Driving down 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta, you can’t really miss it. That giant, metallic mushroom cap-looking thing. To a stranger, it's just another stadium. But to anybody who has ever spent a Tuesday night screaming until their lungs burned while a ranked ACC team crumbled under the pressure of 8,600 people, it's something else entirely.
McCamish Pavilion is the official name, of course.
Honestly, most people still call it the Thrillerdome, or at least they think of it that way. But there's a weird tension there. Is it a new building? Is it an old building with a facelift? The truth is kinda complicated. It’s a 1950s skeleton wearing a $50 million tuxedo.
The Ghost in the Machine
You’ve gotta understand the history to get why this place feels the way it does. Back in 1956, it opened as Alexander Memorial Coliseum. It was named after William Alexander, a guy who basically was Georgia Tech athletics for decades. Back then, it was a marvel of engineering because of that dome. 32 steel ribs holding up a massive roof with zero support pillars in the way.
Every single person had a clear view. That was unheard of.
But by the late 2000s, the place was, well, it was getting gross. The sound system was a joke. The bathrooms were... let's not talk about the bathrooms. In 2011, they finally pulled the trigger on a massive overhaul. They didn't tear it down, though. Not really. They kept the "bones"—those 32 steel ribs and the dome—and basically built a brand-new arena underneath it.
Why the Name Changed
Hank McCamish was an insurance executive and a massive Tech supporter. His family dropped a $15 million gift to make the renovation happen. So, in 2012, the "Alexander" name moved to the exterior courtyard, and the building became McCamish Pavilion.
It was a total vibe shift.
The old version was bright, white, and sort of sterile-looking if there wasn't a game going on. The new version? It’s dark. It’s moody. They use what they call "theatrical lighting," which basically means the court is super bright and the stands stay dim. It feels like you’re watching a play, only the actors are 6'9" and trying to dunk on each other.
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Inside the Design: Not Your Average Gym
If you walk around the concourse today, look at the walls. You’ll see these weird, textured wooden panels. That’s actually the original floor from the old Thrillerdome. They literally chopped up the court where legends like Mark Price and John Salley played and turned it into wall art.
It’s a cool touch.
The renovation also fixed the "pit" problem. In the old days, you’d walk in and immediately go down. Now, there’s a proper concourse. You can be standing in line for a hot dog and still see the game because the walls between the hallway and the seats are gone.
- Capacity: 8,600 (Down from the nearly 10,000 it held in the 90s).
- The Court: Still named Cremins Court after Bobby Cremins.
- The Upper Deck: It’s steep. Like, "don't look down if you have vertigo" steep.
The seating is mostly chairbacks now. No more numb butt from sitting on cold metal bleachers for three hours.
The "Thrillerdome" Magic is Real (and Scientific)
People think the nickname is just marketing. It isn't. It was coined by a radio announcer because Georgia Tech had this uncanny habit of playing games that came down to the final buzzer.
But there’s a physical reason why McCamish Pavilion is so hard for visitors. The acoustics of the dome are a nightmare for opposing point guards. When the crowd gets going, the sound doesn't escape; it bounces off that metal ceiling and crashes back down onto the floor. It’s a wall of noise.
Just ask Duke or North Carolina. They’ve both walked into this building ranked in the top five and walked out with a loss.
In January 2026, we saw a bit of a different story, though. Pitt came in here and absolutely hammered the Jackets 89-66. It was a weird night. Coach Damon Stoudamire was pretty blunt afterward, saying the team didn't play hard enough. Even with the free hats they gave out to students, the energy just wasn't enough to overcome a bad shooting night.
That’s the thing about McCamish—the building provides the spark, but the players still have to bring the fuel.
Sustainability You Can't See
Tech is obsessed with being "green," and this building is no exception. It’s LEED Gold certified. They replaced all the mechanical systems with high-efficiency stuff. They even used a special type of decking for the upper level called SPS (Sandwich Plate System) which was a first for a domestic arena.
Basically, it's a smart building.
It’s part of a larger campus trend, like the Kendeda Building nearby, which actually produces more energy than it uses. McCamish isn't quite at that "net-positive" level, but for a massive sports arena, it's incredibly efficient.
Is it Actually Better?
Some old-school fans miss the grit of the original Coliseum. They miss the 9,500+ capacity. And yeah, the seats are a little tight. If you’re over 6'2", your knees are going to be intimate with the back of the chair in front of you.
But the trade-off is the experience.
You’re closer to the action than almost anywhere else in the ACC. The front row is basically on the hardwood. Even in the "cheap seats" in the 200 level, you feel like you’re hovering over the rim.
What to Know Before You Go
If you’re planning to catch a game, don’t just wing it.
- Parking is a headache. Seriously. Midtown traffic at 6:00 PM on a weekday is a circle of hell. Use the Tech Square deck or just take MARTA to North Avenue and walk.
- Clear bag policy. They’re strict. Don't bring your backpack.
- Food is... fine. It's stadium food. But they do have "Ale of an Engineer" and "Helluvienna Lager" from New Realm Brewing. It’s worth a try for the name alone.
The venue also hosts more than just basketball. You’ll see League One Volleyball (LOVB) matches here, and it's been the home for the Atlanta Dream and even the Hawks at various points.
The Reality Check
Look, McCamish Pavilion isn't the biggest arena in the country. It doesn't have the 20,000 seats of a Dean Dome or the history of Cameron Indoor. But it’s uniquely Atlanta. It’s a mix of mid-century engineering and modern tech-school nerdery.
It’s intimate. It’s loud. And when the yellow jackets are actually buzzing, there isn't a more uncomfortable place for a visiting team in the South.
If you want to experience it the right way, find a game against a top-tier ACC opponent. Wait for the moment the "Budweiser" song starts playing and the students start jumping. That’s when the ghost of the Thrillerdome actually shows up.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the current season schedule for the Yellow Jackets and aim for a weekend game to avoid the worst of the 10th Street traffic. If you're looking for the best view without the premium price, try to snag tickets in the first five rows of the 200-level balcony—the verticality of the arena gives you a better tactical view of the court than the lower-bowl corners. Make sure to download your tickets to your digital wallet before reaching the gate, as cell service can get spotty right at the entrance when the crowd peaks.