Editing The Palestra (section)

== History ==

The Palestra opened in 1927, taking its name from Greek training grounds for athletes. The arena was designed to serve Penn's basketball and other athletic programs, with a seating bowl that places fans close to the court in steep configuration that creates intense atmosphere. From its opening, the Palestra became a center for Philadelphia basketball, hosting Penn home games and eventually becoming the primary venue for Big 5 competition.<ref name="gallery">{{cite book |last=Gallery |first=John Andrew |title=Philadelphia Architecture: A Guide to the City |year=2016 |publisher=Paul Dry Books |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

The Palestra's golden era coincided with the Big 5's peak years from the 1950s through 1970s, when doubleheaders featuring two Big 5 games drew packed crowds and national attention. These games created legendary atmospheres, with the arena's acoustics amplifying crowd noise into sounds that made visiting teams feel overwhelmed. The tradition of excellence, combined with the venue's distinctive character, established the Palestra's reputation as college basketball's preeminent arena.<ref name="palestra"/>