Arena Wars: Breslin Center vs. Kohl Center

Welcome to another edition of our summer series Arena Wars, where we've summoned the fans to defend their home court.

Poll In which arena would you rather experience a game? Breslin Center Kohl Center

Each week we pit two arenas and fans against each. Could be arenas of rival teams, arenas with similar characteristics or arenas that are simply historically significant. Then it's put up to vote and you decide which arena has the greatest home-court advantage.

This week we're keeping in the Big Ten for a matchup of Michigan State's Breslin Center and Wisconsin's Kohl Center. If you've visited either arena, chip in with your experiences in the message board below.

Wisconsin's Kohl Center is among the newest arenas we'll feature during our series. Though it doesn't have a long history, the Kohl Center has quickly become a house of horrors for visiting teams. The Badgers have lost just 22 games at home since its opening in 1998, while racking up 156 victories.

The Breslin Center opened its doors in November of 1989, and Michigan State has compiled a sparkling home record of 267-39. Between 2000-2002 the Spartans won 53 straight home games, a Big Ten record.

One of the Spartans' greatest victories at the Breslin Center just happens to have come vs. Wisconsin. The Badgers were the No. 1 ranked team in the nation when they visited the Spartans in February of 2007, but left with a 64-55 loss.

Breslin Center -- home of the Michigan State Spartans

What's so special about The Brez? With 15,000 seats, it is by no means the largest basketball arena. Certainly the 53-game home winning streak (2000-02) is impressive but it's not the longest in the NCAA. In the 20 seasons since it opened, the Jack Breslin Student Events Center has stood witness to a remarkable four undefeated-at-home seasons and a 267-39 (.875) home-court record, one of the best in the country. Only 19 of 99 different opponents have ever won. The Brez is home to Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans, a perennial basketball power. Yes, there are other great basketball teams. However, such notable teams as Louisville, Nebraska, Arkansas, UCLA, UConn, Florida, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, UNC, UNLV, Oklahoma, Virginia and Duke would rather submit to a colonoscopy than come to East Lansing, knowing it's a hostile environment, knowing just how difficult it is to escape with a win. Only nine of 89 out-of-conference opponents have ever won at The Brez. Only one OOC team has ever won twice. Fast facts Opened 1989 Location East Lansing, Mi. Capacity 14,759 What's so special about The Brez? Maybe it's championship magic. The NCAA champion Spartans had a 28-game winning streak entering the 2000-01 season. During the offseason, Coach Izzo brought the championship floor from the RCA Dome in Indianapolis and installed it (Lupe did the design). The Spartans continued undefeated on that floor for nearly two more years (25 games) before falling by one in a thriller against Wisconsin. During that time, a myth that the Spartans were invincible at home took hold and grew. While that myth has since been debunked, the Spartans are 130-12 (with three OOC losses), including the current 39-game OOC winning streak, since the floor was installed. Duke was the last OOC opponent to win (Dec. 3, 2003). Maybe it's the Izzone ("Always Imitated. Never Duplicated."). With close to 4,000 members cheering the Spartans on, the Izzone creates a loud, exciting and intimidating atmosphere, and a considerable home-court advantage. The Spartans at home can always rely on their sixth man. Did you know? The arena is named for Jack Breslin, MSU alumnus, former athlete and administrator, who first began pushing for the arena as far back as 1969. Breslin was the captain and most valuable player of the 1945 football team. Of all the games played in The Brez, there will always be one in particular that stands out. Feb. 20, 2007. The day No. 1 fell. The day that the Izzone proved its reputation was well-deserved. Wisconsin was a model of greatness, a school-record 30 wins, after victories over No. 2 Pitt and No. 5 Ohio State, until Feb. 20, in the Brez. It was all the Izzone. The Izzone was in rare form. The Brez rocked. It was deafening. It continues to echo even today. -- MSUSpartan76

Kohl Center -- home of the Wisconsin Badgers

Where do I begin. ... Back before 1998, the University of Wisconsin played its basketball in a facility called "The Field House" and their hockey in a facility called "The Coliseum". The Field House was a pretty good place to watch a basketball game. It was loud, there were good seats almost everywhere you sat and our team was pretty good to boot. But it only sat about 11,000 people, there were no luxury boxes and if you were on the second level, it was a very long walk down to the first level to get food or go to the bathroom. That is what we had and we dealt with it. The Coliseum is just a big round dome that looks like an alien spaceship from the outside and wasn't very pretty. They had some luxury boxes and better access to food and bathrooms, but it held fewer people than the Field House did. So in 1998, thanks to a very generous $25 million donation from Senator Herb Kohl and $10 million from the Nicholas-Johnson family of Wisconsin, plus various other donations, we were able to build the greatest facility in the country, The Kohl Center. If you have never been to this arena, you need to. It holds about 18,000 people, has a ton of luxury boxes on the first two levels (each with their own bathroom, food and drinks, fridge, private patio to watch the game, TV and a concierge right there if you need anything else), tons of concession stands, ice cream stands, bathrooms all over the place, just an all-around great place to watch a game. Fast facts Opened 1998 Location Madison, Wi. Capacity 17,230 But it's not the bathrooms that really make this place the greatest place to watch a basketball or hockey game. It is the fans. The fans in this place are the greatest on earth. Let's start with the student section. They call themselves "The Grateful Red" and they have T-shirts to show it proudly. I don't think they sit down the entire game. They are always standing, cheering, chanting, taunting fans who dare to wear a shirt from the opposition that day, and really get the rest of the crowd involved. They are awesome!! Plus the rest of the crowd, the "older folk" if you will, is just as loud when they need to be. Bucky Badger is always around to shake hands with the kids and don't forget about Mike Lecrone and the band. They know how to get things going too!! Did you know? The Kohl Center has three levels, with the floor holding about 7,500 people, and the two upper balconies about 4,500 each. It is the third largest indoor venue in Wisconsin and the largest outside Milwaukee. We have had some great players come through Wisconsin since the Kohl Center was built, including Devin Harris and Alondo Tucker. These two were probably the best of the best. Devin left early but we can't blame him for that. Alondo stuck around for his senior season and that panned out pretty good. Also don't forget the 2000 Final Four team (Mike Kelley, Kirk Penney, Doc Duany, Charlie Wills, Jon Bryant, Mark Vershaw and more), the 2002 NCAA Tourney Midwest Regional Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games were played here, and I didn't even get into how great hockey is to watch here also. I hope that I made my point pretty clear about the Kohl Center being the best place to watch a game. Now go out and vote for Wisconsin!!! -- ktopp24