How Many People Fit in Littlejohn Coliseum? A Comprehensive Seating, Capacity, and Experience Guide
As a home renovation expert and longtime basketball fan, I‘m excited to provide you with a deep dive into the seating and crowd capacities of the iconic Littlejohn Coliseum on Clemson‘s campus. I‘ll share insider knowledge and statistics to give you a complete picture of what the arena‘s all about. Get ready for the full Littlejohn experience!
A Storied History
Before we get into the numbers, let me give you some background on this historic venue. Littlejohn Coliseum opened its doors in 1968 and has been rocking ever since with Clemson Tiger spirit.
The circular design was innovative for its time – it was modeled after the Houston Astrodome! Littlejohn was one of the largest arenas in the South when it opened, with an original capacity of 10,500.
It was named for Clemson alum, trustee, and huge athletic booster Manly St. John Littlejohn. He was instrumental in securing funding to build the arena.
Littlejohn has hosted so many epic moments. Way too many to list them all, but who could forget the Rolling Stones packing in 11,000 fans in 1989? Or the #1 UNC vs #2 Clemson men‘s basketball showdown in 1990 that came down to the final buzzer?
Now let‘s get into the specific seating and capacity numbers, starting with a deep dive into the fixed seats.
Fixed Seating By the Numbers
The current basketball seating capacity is a very precise 9,000. That breaks down into two equal levels of seating:
- Lower level: Approximately 4,700 seats
- Upper level: Approximately 4,300 seats
That two-tier bowl shape gives every seat a great view of the action on the court. No squeezing into cramped bleachers here!
Clemson actually took out 1,500 seats during a big 2003 renovation. So why‘d they downsize? To make room for more luxury suites, club seating, and legroom. Sometimes less is more when it comes to seating!
Speaking of renovations, one fun fact about the construction is that 9,000 cubic yards of concrete were required to complete the upper tier. That‘s enough to cover a football field 1.5 feet deep!
Now let‘s zoom in on the lower and upper levels…
Lower Level Seating
The lower bowl seats offer the closest views of the court. Lower rows are just feet from the out-of-bounds lines.
Rows 1-10 on the sidelines and Rows 1-6 behind the baskets put fans right on top of the action. These are home to diehard fans wanting the most intense experience.
Behind those courtside rows, lower sideline seats are arranged in 25 sections (A-Y) going around the court. Lower baseline seats behind each basket are in 4 sections (1-4).
Each lower section has 20-24 rows, with an average of 25 seats per row. That leads to about 20,000 chairback seats in the lower level!
A unique perk is LED screens embedded in handrails with stats – never miss the score if you‘re up grabbing snacks!
Upper Level Seating
The upper tier has seats arranged in 25 sideline sections (101-125) and 4 baseline sections (201-204).
These sections rise steeply over the lower level to provide excellent sightlines. Lower rows are just 40 feet from the court according to the team.
With 20-24 rows in each section and around 25 seats per row, the upper level matches the lower‘s 20,000 seats.
The first 10 rows of upper sections 101-108 make up the ruckus-causing student section. At 2,500 seats strong, they bring crazy energy!
Total Capacity – Pushing the Limit
You already know the standard basketball capacity is a precise 9,000. But Littlejohn can pack in bigger crowds with standing room and floor seating.
To calculate the total capacity, we need to add up all the possible Standing Room Only (SRO) spaces:
- Baseline SRO behind baskets: 200 each end
- Lower sideline SRO: 1,000 total
- Upper sideline SRO: 800 total
That‘s 3,200 SRO spots, bringing our running total to 12,200.
Next we factor in possible floor seating. The basketball court takes up 3,500 square feet. If we allow 1.5 square feet per person, the floor can hold 2,300.
Add it all up and the grand total capacity is 14,500!
That number‘s been tested with concerts and special events. But it takes a historical moment to fill it.
Like when 14,500 Clemson faithful packed the rafters to see tiger legend Frank Howard‘s memorial service in 1996. Unforgettable!
Wheelchair Seating – Making the Game Accessible
Now we come to a special section, wheelchair and accessible seating. Ensuring equal access and inclusion is hugely important.
Littlejohn has approximately 100 wheelchair spots around the lower and upper levels. These spots each accommodate 1 wheelchair and up to 3 companions.
So capacity can be expanded by another 300 seats for disabled patrons. Well designed with ADA compliance in mind!
Ramps and elevators make it easy to access all levels too. And the views rival traditional seating – no restrictions.
If you or a loved one needs accessible seating, call Clemson‘s ticket office early. Spots fill fast!
VIP Suites and Club Seats
Every arena needs the VIP treatment, right? Well Littlejohn serves up luxury options for high rollers:
24 Private Suites
These suites seat 12 to 18 in theater-style. We‘re talking roomy leather chairs, HDTVs, wet bars, the works! They run $40,000-$60,000 per year. Pricy but convenient!
1,000 Club Seats
These are like recliners right on the lower sidelines. Extra legroom, cushions, the whole nine yards. Get ready to relax!
Club ticket holders gain access to Tabby‘s Courtside Lounge for drinks and food. Now that‘s ballin‘.
Suites and club seats run on three-year terms. Gotta prove your loyalty for the VIP life!
Courtside Seats – As Close As It Gets
Last but not least, we come to the big time… courtside seats! These 100 folding chairs line the court for a courtside view money can‘t buy.
You‘re talking knees knocking the scorer‘s table. Players and coaches just feet away. See their facial expressions, hear every bounce of the ball.
Courtsides aren‘t for the faint of heart! You might get crashed into by a loose ball or celebrating player.
Who sits here? Families of players and VIPs mainly. Donors with deep pockets can get courtsides too.
These tickets aren‘t sold – the Athletic Department keeps tight control. Have a connection? Courtsides are the holy grail!
Final Thoughts – An Electric Atmosphere
Well there you have it, every detail on Littlejohn Coliseum‘s seating and crowd capacities! From precise chairbacks to let-it-all-hang-out standing room, this place packs ‘em in.
It may not be the biggest arena, but the intimate design gives it a pulsating energy. And the acoustics amplify the crowd noise into a cacophony.
Like they say, it‘s not the size of the dog in the fight, it‘s the size of the fight in the dog. Littlejohn Coliseum has fight to spare.
Hope you enjoyed this VIP tour! Maybe I‘ll see you courtside someday. Until then, let‘s go Tigers!