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Sports | Gym dandies: 20 best high school basketball…
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Friday, June 19th 2026

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Where: Argo High School, Summit. Built: 1953. Capacity: 2,450. Why it's great: Its design. Named after Herbert Swanson, a longtime member of Argo's school board, the gym's bowl seating offers a unique view from every angle above the court. The first row of the bleachers sit approximately eight feet above the gym floor, providing a prime view of the action. At one time, a scoreboard hanged from the ceiling just above center court. However, the addition of boys and girls volleyball programs necessitated the scoreboard's removal. In 2013, the walls received a fresh coat of paint and new lights were installed. Other than that, the gym has stood the test of time. Because of its spacious setting, the gym has played host to numerous boys and girls basketball postseasons, with the talent-laden teams from Chicago's South Side often squaring off here. —Pat Disabato
Chicago Tribune
Where: Argo High School, Summit. Built: 1953. Capacity: 2,450. Why it’s great: Its design. Named after Herbert Swanson, a longtime member of Argo’s school board, the gym’s bowl seating offers a unique view from every angle above the court. The first row of the bleachers sit approximately eight feet above the gym floor, providing a prime view of the action. At one time, a scoreboard hanged from the ceiling just above center court. However, the addition of boys and girls volleyball programs necessitated the scoreboard’s removal. In 2013, the walls received a fresh coat of paint and new lights were installed. Other than that, the gym has stood the test of time. Because of its spacious setting, the gym has played host to numerous boys and girls basketball postseasons, with the talent-laden teams from Chicago’s South Side often squaring off here. —Pat Disabato

Gym dandies: 20 best high school basketball venues in Illinois

Chicago Tribune
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What makes a high school gymnasium great? According to the Tribune’s staff, it helps for the gym to be old and big. The 20 venues represented here were built between 1921 and 1974, with 17 of the 20 more than 50 years old. Sixteen of the 20 can seat 2,000 or more fans. The list covers the entire state, from Chicago and its suburbs to the Mississippi River to far southern Illinois. These gyms have stood the test of time and continue to provide red-hot atmospheres on cold winter Friday nights.

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