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Corbett Sports Center
One of the loudest and traditionally most challenging places to play in Division I hoops is the Ellis F. Corbett Center.
Over the years, Corbett Sports Center has been a place to celebrate many North Carolina A&T basketball victories, a place of frustration for opponents, and a place to have a fun time for the millions of students, fans, alumni and faculty who have walked through the doors since the building opened in 1978.
In a poll on espn.com, fans ranked the Aggies as the 14th best atmosphere in the nation in 2006. In 2010, ESPN columnist Kyle Whelliston chose Corbett as one of his favorite arena atmospheres. North Carolina A&T was the only HBCU school in the poll, and in 2007 they had three games nationally televised on ESPNU. In 2018, Corbett ranked as the eighth-best atmosphere among mid-majors. After an upset win over North Carolina Central in 2017 in which the crowd partied while the DJ played during timeouts, it earned the label #ClubCorbett.Â
A remodeled Corbett looks to make the atmosphere inside even better. Among the changes made at Corbett over the years includes a new floor, luxury stadium seating, a new sound system and more concessions for the crowd's convenience and a new LED high-definition video scoreboard.Â
The Aggies have also added murals to the walls to highlight some of the greatest coaches and players in women’s and men’s basketball history.Â
The renovations have enhanced the look and atmosphere inside of Corbett, but one theme will remain consistent -- winning. The men's basketball team has won close to 70 percent of its games in Corbett since opening the facility on Dec. 3, 1978, with a win over UNC Asheville, 80-69.Â
The Aggie men have won more than 300 games inside Corbett. The women have more than 200 wins at the home facility. Â Â
Many more impressive feats have occurred inside Corbett Sports Center, including the Aggies 37-game winning streak they held from January 18, 1986, until November 30, 1988, under legendary men's basketball coach Don Corbett. The men have not lost a home conference game since Feb. 28, 2017. The A&T women won 21 straight at Corbett starting Dec. 19, 2007, and ending on Dec. 1, 2009.Â
The building is named for Ellis F. Corbett, who served N.C. A&T for nearly 50 years. While his official title was Sports Information Director, he performed many other roles on campus, including Dorm Counselor. He was a member of the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics.
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