Opened in 1950 with a seating capcity of more than 14,000, Ahearn Field House was one of the first and largest purpose-built basketball arenas
in the US.   Changing fire codes over the years forced changes to the seating arrangements that eventually reduced seating capacity to 11,700
for the 1987-1988 season. This was the final season in which K-State basketball games were held in Ahearn.

It hosted the men's NCAA basketball tournament regional finals six times (1953, 1955, 1960, 1962, 1965, and 1969), as well as a quarterfinal
game in the 1976 NIT.

Field House provided a legendary homecourt advantage for K-State. Former Kansas State coach Tex Winter said in his biography Trial By
Basketball: "Kansas State won a lot of ballgames because of that crowd. Many times during timeouts you couldn't hear yourself talk. All I could do
was scribble a play on the floor. The crowd there never died, even in one of our lulls – the crowd would come alive and pick us up."