‘The Jungle is real’: Neville Arena earning reputation for elite environment

AUBURN, Ala. – After playing at Auburn two weeks ago, Kentucky head coach John Calipari wrapped up his postgame press conference with a mention of the sold-out crowd at Neville Arena.

“Every game we play is either (College) GameDay on the road or look at this crowd. I can’t believe all these people are in here,” he said.

What Calipari didn't understand is that the fans didn’t show up that night because it was Kentucky. They showed up because it was Auburn. Every game this season has been sold out. There’s a current streak of 53 consecutive sellouts at Neville Arena. The students have waited in line countless times during the season. They camped out two weeks earlier for the Alabama game.

Yes, Calipari’s Kentucky team might have won the game. But that was the first team all season to beat Auburn in Neville Arena. It was only the third team to beat Auburn in Neville Arena in the last three seasons. The Tigers are 43-3 at home in that span, and with the exception of the COVID season (2020-21) when there was limited capacity, Auburn is 89-7 at home since the beginning of the 2017-18 season.  

Just ask Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams what he thinks of Neville Arena.

“I think the environment is all that you want college basketball to be,” Williams said after a loss at Auburn earlier this year. “Everybody is hollering at me and mad at the officials. As far as you can see, people are standing up there. They’re here as soon as we get here. I don’t think they’re all drinking water. I like it. Great environment

The rest of the College GameDay crew echoed what Davis said about Neville Arena. There's a reason they keep coming back year after year after year.

Jay Bilas: “The success of the program is No. 1. You know you’re going to get a relentless, hard-playing team that’s challenging for championships. But also, when you get into the atmosphere and the Jungle, there are a lot of times where we’re not saying anything because nobody could hear us anyway. I know there are a lot of loud buildings out there, but the games I’ve been to here at Auburn, it’s as loud as anywhere I’ve ever been.”

Jay Williams: “There is this consistent high-pitched sound that is here. Most stadiums, there are lulls. It might get really loud, but then it might get low or mid-level. I just feel like here it’s either always loud or the game isn’t actually being played. There’s a timeout. But even during stoppage of play, it’s always loud.”

Seth Greenberg: “The Jungle is real. Every time we’ve come here, it never disappoints. The show is a national television show, but having the passion of the student body and fans creates an energy that makes the show better. If you think about it, there are only seven College GameDay’s, and they’ve got one of those seven in four of the last five years. It’s a testament to the program they have been able to build. It’s a testament to the energy that surrounds the program. It’s a testament to how they play.”

After two straight road games, Auburn will wrap up the regular season with two of the last three games at home. That means two more chances to see the Tigers play in Neville Arena, two more chances to extend the sellout streak, two more chances to showcase one of college basketball’s best environments. 

Calipari might have thought all those Auburn fans were there because the Tigers were playing Kentucky, but they will be there again for Mississippi State on Saturday and for Georgia the next Saturday.

The Jungle is indeed real and only growing stronger regardless of the opponent.