Fire in Concession Stand Causes Delay in SEC Basketball Game

Oklahoma defeated Georgia 97-78 despite the unexpected interruption.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A fire broke out in a concession stand at the Lloyd Noble Center during the first half of the basketball game between Oklahoma and Georgia, causing a delay in the action. The fire, which appeared to originate from a popcorn maker, filled the arena with smoke before the sprinkler system was able to extinguish the flames. Despite the unusual interruption, Oklahoma went on to defeat Georgia 97-78.

Why it matters

Unexpected incidents like this fire can significantly impact the flow of a live sporting event, raising questions about arena safety protocols and the ability of teams and officials to quickly respond to and recover from such disruptions.

The details

Less than five minutes into the SEC matchup, a fire broke out in one of the concession stands at the Lloyd Noble Center. ESPN's cameras captured the popcorn maker engulfed in flames, causing smoke to fill the upper levels of the arena. The game was delayed for several minutes as the sprinkler system was activated and both teams left the court, before play was able to resume.

  • The fire occurred less than 5 minutes into the first half of the game.
  • The game was delayed for several minutes while the fire was extinguished.

The players

Porter Moser

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners basketball team.

Mike White

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just glad that the sprinkler system worked for the safety of everybody, but also that we were able to resume play. Add it to the list to the stuff I've never seen. It was a huge flame.”

— Porter Moser, Oklahoma Head Coach (The Oklahoman)

“We talked this week about how overwhelming it was when you're going through a slump. You can just feel that at the end of the last game. All week, the way we practiced, you could just see it. The last four minutes, we had zero turnovers against the press. We played really good.”

— Porter Moser, Oklahoma Head Coach (The Oklahoman)

What’s next

Oklahoma will face another tough SEC opponent when they travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee on February 19th at 7 PM ET on ESPN 2.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of robust safety protocols and quick-thinking staff at sporting arenas to ensure the safety of players and fans, while also minimizing disruptions to the game action. The ability of the Oklahoma team to refocus and secure a decisive victory after the unexpected delay is also a testament to their resilience and focus.