By Josh Robbins Orlando Sentinel

10:14 a.m. EDT, August 24, 2011


It's difficult to build an NBA arena that stands out from the pack.

In sharp contrast to the sport of baseball — which enables architects to create quirky outfield dimensions and venues that sometimes employ retractable roofs — basketball arenas are inherently similar. Basketball courts always employ the same dimensions, and the arenas themselves always are closed to the elements. Designers also have to squeeze in a lot of functionality into a small land area.

But these arenas are special.

We're unveiling our picks for the NBA's top 10 venues.

MORE (and to see what they think of CHK Arena):
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-best-nba-arena-okc-thunder-0824-20110824,0,1027583.story

... The building is undergoing a significant renovation valued over $100 million, and the exterior should be significantly improved once the work is complete. The changes could vault the arena into the top three in our league rankings.

Right fair praise for an arena in a city some felt dinna stand a prayer of pulling off being a NBA city.

Right fair praise for an arena in a city some felt dinna stand a prayer of pulling off being a NBA city.

I liked this:


"Simply put, the Thunder have perhaps the best fans in the league, and their enthusiasm makes this building one of the NBA's top venues."

Such a downer to think that most likely we won't be able to scream our heads off there starting in October! Man, I am really going to miss hoops this year. Here's to hoping we can pack CHK Arena as soon as possible this season!

The NBA will play this season - don't worry about it.