01/14/2026
The Pit opened in 1966, born from a vision by Architect Joe Boehning. Instead of rising into the sky, the arena was carved 37 feet into the earth, creating a bowl-shaped design that would bring fans right on top of the action, literally amplifying the energy. When it first opened, The Pit was considered an architectural masterpiece. The design maximized seating within a minimal above-ground presence, and its sound quality, enhanced by the enclosed underground shape, became legendary.
What made The Pit even more remarkable was the unconventional way it was built. Rather than excavating first, the construction team began by assembling the arena's massive 338-by-300-foot roof at street level. Only after the roof was complete did builders dig downward, carving out the 37-foot-deep basin that would become the arena floor. This reverse-order construction was almost unheard of at the time and instantly set The Pit apart from other arenas of its era. To shape the bowl, crews removed approximately 55,000 cubic yards of earth and replaced it with nearly 28,000 cubic yards of concrete as the steep seating walls rose from the ground.
This inventive method also produced one of The Pit's signature features: completely unobstructed sightlines because the roof spans the arena without interior support columns, every seat offers a clear, direct view of the court. Anchoring the structure directly into the earth instead of relying on a large steel framework also delivered surprising cost efficiency. The entire project was completed for just $1.4 million, a remarkably low figure even for the mid-1960's.
Over the years, The Pit has seen several upgrades, including a major renovation in 2009-2010 that modernized seating, expanded amenities, and improved athlete and fan facilities, all while preserving the arena's iconic feel. Despite these enhancements, The Pit hasn't changed that much. It's still loud, full of energy and pure New Mexico. It's more than a place; it's an experience you can't forget.
📸 University of New Mexico Basketball
