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UCSB Events Center Tickets

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About UCSB Events Center

The UCSB Events Center, commonly known as The Thunderdome, is a versatile on-campus arena at the University of California, Santa Barbara. It hosts men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, concerts, and a variety of campus events. With seating configurations that adapt to basketball, concerts, and festivals, this venue offers a practical, reliable option for fans and event-goers in Santa Barbara.

Whether you’re catching Gauchos basketball, a touring concert, or a campus event, we’ve got you covered with straightforward ticketing and helpful details about seating, parking, transit, and nearby lodging and dining options.

The Thunderdome sits at UCSB, coordinates 34.4137925, -119.851328 in Santa Barbara, CA 93106. Capacity varies by event: up to 6,000 total on-site, with basketball setups around 5,600 and concert configurations typically 3,584 to 4,848. For multi-day events, each date stands alone, and local parking rules apply. ParkMobile is accepted, and campus Transportation & Parking Services provides current guidelines. Shuttle options may be available on event nights.

Nearby lodging includes on-campus The Club & Guest House (34 rooms) adjacent to the Events Center, plus a range of Santa Barbara and Goleta hotels. When planning your visit, consider nearby dining options to fuel up before or after shows. We’ll help you secure your seats with reliable ticketing and share practical tips to make the most of your UCSB visit.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

  • Venue type: on-campus multi‑purpose indoor arena at UCSB; hosts men’s/women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, concerts, and campus events.
  • Capacity and seating: official site lists up to 6,000 seats; basketball capacity shown as 5,600; concert configurations range from about 3,584 to 4,848 depending on setup.
  • Location: UCSB Events Center (The Thunderdome) coordinates 34.4137925, -119.851328 (Santa Barbara, CA 93106).
  • Seating configurations (examples): Basketball floor plan totals 5,600; Standard Concert totals 4,848; Alternate Concert totals 3,584; Festival Concerts One/Two range from 2,500–4,000 depending on layout.
  • Parking: primary event parking in Lot 27 adjacent to The Thunderdome; overflow Lot 22 (and Lot 18 nearby); parking permits required; ParkMobile accepted; check UCSB Transportation & Parking Services for current rules.
  • Transit: served by Santa Barbara MTD (e.g., Bus 11 to campus); campus maps and ParkMobile available; event nights may include shuttle options.
  • Nearby hotels: on-campus The Club & Guest House (34 rooms) adjacent to the Events Center; additional Santa Barbara/Goleta hotels nearby.
  • Notable events: Gauchos basketball/volleyball regularly hosted; record attendance historically around 6,512 in 1991 (vs Ohio State); 4K videoboard added around 2022.
  • Renaming/demolished: formerly Campus Events Center; commonly referred to as The Thunderdome/ECen; no demolition.