?
The Minnesota Golden Gophers play at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
How many people does Williams Arena hold?
Williams Arena seats 14,625 for basketball.
When did Williams Arena open?
Williams Arena opened in 1928.
What is Williams Arena’s nickname?
Williams Arena is known as “The Barn.”
What other arenas are near Williams Arena?
Target Center is also in Minneapolis. 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.