As a Wake Forest alumnus I am no fan of Duke. My dislike of the school has waned over the years as I become less interested in sports. It still pains me to say this - Cameron Indoor is one of the top sports cultural events in the US and the only college basketball experiences that qualifies as something you must do at least once in your lifetime.
The fans make Cameron Indoor. Specially the students who in some cases camp out nights in advance for a chance at the half-court seats to cheer on the Blue Devils and try to psyche out the opponent.
The "stadium" itself is impressive as well. Cameron Indoor opened in 1940 and at the time was the largest arena on the East Coast after The Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania (another great place to watch a game). Times have changed and now Cameron's capacity of 9,300 fans seems like an intimate experience compared to today's larger complexes. Common areas and concession stands have been updated. There's a new addition on the south side and an alumni lounge. But the game experience feels as classic as ever.
The fans make Cameron Indoor. Specially the students who in some cases camp out nights in advance for a chance at the half-court seats to cheer on the Blue Devils and try to psyche out the opponent.
The "stadium" itself is impressive as well. Cameron Indoor opened in 1940 and at the time was the largest arena on the East Coast after The Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania (another great place to watch a game). Times have changed and now Cameron's capacity of 9,300 fans seems like an intimate experience compared to today's larger complexes. Common areas and concession stands have been updated. There's a new addition on the south side and an alumni lounge. But the game experience feels as classic as ever.
Duke students begin to congregate a few hours or days before a game on the grassy area by the Stadium. Student seating is on a first come basis. The gatherings became so large and involved so many tents that it became known as Krzyzewskiville in honor of Duke's coach, Mike Krzyzewski. There is a policy that establishes guidelines on how students may organize and retain their position in line while waiting to attend the game. Prior to the game students are drinking, playing games, and listening to music.
Students enter the stadium an hour and a half before the game and from that point forward the unleash a barrage of insults and taunts at the opponent. Students were various costumes and paint to show their support. There are group leaders who coordinate cheers so the students can have a mass of activity directed in one direction. The best case scenario is for a close game and the student section stays engage for the entire game. While tickets may be cheaper and easier to find when class is not in session, attending a game when the students aren't there doesn't make much sense from an experience perspective.
Besides the students the other main thing to view during the game is Duke's coach, Mike Krzyzsewki. All he seems to do is rat on the other team when he thinks they've committed a foul. He rats about traveling. He rats about a charge call. He rats about everything.
Duke's Sports Hall of Fame is connected to Cameron Indoor and as you can probably imagine given all of the schools successes it is packed with trophies, retired jerseys, and memorabilia. It's like starring at ghosts from the past. The Hall of Fame is open before game days and takes about thirty minutes to see all the awards.
If it's your first experience at Cameron Indoor it's best to arrive at least an hour and a half before the game. You can watch the students partying out front then see them line up and enter the stadium - the entrance is well organized so it's a bit anticlimactic if you are expected a frenzied free for all. General Admission entrance starts an hour before the game so the time between can be spent at the Duke Sports Hall of Fame.
Duke's Sports Hall of Fame is connected to Cameron Indoor and as you can probably imagine given all of the schools successes it is packed with trophies, retired jerseys, and memorabilia. It's like starring at ghosts from the past. The Hall of Fame is open before game days and takes about thirty minutes to see all the awards.
If it's your first experience at Cameron Indoor it's best to arrive at least an hour and a half before the game. You can watch the students partying out front then see them line up and enter the stadium - the entrance is well organized so it's a bit anticlimactic if you are expected a frenzied free for all. General Admission entrance starts an hour before the game so the time between can be spent at the Duke Sports Hall of Fame.
HOW TO: ATTEND A DUKE BASKETBALL GAME
Stub Hub and other sites have made it much easier to obtain Duke tickets. The question is how much to pay.
The obvious consideration is where to sit. From a viewing perspective there's not a bad seat except for those behind the baskets. We were in the second to last row and could still see bad calls on the far side of the court. The key consideration is that in addition to viewing the game, you also want to view the Duke students - thus you do NOT want to be sitting behind them. An "odd" seat in Section 3 to an "even" seat in Section 10 (from which Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are included) guarantees a view of the Cameron Crazies.
Stub Hub and other sites have made it much easier to obtain Duke tickets. The question is how much to pay.
The obvious consideration is where to sit. From a viewing perspective there's not a bad seat except for those behind the baskets. We were in the second to last row and could still see bad calls on the far side of the court. The key consideration is that in addition to viewing the game, you also want to view the Duke students - thus you do NOT want to be sitting behind them. An "odd" seat in Section 3 to an "even" seat in Section 10 (from which Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are included) guarantees a view of the Cameron Crazies.
ACC games or a Top 25 team tend to attract higher ticket prices but should also be a better game. If you are buying tickets at the start of the season, a good bet would be to go to a game with a middle of the pack ACC team and hope they have a good year. In 2017, UNC tickets were selling for $1,000 each.
Closer to game day you may or may not get a better deal. There may also be tickets available in the student section. These are legitimate tickets and if you want the all in experience this is a good option...but...and this is a big but...you will be standing the entire game. Plus you don't enter with the students, you enter after the students and are tucked away in the corner. Plus you don't have a great view of the student section. It's a tough call. I purchased two tickets to the Wake Forest game in the second to last row for $250. It was a great experience and a great value. |
In addition to ticket sales people are selling parking passes. You don't need a parking pass - particularly if you are arriving early, it's your first time, and want to check out the campus. Parking costs $10 and is a ten minute, slightly uphill walk to the University's center. Cameron Indoor is another five minutes through the heart of the University.
Stadium concessions aren't anything spectacular - you can get Bojangles and a few other local options. Beer is sold at the Sports Hall of Fame, however, you can't bring it into Cameron Indoor. Duke has Devil's Den bar and a cafe on campus as well as all the other fancy dining options you'd expect at an elite, private university. The West Campus Union Building is a good area to hang out before and after the game for people watching.
Stadium concessions aren't anything spectacular - you can get Bojangles and a few other local options. Beer is sold at the Sports Hall of Fame, however, you can't bring it into Cameron Indoor. Duke has Devil's Den bar and a cafe on campus as well as all the other fancy dining options you'd expect at an elite, private university. The West Campus Union Building is a good area to hang out before and after the game for people watching.