The College Basketball Experience

The College Basketball Experience is a cool tourist attraction, especially if you’re traveling with teenage boys. We visited the Kansas City area recently and decided to check it out. It’s an interactive museum where the young and mature can play and explore college basketball. The facility was clean and not crowded on a Friday (4th of July) afternoon. We did not pre-purchase tickets but had no issues at the door. They offer a senior and military discount and the venue can be rented for events, birthday parties and there is a gift shop onsite.

This place was fun. I worked an event here and they had a bunch of cool basketball games to play. It's cool to see all the college history from my favorite NBA players.

My wife and daughter were going to sit this one out and let my son and I go in. I convinced them to join us, and they were so glad they did! We ALL had a great time! They have so many interactive activities, from shooting 3's to dunking to passing drills. We ran a whole game on the courts they have inside, and the actual museum part is super cool too! My kids got to anchor an ESPN highlight reel too! This was one of the best things we did in KC, I highly recommend it!

This was such a fun spot for anyone who loves basketball. There are courts where you can actually play, games to practice your shot, and some interesting info about the sport and its players. It was a cool mix of hands-on stuff and things to learn. Definitely worth checking out if you're into basketball.

One part museum, one part carnival basketball experience, one part legit hoop gym. Come with your shoes laced up and ready to put up some shots. Brought my 9 year old son, and we both left drenched in sweat after playing several games. I was expecting a lot more museum experience, but it’s very interactive! No complaints here! We both had a great time learning and playing.

If you haven't been, you need to go. This is a basketball player's paradise. From dunking, passing, 3-point shooting, and a lot more including the college basketball hall of fame.

Had a good time at the college basketball experience! Was fun to walk through the hall of fame section and read the write ups on all the players and coaches while the kid ran around and did the shooting and passing challenges. Not super expensive, and a relatively good value to bang for the buck. Thanks!

It's fine: fancy looking, but simplistic videogames and automated scenario shooting 'games'. If you can 'make' your own fun out of it with your kids or a non-ball-playing date it may be worth it- if you're an actual player or gamer then you're best to skip this unless it's free and you're burning time. The company I work for booked the venue as an event.

The College Basketball Experience is a cool tourist attraction, especially if you're traveling with teenage boys. We visited the Kansas City area recently and decided to check it out. It's an interactive museum where the young and mature can play and explore college basketball. The facility was clean and not crowded on a Friday (4th of July) afternoon. We did not pre-purchase tickets but had no issues at the door. They offer a senior and military discount, and the venue can be rented for events, birthday parties and there is a gift shop onsite.

I am not a fan of college basketball, so it would seem that the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame wouldn't appeal to me. However, this place has found a way to bring in non-fans as well by allowing them to play basketball and challenge themselves to dunking, three-pointers, passing, and more. But visiting here will also quickly show you why you'll never be a baseball all star...which is such a HUGE disappointment to my high school PE teacher. I will say this is likely a one-and-done visit for me, but for a couple hours of fun at only $18, I'd say it was worth it. You can see more of our experience on our YouTube travel channel: https://youtu.be/6X_5cDClGus

This is a great interactive experience. Start by getting a locker room speech while riding the elevator to the second floor. At the second floor you can compare your wing span, height, vertical leap, & shoe size to college athletes. The second floor also has a free play 6 basket gym, 3 on 3 challenge court, 2 free throw shooting challenge on a timer, 3 point contest, 5 slam dunk goals at different heights, and a buzzer beater challenge. My son (15) and I spent about 2 hours playing around and saw maybe 30 people. There was plenty of room without having to wait in lines. We forgot they had more downstairs so ran out of time; however, downstairs had arcade basketball games (included), a passing drill challenge, and some smaller kid activities. Exit through the hall of fame where you can look up legendary college players and take a picture with the national championship trophy. Overall an amazing experience for the price. I would not recommend for someone who is not able to participate in the interactive exhibits. The history and museum info was small.

I was turned off by the name of this--I thought, "why would I want to see museum exhibits about college basketball?" And girl, was I wrong! This is a series of hands-on basketball games with shooting, dribbling, dunking, and more, as well as cool exhibits. It's a flat $17 with in-out privileges, but it is a pain that you're not allowed to bring in outside food and drinks because I worked up a sweat--this was my gym/workout for the day! As a former high school player and current/forever basketball fan, this is a must-visit. I think it'd make a good group party or date night as well.

Super fun place to go and bring kids + basketball players of all ages, but this place really needs to get with the times and add women's college basketball! Embarrassing that they only feature the men's game in 2023 when the women's college game is full of great stories, history, and athletes / coaches. Update needed ASAP.

If you're a basket case then you're crazy. But if you're a basketball case, while you're still crazy, you'll probably also be crazy about this place. I'm not a fan of college basketball or the prices here, but Kansas City has a lot of unexpected and interesting tourist attractions and this is one of them, so if you're a massive basketball fan, especially the college variety, it's worth a stop.

My son and I thoroughly enjoyed the venue. Enjoyed shooting around and taking on the many challenges available. Even though there were several people inside, it didn't feel crowded. I liked the 3point challenge and the free throw challenge. Also enjoyed reading some of the history of college basketball. The only negative was the gift shop did not have much apparel to choose from. Only a handful of schools were represented.

The experience is huge. Every time I thought I was leaving, I came across another exhibit. Total disclosure, I was the only person in the place. I recommend going during non-peak hours. There is dunking rims from 6 to 10 feet. I hung out at the 9 foot rim. There is also a buzzer beat exhibit, free throw exhibit, and 3 pointer exhibit. You can also determine your wing span, shoe size, vertical, and height and compare them to other famous college players. The second floor also has a full court and half court where you can run a game or practice your J. On the first floor you can play pop-a-shot, an X-box eye basket ball game, a passing exhibit, gift shop and a cool ESPN announcer exhibit, where you commentate a college game ending. There is also an area down there for the little kiddos. You have to actually be under a certain height to enter. I would say Kevin Hart height or shorter. You have to find your own parking. I parked in the lot adjacent to the museum for $7. The museum is collocated in the Sprint Center so you have to go through their security to get to the museum. This is a fun place to do some interactive stuff, get a good workout and have lots of fun. I recommend checking this place out.

Fun with the family quick workout just playing basketball and learning something cool when I was here.

I think this podcast is a perfect mix of sports analysis and comedy I listen to it everyday while at work really makes my day more entertaining and look forward to hearing the halarious reactions to games and blown spreads. i really enjoy the college football experience even more because football is my favorite I fade u guys picks a lot and I win a lot but a funny note every time I lose a bet I scream very loud "f**k Patty C he a b***h" even tho he don't have anything to do with the poor college basketball picks I make occasionally lol... one my biggest fears is Dan will get to big and rich and stop doing the podcast ... keep up the excellent work .. P.s. A Black guy from Chicago #F**K Patty C

My buddy: "Hey did you know there's a college basketball hall of fame in Kansas City?" Me: "No SH#t? Cool let's check it out when we go on our baseball trip" See this was my buddy misinforming me. I was thinking museum. This is 60% YMCA gym, 30% Chuck-e-Cheese and like 10 % museum. I'm 41, in need of losing 30 lbs and haven't touched a basketball in 5 years. Well we walk to the ticket booth and pay the 11.00 entry fee (8.00 with military ID) . We were then whisked up an elevator to a what appeared to be endless basketball courts. The reality was that each area was different, a 3 point shooting court, a free throw court, 3 on 3 courts, a court for playing a horse like game with prefixed places on the floor and others. There was even an area for having your own dunk contest. 7-10 foot goals so even fat boys like me can go all Vinsanity! It took me 10-15 warm up shots for me to get my shot back to old form. It would take 10-15 years for me to catch my breathe if I tried to run on the 3 on 3 court. Besides the courts upstairs, they have various canvases of the top 25 college basketball players of all time. This started a huge debate amongst my crew. (Michael Jordan was ranked too high, his college career was not top 10! Chistian Laettner 15? I hated him but in college rankings there were not 14 better) Downstairs has a few of those shooting arcade games(no charge), a few passing drills, a dribbling simulator that looked like that Dance Dance Revolution arcade game, a film of highlights, a wall of fame with all the inductees listed and of course a gift shop. It's a lot of fun especially if you have kids who enjoy hoops. You can tell them about all the old greats while schooling them at HORSE. Just don't take them on the 3 on 3 court or they will make you look foolish if you are as old as me. Oh and don't forget the Aleve if you are 40ish like me.

Very Interactive and had great basketball courts the mini games were a lot of fun but the kids in honor theater were annoying and very loud. Overall it was a great family experience

This place is amazing for basketball lovers! This place has 2 floors, both with TONS of different basketball games/things to do. For example, on the first floor, there is a basketball arcade game where it releases balls, and you must make as many shots as you can in 40-45 seconds. There are also big room-type areas where you can practice your dunking, buzzer beater shots, and even some far away shots.

This is a clean place and the staff is friendly. We visited when there was almost no one else there. So my son had this place to himself! It is an interactive area- my son loved the opportunity to dunk- there's a play area that has lowered rims! It's very similar to the NBA Experience in Springfield, MA. This would be a great place to host a kids party! I was pretty disappointed in the gift shop- they were out of a lot.

Canceled my friends son 10 year old already reserved birthday party because someone else rented out the establishment

This place was fun!! If you like basketball, you'll love this place. I was expecting just the history of college basketball but it was a lot more. There's history but you can play tons of basketball. Pop a shots and there are many shooting challenges. My son, 12, and I had a blast. The cost of $7 to get in was worth it. My only complaint is that they have very little on Kentucky Basketball. UK has won more games than any other college and had won 8 NCAA Championships! I only saw one picture with UK. Really? Come on! Still a cool place though.

This place is really cool. Lots to do and interesting exhibits. However, there was not a single women's player, coach, or team featured in the entire place. No mention of women's college basketball whatsoever. We took our daughter, who hopes to play college ball; she was utterly uninspired by this truly mind boggling omission. Needs to change its name to Men's College Basketball Experience.

Drove from Kentucky to see KC Chiefs Stadium and the College Basketball Experience. Went through the stadium tour with no problem. Got to the College Basketball Experience and was denied entry because I had a small pocket knife. I am a huge UK basketball fan and Oscar Tshebwe was the featured player. The female security guard told me I could just give my pocket knife to her but that I would not get it back. We walked several blocks to get there. I guessed they were afraid I might try to clean my finger nails or use my cork screw to open a random wine bottle. Very, very angry. This is my son's last summer before college. It was my wife, my three boys and me. I was totally broken-hearted. I understand and appreciate the need for security, but tiny pocket knives are not lethal weapons. I will never be back.

One of the last things I visited while in KC, and I'm glad I did! An awesome experience if you're a sports fan or a basketball fan. You can visit the college basketball hall of fame, and learn a lot about the history. I liked a display that let you see the connections of all coaches in history, like a family tree. Then there's the "experience," where you actually pick up a basketball and do the challenges of each section. Wear something athletic if you can, you're definitely going to sweat doing the activities. I could see myself spending at least two hours here, especially if the place is packed. A very fun place to visit for families and kids!

The college basketball experience may be the single best attraction downtown. No joke. Upon entering the place, you walk down a tunnel and feel the excitement of being in a college basketball fieldhouse--screaming fans, noise everywhere. Then you reach a huge, comfortable floor with a series "help yourself" basketball skills challenges. In the center is a full court where you freestyle on any of the hoops. No fear...these challenges are set up for every height and skill level. The CBE is basically a pop-a-shot addict's wet dream as you are allowed to experience the reason so many people are so crazy about basketball. It is friggin' fun. On the lower level of the complex lies the actual hall of hame where you can learn about the game's greatest players and coaches. Very nicely done... CBE is a perfect spot to kill an afternoon and especially fun for kids, teens, anyone really. The point of the place is to spread the gospel about basketball and it succeeds wildly. Oh yeah...wear something comfortable because you'll end up getting a workout.

My husband and I spent our Anniversary day here, lol. Not how I thought we'd be working up a sweat on that day but ok, I went with it. We had SO much fun! It's not expensive at all, and there's so much to look at and do. You can spend a couple of hours here and not even realize it. I especially liked trying to make baskets. Mind you I'm 5'4 and have a french manicure, but I still made 3 shots!! Yay me! We'll definitely be back. We're going to take the kids next time. Great fun.

Great place to take the family and has something for everyone. Wear some sneakers; you'll need them. Cool blend of college basketball history as well as fun games.

A lot of fun and very interactive! Kid friendly but some of the exhibits were broken. :( we still had a great time!!

This is a fun experience for basketball nerds and just anybody that likes a good time.

This is a wonderful place to come and learn about the coming of age to the few and talented that has ascended the sport of basketball to its epitome. I have new appreciation for the players who put their heart and soul just for the love of the game. There are no monetary compensation, just the pure satisfaction of perfecting their craft. Juggling school and collegiate sport to me has to be the more difficult feat in the world. Come and enjoy, as previously said great for families, however great for adults too. A walk through memory lane and deeper love for March Madness. By the way, new security rule: no backpacks, please leave them in the car, hotel, or home!

Great time if you enjoy anything basketball. Has some history and alot of shooting challenges. Easily kill 3-4 hours in here without knowing. A little pricey $12 for under 17 and $15 for adults but you will have fun.

What a great venue at the Sprint Center. I took part in a foul shooting contest, a timed three point shooting contest, and a dunking exhibition on a lowered rim that made my legs burn. This place is for kids of all ages and sizes. There are lots of interesting pictures and stories to observe, then you can strap on some sneaks and show what you learned on the court. What a great tribute to the game. I recommend any fan to see this place, it's well worth the price of admission. The only thing that could possibly make this area better would be larger/more restaurants. While there was an array of choices, they were all crowded because an event was taking place at the Sprint Center. Allow plenty of time to eat if there is an event!

As a non sports fan, I thought this place was great! The majority of the space is dedicated to interactive stations--part skill tests and part science. The fact that you can play unlimited at the different stations was great--the fun of an arcade, but on a larger scale and free of pesky coins or swipe cards! There were free throw stations, slam dunk areas (with different rim heights) a couple of children's hoops for little kids, arcade-style shooting, a buzzer-beater station, a 3-on-3 court, and a full-size court with loud music and bright lights. The bar area downstairs with the teleprompter sportscast also looked very cool, but appeared to be either closed for a private event or only accessible if you purchased a meal there. There were plenty of basketballs (contrary to an earlier review) around, so that wasn't an issue. The place was pretty packed when we were there, though, so it was impossible to actually know how you scored on most things because 3 kids (or heck, other adults) would rush in there with you, which made the recorded score meaningless. The thing that was weird about this place is that parents obviously use it as a place where they can send their boys to run around, and high-school-age teenage guys seem to think it is the gym. People bring gym bags and basketball shorts and stay for hours to practice. These guys are serious--and sweaty. They use the full-size gym to envision themselves as NBA stars--and they play just as long. Throughout the courts, testosterone abounds, but there are not many ladies. Additionally, if you are looking for a true hall of fame or museum experience, you're not going to find it here. There are a few displays and a video you can watch (standing up...?), but overall this place is not designed to be educational. This wasn't an issue for me, but I could see that being the case for a huge b-ball fan!

Bring your tennis shoes! This place is part museum part Carnival! Think of every pop a shot or carnival basketball game you have played, put it on steroids and you have the CBE. Confidently located right next to the Sprint Center in Downtown KC. This place is great for anyone of any age. You get to feel what its like going down through a basketball tunnel with the fans cheering at you (Automated) and then head into this wide open space of courts. They have 3 pt contests, buzzer beater contests, free throw contests, pretty much if you can do it with a basketball you can do it here! I have seen pickup games break out here but normally I stick to the stations. If you are an adult go during the week for less kiddos but any time is a great time!

Good venue for all ages. Lots of interactive things to do- 3-3 or 5-5 basketball, timed free throws and three point shooting, and arcade style basketball is always a good time. You can also compare yourself to players' wingspan, shoe size and height. There are kiosks to test your basketball trivia and pieces on the winningest basketball programs. The HOF itself is in its own little area and I'm kind of surprised of who's not in it yet. It's attached to the Sprint Center so it's a good thing to do before or after an event Fairly cheap to go to, be sure to check in on 4 square before you go and get a $2 coupon!

Had a blast here! My favorite part was the big ball and giant hoop! Even though I wasn't allowed inside because I wasn't a kid... But I had to anyway! Lol *KupofKokoa

Had a fantastic time and it was even better than I expected! My 6 and 8 year old sons had an awesome time and in fact, my wife and I did too! The activities kept everyone involved and busy for hours. It was great to see big pictures of all the old legends on the walls and explain them to my kids. The shop was good value with some great deals. A definite must if your visiting Kansas City!

This has been an extremely frustrating experience. I am in town for the AP Reading. We don't finish until 5 pm. The website says they're open until 6. I came yesterday at 5:10--they were closed and I couldn't be allowed in without a ticket and a return stamp. Today I ran--literally--over here during my lunch break and was told that if I bought a ticket and got my hand stamped, I could come back at 5:10 and would be allowed in. I come back at 5:10 exactly--the security guard says they're locked up and no one is there, even though they're supposed to be open until 6 pm. No one answers the phone when I call for information. I understand that Kansas City is small and that streets roll up early here, but if you say that you're open until a certain time, you should stay open. Or don't make the person buy a ticket. I will be filing a letter of complaint.

I had a corporate team building event here and everyone had a great time. I was pleasantly surprised on how well the venue appealed to everyone. We had a diverse crowd with folks ranging from mid 20's to mid 60's and everyone found something that they enjoyed. The venue is arranged around a series of basketball skill contests. Free throw, 3-point, dunk, vertical jump and various other arrangements to challenge different skill levels. Another floor houses the actual hall of fame which is also well done. We all had worked up a thirst and were ready for happy hour across the street at the P & L.

This was a super fun place for me and my 16 year old brother to shoot some hoops, hit some threes, a few game winners, and throw down a couple dunks. You'll have to see for yourself how it's done, but overall one of the best things we did in Kansas City. Even if you're not a huge college hoops fan, if you're a basketball fan, you'll have a great time.

Definitely a great place for all ages. Went with my little brother and spent about 4 hours in this place. They offer discounts for military and students. They're so many things to do from shooting free throws, watching a film about basketball history, and play one on one basketball on center court. Highly recommend you bring or dress in gym clothes as it is indeed an experience!

I was really hoping this would be an awesome experience but was sorely disappointed. We were in town for the Big XII and had to check it out since our friends had been and said it was amazing. I don't have issues with the price ($10 - including a stamp that's good all day) or the station set-up (two floors of fun!), but on the day we were there there was a ball shortage (har har... balls). Even though there weren't that many people there, somehow most of the balls had gone missing. We waited about 10 minutes for people to be done at one station so we could have our turn. When we were done attempting to dunk on the 6' hoop, we put the ball back (like normal people would probably do). When we went to another station downstairs, there were only a few people there... but again, no balls. It seemed really lousy that we paid money and were only able to do like, 3 activities. The other parts of the CBE were pretty awesome. I'll admit I'm not a huge sports fan, but even a girl like me can appreciate all the cool stuff they put in. The elevator ride, the crowd-filled hallway, Even the other things upstairs like testing your arm span or jump height were really fun to do. Downstairs there's a news desk set up so you can be your own anchor - I discovered that I wasn't very good. The video game stations set up were also fun times, although I'm not very good at those, either. One of the coolest parts is the history section that's more like an interactive museum than just info plastered on the walls. I know some huge bball fans who would pay $10 for that area alone. Overall, it was a fun way to spend a lazy afternoon, but unless there's more balls there next time, I wouldn't go back.

Excellent place to expend a ton of energy with all kinds off hoops and challenges for all ages!

The CBE's information is fairly well presented, but thin in its depth. There are interviews one can listen to that last a couple minutes, a paragraph here and there, iconic photos blown up large ... but the overwhelming sensation is that everything is surface level. The "experience" part of it is almost entirely unrelated to college basketball. One can * shoot three pointers from around an arc * shoot free throws * dunk a basketball on baskets of various heights * play 3-on-3 * etc but if it wasn't part of the "College Basketball Experience," one would have thought it was just a few scattered basketball games. There is no real effort to tie it into the history of the game. The closest the CBE comes to an "experience" is an exhibit where one watches a classic clip of a college game and announces the final moments by reading off a teleprompter. Normally, the clip would be emailed to you, but that part was broken on he day I attended. TIP 1: be sure to arrive an hour before they close because they stop taking money then. This isn't listed on the website, but we initially weren't going to be let in due to us arriving 55 minutes before closing time. TIP 2: if you're budgeting for time an hour is enough time to see all the exhibits.

Great place for basketball lovers - old and young alike! Bring your gym clothes! My boys want to drive five hours to KC just to go hang at this place and play. NCAA Basketball Hall of Fame is in the same facility.

I have only been coming here this year because of 2nd Fridays Zumba that is provided here. I love how they have speedy check in even with the security and wavier. The elevator noise/music/info is way too loud and my only major complaint. The CBE tries to establish a cool night life Zumba experience for us and it is pulled off every time. Always clean and well kept up. If I was more of a sports fan I would not mind come here more often.

This is such a fun place to play and learn about basketball. There are so many interactive shooting games for the whole family to enjoy. From poppin 3s to nailin free throws- it has everything. Make sure to wear shoes and socks. It gets intense. Great history on March Madness and the greatest to ever play and coach. Well worth the stop if your traveling in KC.

It was fun way to kill a few hours I thought the museum side would have been larger. Very ibteractive.

I gave it an extra star for my husband (because I'm sure he enjoyed it more than I did). I was excited walking up to it- cool signage out front and an Iowa boy (Doug McDermott) on the window. The excitement continues as you get in the elevator to go up and coach is giving a pregame speech through the elevator speakers. The hallway off the elevator had some cool video boards with highlights from Iowa State (which we are biased to) so I was feeling good about the experience until we turned the corner and realized it's just a bunch of courts and a whole lot of writing on the walls. For the price I felt like we could have stayed home and played H-O-R-S-E at our own gym and read google for some college basketball history. There are a couple trophies on display but otherwise not much memorabilia. If you are gifted a ticket or can find a discount, it's a place to see and it'd definitely be something to do between games at the Sprint Center but not something I would make a special trip to. That said, my husband is a basketball fanatic and its a stop he's glad we made.