University of Pittsburgh LogoUniversity of PittsburghPrevious feature
1   CATHEDRAL OF LEARNING
2   ALUMNI HALL
3   INFORMATION SCIENCES BUILDING
4   WILLIAM PITT UNION
5   SENNOTT SQUARE
6   SCHENLEY QUAD
7   PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDING
8   THACKERAY HALL
9   BENEDUM HALL
10   VICTORIA HALL
11   PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER
12   PITTSBURGH

Petersen Events Center

The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center houses a multi-purpose arena that serves as home court for the men's and women's Panther basketball teams and also hosts concerts and the Commencement Convocation. In a Sports Illustrated survey, the Petersen Events Center was named "Toughest Place to Play", with players citing Pitt's creatively distracting and deafeningly loud student section, the Oakland Zoo. Besides its arena, the Petersen houses the Pittsburgh Panthers Team Store and the 40,000-square-foot Baierl Student Recreation Center.

Media Gallery

View of basketball game from the Oakland Zoo, Pitt's boisterous student section at home games
Exterior photo of Convocation at the Petersen Events Center
next item

🏀 Oakland Zoo

Some 1,500 strong and wearing yellow T-shirts blaring the “Oakland Zoo” logo, Pitt’s student fan section encircles the Petersen Events Center’s lower level during home basketball games.

They raise decibels, inspire Panthers, intimidate opponents, and cheer and dress like…they belong in a zoo. But they’re a class act, too.

Campus Map

next-image
University of Pittsburgh LogoUniversity of Pittsburgh
ContactPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseAccessibility

StudentBridge Inc. 2025

StudentBridge Inc. 2025