Venue #18: Centenary - 15 Feb. 2011

Team: Centenary Gentlemen (Summit League)
Arena: The Gold Dome (Capacity: 3000)
Chill Factor: 7/10
Crowd Factor: 6/10
Cost Factor: 5/5
Food Factor: 2/5
Mascot Factor: 0/5
PA Factor: 4/5
Total: 24/40
Result: Oral Roberts 81, @Centenary 61

Unbeknownst to most of the college basketball viewing public, one of the most bizarre venues in the country is tucked away in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. The Gold Dome, home to the Centenary Gentlemen, appears from the outside to be a giant golden golf ball jammed into the ground. The inside, as seen above, is perhaps even more bizarre. Unfortunately, the Gold Dome will descend even further into obscurity as the tiny college has given up on the D1 dream and will be heading to D3 next year--and perhaps a season too late given the Gentlemen's 0-28 record thus far.*

Here's hoping the Gents manage to do as the banner implores.

The Gents' woes certainly impacted the crowd (391), but the faithful few in attendance were both knowledgeable and enthusiastic. As I watched Oral Roberts simply dominate the Gentlemen in the paint, I found myself wishing that I had seen the Gold Dome during Robert Parrish's tenure, when he alone dominated the paint and Centenary was nationally ranked. Speaking of Parrish, there was an awesome display commemorating his time--no, wait, there is actually no indication that Robert Parrish ever played at Centenary. That shocking oversight is the one real problem with the Gold Dome as a venue. Nonetheless, it's well worth a visit (tickets are only $5, $3 if you're a non-Centenary student) if you're in the area. And, hey, maybe Centenary will save enough money as a D3 school to get a mascot to go with their clever bathroom door.

*I'd bet my last dollar that Centenary beats Western Illinois in their second to last home game. Having seen both teams play this year, I can't imagine the Leathernecks--minus do-everything guard Ceola Clark III-- beating the Gents in Shreveport.