Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center

Capacity: 21,678

Home Teams: Tennessee Volunteers (NCAA College Basketball)

Thompson-Boling Arena Events

Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (more commonly just called Thompson-Boling Arena) is located in the small city of Knoxville, Tennessee, about three hours by car from Nashville and six from Memphis. The arena’s principal function on the University of Tennessee campus is to host the home games of the Tennessee Volunteers (also known as the Vols) men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as the women’s volleyball team. When built, it was the largest basketball-specific arena in the United States, drawing a record crowd of over 25,000 for a game against the Kentucky Wildcats in 1989. Renovations in 2007 have now somewhat reduced its capacity, but Thompson-Boling Arena nonetheless remains one of the larger NCAA basketball venues in the country and the largest single arena in all of Tennessee. The Volunteers men’s basketball team first began to hit their stride in the 1960s, morphing into one of the top teams in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and qualifying for their first NCAA postseason March Madness tournament, in which they managed to progress to the round of the Sweet 16. The Vols would make a few more sporadic appearances throughout the 1980s and 90s, but only really emerged as consistent contenders from 2000 onward, qualifying for March Madness on 14 occasions since with 7 appearances in the Sweet 16. 2010 saw the Vols make their greatest inroads in the tournament, appearing in the Elite 8 for the first time, where they lost a heartbreaker to the Michigan State Spartans by a score of 70-69. Along with such collective team successes, the Volunteers basketball team has also seen several of its players go on to great careers in the NBA, including Bernard King, Allan Houston, Dale Ellis, and Tobias Harris. Basketball games at Thompson-Boling Arena are known for attracting big crowds, who match size with enthusiasm through their student section the Rocky Top Rowdies, who come prepared to rev up the home team and rattle any opposition bold enough to come play ball in Big Orange Country. As well as Volunteers basketball games, Thompson-Boling Arena has also hosted rounds of both the men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments, as well as many other high school and college sporting events. The venue’s size makes it especially attractive for large-scale events such as major conventions, comedy shows, and concerts, with everyone from the Eagles and Keith Urban to Lizzo and Justin TImberlake performing there over the years. Hungry visitors to Thompson-Boling Arena will find plenty of delicious snacks in the concessions, including hot dogs, ice cream, Pizza Hut pizza, Calhoun’s BBQ, and Petro’s Chili and Chips. If you are keen to buy some Volunteers merchandise, head to the shops and kiosks at Thompson-Boling Arena or around campus. 

How can I find the cheapest tickets to games and events at Thompson-Boling Arena?

Volunteers basketball games are the biggest draw at Thompson-Boling Arena, attracting large crowds for both the atmosphere and the team’s recent strong performances. Demand for seats continues to rise, particularly for key matchups such as conference deciders or finals, which can render tickets tricky to find. The solution? Head straight to the TicketX listings on this page to search for the cheapest tickets to Volunteers basketball games or other major events at the Thompson-Boling Arena and use our handy TicketX seating chart to compare different seating options in terms of price and location. You can purchase tickets with the lowest commission fees from TicketX with just a single click!

Thompson-Boling Arena Seating Chart

The Thompson-Boling Arena is a very large venue that offers its visitors a broad range of different seating options. Those keen on a more exclusive experience can opt for premium seating areas such as loge boxes, luxury suites, or baseline floor seats. For those looking to get a bit more involved with the fans and the game, large general admission seating sections throughout the rest of the venue are the ideal place to plunge into the crowd and cheer the Vols on to victory!

Getting to Thompson-Boling Arena (Transportation and Parking)

Visitors can access Thompson-Boling Arena via public transportation or driving their own vehicle. 

Getting to the Thompson-Boling Arena via public transportation

Knoxville has decent local bus and trolley service throughout the city and several of its bus lines stop quite close to Thompson-Boling Arena. A simpler and more convenient option, however, might be the shuttle services that run when there are games or events on at the arena. As a backup option, you could take a taxi or ride-share. Anyone staying on or near campus can walk to the venue. 

Getting to Thompson-Boling Arena by car

Driving to Thompson-Boling Arena in your own vehicle is fairly straightforward as long as you keep in mind the size of the venue and the traffic that big games and events will generate. Be sure to plan your route in advance and arrive nice and early. The official Tennessee Volunteers website has maps and driving directions to help you arrive on time at the venue.

Does Thompson-Boling Arena have on-site parking?

Yes, there is plenty of parking near Thompson-Boling Arena, but for men’s basketball games, these are only available to season ticket holders. Public parking can be found on the Ag campus, with shuttles running to and from the venue. Head to the official Tennessee Volunteers website for extensive parking information as well as useful maps.

How much does Thompson-Boling Arena parking cost?

Parking in the lots closest to Thompson-Boling Arena tends to cost $5-15 (when available), though the lots further afield are usually free. Check the official Tennessee Volunteers website for maps as well as information on parking prices.