As the NBA continues to evolve its midseason tournament-the NBA Cup-Commissioner Adam Silver is already thinking outside the box for its future. Ahead of Tuesday’s NBA Cup title game between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, Silver floated the idea of moving the final from Las Vegas to a more unconventional, yet iconic venue: a storied college basketball arena.
“We've loved our experience in Vegas,” Silver said during a pregame appearance on the NBA on Prime broadcast. “We're talking with Amazon Prime about whether it makes sense to maybe go to some unique locations for the final game.
They've suggested, for example, some storied college arenas. So we're just looking at other ways to do this.”
That comment opened the door to a fascinating conversation-what if the NBA Cup championship was played not under the bright lights of Vegas, but in the hallowed halls of college basketball history?
A Different Kind of Stage
It’s a bold concept: take two of the best teams in the league, stack them with elite-level talent, and drop them into an intimate, tradition-rich environment like Cameron Indoor Stadium or Allen Fieldhouse. You’re trading 20,000-seat arenas for venues that barely crack 10,000, but the atmosphere? That could be electric.
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander dove into the idea, listing college arenas that could serve as fitting hosts. Parrish pointed to Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas), Cameron Indoor (Duke), and The Palestra (Penn), among others.
His take? Sometimes less is more.
“Take two of the best professional basketball teams in the world, some of the best basketball players on the planet and put them at Cameron Indoor,” Parrish said. “I know it has a capacity of only 9,314.
But what does that mean? We sell 9,000 fewer tickets for one game?
It’s fine.”
Parrish's full list:
- Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas)
- Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)
- The Palestra (Penn)
- Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler)
- The Pit (New Mexico)
Norlander, meanwhile, leaned into the idea of taking the game to states without NBA franchises-places where the arrival of an NBA-level event would be a major moment for the local basketball community. His list included:
- Rupp Arena (Kentucky)
- Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas)
- Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler)
- Assembly Hall (Indiana)
- Dean E. Smith Center (North Carolina)
“I love the idea of going to a state that does not have an NBA franchise,” Norlander said. “... because of the nature of the event and the unique nature of the event, you might be able to get people who are more willing to come that never have.”
Atmosphere Over Capacity?
Sure, there are logistical hurdles. Cameron Indoor, for example, seats just over 9,000.
That’s a far cry from the 18,000-plus fans who typically pack NBA arenas. But imagine the intensity of a title game in a venue where the crowd is practically on top of the court, where the echoes of college basketball legends still linger in the rafters.
It’s not about maximizing ticket revenue-it’s about creating a moment.
And while there’s no official word on whether the NBA will actually take the Cup title game to a college campus, the idea is very much on the table. Silver, a Duke alum who also serves on the university’s board of trustees, has personal ties to at least one of these iconic venues. That doesn't guarantee anything, but it certainly adds a layer of intrigue.
A New Tradition in the Making?
The NBA Cup is still in its infancy, and the league is clearly open to experimentation. Hosting the final in a college arena wouldn’t just be a change of scenery-it would be a statement. A nod to the sport’s roots, a celebration of basketball history, and a way to bring the game to places that don’t typically get to experience NBA action in person.
Whether it’s the deafening roar inside The Pit, the storied bleachers at The Palestra, or the unmatched energy of Allen Fieldhouse, there’s something undeniably special about college basketball arenas. And if the NBA is serious about making the Cup a signature event on the calendar, giving it a unique identity-one tied to the soul of the sport-might be just the move to make it stick.
So while Vegas has been a solid host, don’t be surprised if the next NBA Cup title game tips off somewhere with a little more history and a lot more character.