📍 Fairfax, Virginia
🏀 Home of George Mason Patriots basketball

Just outside our nation’s capital is the city of Fairfax, Virginia, home of George Mason University. As the much-needed replacement for the school’s tiny on-campus gymnasium, the venue presently known as EagleBank Arena opened in 1985 and plays host to the Patriots men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The university itself, which split from the University of Virginia in 1972, is named after the Founding Father famous for writing the Fairfax Resolves and the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the latter of which was a predecessor of our nation’s Bill of Rights. Today, the school is the largest public university in Virginia.

The Patriot Center, as it was then known, was christened in 1985 with a Washington Bullets home game against the New York Knicks, which featured the debut of future superstar Patrick Ewing. Since moving in, the Patriots have amassed a dominating win record at EagleBank Arena over the years, staying perfect at home on several occasions.

The pinnacle of the program’s history thus far came in 2006, when the Patriots made a Cinderella run to the Final Four, besting powerhouse UConn in the Elite Eight but ultimately falling short of the National Championship with a loss to Florida.

Renovations in 2009 brought the complex to its current state, which is honestly average amongst its Atlantic 10 peers. The facility is dated and lacks any eye-catching architecture or design elements. However, the atmosphere of Patriots games more than make up for what EagleBank Arena lacks in charm.

The biggest source of energy during games is the Patriots’ school band, called “Doc Nix & The Green Machine”, which might just be the best band in mid-major basketball. Led by its eponymous director, Doc Nix, the band has been named as the best pep band in college sports – and with good reason. The Green Machine features the usual brass instruments and drumset, along with a lead vocalist and even an electric guitar. It’s truly a special part of gameday at George Mason.

Although it may not be the most glamorous of settings, there’s definitely a great atmosphere that pairs with great basketball here in Fairfax. If you’re looking for a fun mid-major arena to check out, a Patriots game at EagleBank Arena shouldn’t be slept on.