The Rhodes Field House has been selected as one of the Top 10 finalists for the Best Road Trip destination in the country for basketball games.
CBS will air the winner of the Facebook contest during the Best of College Basketball special on April 6, during the men’s Division I Final Four game. The winner is chosen based on the amount of votes received via Facebook.
“This is a great honor to be featured in the final 10, especially as the only Division II school amongst all of these Division I schools,” head men’s basketball coach Jeff Morgan said. “These are some great basketball schools that we are up against. The Rhodes is a great place to experience some high-spirited fellowship.”
According to alumni relations director Liz Howell, if Harding wins the competition President David Burks will give away two tickets to the Final Four Championship Game on Monday, April 6 in Atlanta, dinner and transportation on the Harding plane are also included.
The contest is open to Harding students only. The Final Four prize package will be drawn on Saturday, March 2, at Senior Day for the Bison basketball teams.
The winner of the best destination competition will be announced nationally April 6. However, if Harding wins CBS will come on or before the Bisons’ last game to film footage for the feature.
The Rhodes has consistently been a favorite arena for traveling teams. With Bison fans packing the stands, they hold 5 of the 10 single-game attendance marks in the Gulf South Conference history.
The Rhodes is also in numerous Arkansas travel books. Listed as one of the main attractions is to watch a game in the well-known Rhodes Field House.
“I feel like the architecture of the Rhodes really makes the experience that much better,” sophomore guard Michael Gullotta said. “The Rhodes Rowdies are going crazy and that just adds so much excitement for the team, with the crowd having such an intricate part in the game.”
The Rhodes Field House was entered in the competition by Harding Sports Information Director Tim Hamilton and Assistant Sports Information Director Nathan Looney.
Rhodes Field House was previously a World War II airplane hangar that was bought as war surplus by Dr. George Benson.
The Rhodes has been home to the Bisons for many years. The team played there from 1957-1976, then moved their home to the Ganus Athletic Center in 1976. They returned to the Rhodes after it was renovated in 1997.
If Harding were to win the contest, it would not be the first time that Harding would have been featured nationwide.
CBS aired a game between Harding and Henderson State in 2008 as the CBS Sports game of the week.
Today is the last day to vote in the competition.
To vote, go to the GEICO Best of College Basketball Facebook page and click on best road trips, then vote for Rhodes Field House at Harding University.
