How Iowa State Built College Basketball's Best Gameday

Iowa State Cyclones basketball games at Hilton Coliseum are widely regarded as one of the best gameday experiences in college basketball. The secret behind the electric atmosphere in Ames is a carefully orchestrated production led by Jeff Johnson, who has run event and gameday operations for Cyclone basketball since 2000. His work, alongside the Iowa State Athletic Marketing Department, turns a rural Iowa arena into a fortress that gives the Cyclones one of the strongest home court advantages in the nation.

What Makes Hilton Coliseum Different

Hilton Coliseum sits in Ames, far from the bright lights of major media markets. But what the arena lacks in metropolitan flash, it makes up for with genuine community passion. Fans pack the building as soon as doors open, and the noise builds quickly. It is not just a basketball game. It is a community gathering rooted in Iowa values and Cyclone pride.

The music hits loud. Fans clap and sing along in unison. When head coach T.J. Otzelberger steps onto the court, the crowd erupts. By the time the ball is tipped, the energy inside Hilton is already at a fever pitch.

The Man Behind the Magic

Jeff Johnson is the director of event and gameday operations for Cyclone basketball. He oversees the productions, the atmosphere, and the game day experience that has made Hilton Coliseum legendary. Johnson, an Iowa State graduate from the class of 1986, brings decades of broadcasting and production experience to the role.

After graduating from Iowa State, Johnson became a reporter for the CBS affiliate in Des Moines. He later ran the Jumbotron for the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball. In 2000, he returned to Ames, where he has been a cornerstone of the Cyclone gameday experience ever since.