Definitely a great “ plug” for the university on national TV. But pardon me for not getting to excited until I see the first big yellow “ Cat D60” tearing into the side of classic alumni hall!
Not as ambitious as Fairfield's Convocation Center but Rider is going to upgrade their Alumni Gymnasium home court.
Anonymous $2.5 million gift brings Rider arena project closer to completion
Rider University Athletics has received its largest gift ever from two unnamed donors. The $2.5 million commitment is yet another step forward in the University’s campaign to elevate Alumni Gym into a modern NCAA Division I arena. The gift brings the $17.7 million project more than halfway towards its goal of creating a facility that is at the top of its game.
"Now is the time for all of us to do everything we can to support Rider athletes, and the best way to do that is to invest in the arena project,” says one of the donors. “The project plans are fantastic, and we know just how impactful this facility upgrade will be for the entire University community. Now more than ever is the time for our fellow alumni and friends to do all they can to support this project in a significant way."
So far, the campaign has raised $11 million from 112 donors and is 62% toward its overall goal, with $6.7 million left to be raised. The anonymous donors hope their gift will inspire others to give in order to bring this project to completion.
“We are incredibly grateful for this leadership gift,” says Rider University President Gregory G. Dell’Omo. “It will help us realize our vision of turning Alumni Gym into an arena and make athletic competitions there an even more enjoyable experience for both student-athletes and the spectators who cheer them on.”
This latest gift will assist in allowing the complete vision for the facility to be fully realized. Plans are to add a center-hung scoreboard with digital display, expand seating along the baseline and in corners, provide luxury box seating with an entertainment suite, create a new and more spacious lobby with new ticketing and concession areas, and install more restrooms...
Certainly an improvement to the “ Broncs Zoo “ as it is today. However really only putting in a new scoreboard and new seating inside the confines of the existing small gym. The luxury box does not excite. The new lobby that is proposed will be a major improvement over the existing lobby consisting of cramped restrooms and small lobby area.
Fairfield Volleyball Set to Open Spring Season, Close Alumni Hall vs. Rider
The Sunday, March 7 Stag Volleyball doubleheader against Rider will be the final Fairfield Athletics event to be held at Alumni Hall. After more than 60 years, the Stags' venerable home court is closing its door as construction begins on the new Fairfield University Convocation Center. Fairfield Athletics events in the spring of 2021 are not open to the public.
It looks like the final "final game" in Alumni Hall won't be today with the Stag Volleyball doubleheader as the Prep is scheduled to play on Tuesday, March 16 in Alumni Hall.
It looks like the final "final game" in Alumni Hall won't be today with the Stag Volleyball doubleheader as the Prep is scheduled to play on Tuesday, March 16 in Alumni Hall.
And based on the uncertainty of anything right now, who knows, maybe Prep will be hosting another game or two a week later in the SCC tournament. All I know is I hope construction is ready to go right away (NO DELAYS) the very next morning after the final (no really, THE FINAL-FINAL) game EVER at Alumni Hall!
I don't understand, if no one is in attendance, why can't prep play all its home games in their practice gym?
Put up a couple of camera stands and actually the University bball and volleyball could have played all their games at Walsh or in the RecPlex and Alumni Hall demolition could have already been completed.
It looks like the final "final game" in Alumni Hall won't be today with the Stag Volleyball doubleheader as the Prep is scheduled to play on Tuesday, March 16 in Alumni Hall.
And based on the uncertainty of anything right now, who knows, maybe Prep will be hosting another game or two a week later in the SCC tournament. All I know is I hope construction is ready to go right away (NO DELAYS) the very next morning after the final (no really, THE FINAL-FINAL) game EVER at Alumni Hall!
Well now according to the paper this morning (after another great Prep win, this time over Hillhouse to go to 9-1), even though they would have the right to host at least one league playoff game plus of course the regular season finale on March 16th, apparently it won't be happening because of the scheduled start of construction. In fact they are due to have their last PRACTICE in the building tomorrow. So if true I guess the last final (no FINAL-FINAL) game has been played there. But does this practice count as the last event ever for anyone in the building, and more important, does this mean the trucks will start rolling into campus as early as Saturday morning? And also as a side-note, as of press time the Jesuits were still looking for a place to host whatever games they have left.
Last Edit: Mar 11, 2021 13:26:58 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
The Fairfield Community launched a final “Last Call at Alumni Hall” farewell reception on Saturday, March 7, in Alumni Hall. The campaign was developed to engage the Fairfield University fan base during the final days of Alumni Hall before its demolition.
As one of the longest standing buildings on the Fairfield campus, Alumni Hall is a place that holds many valuable memories in the history of Stags athletics. Remarks were given by Fairfield University President, Mark R. Nemec, PhD, and by Rev. Charles H. Allen, S.J., University Chaplain and special assistant to the President, who led a special prayer.
The event allowed guests the opportunity to spend time in the building and share stories about their own experiences in Alumni Hall. Attendees were encouraged to show their Stag spirit by wearing red or Fairfield gear to the event.
Opening on Dec. 5, 1959, Alumni Hall has been a vital part of the identity here at Fairfield University. Alumni is home to the University’s MAAC Champion men’s and women’s basketball teams, who have won the championship three times each, and the 11-time MAAC winning volleyball team.
In place of Alumni Hall, Fairfield University plans to build an 85,000-square foot, 3,500-seat Convocation Center, which was originally projected to open in 2021. The arena will host the Division I basketball and volleyball programs, Fairfield College Preparatory School basketball, and will host convocations, concerts and gatherings for the University.
Deputy Director of Athletics Zach Dayton said, “The arena and Convocation Center will be a state-of-the-art venue that will serve as the home of the Fairfield University men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams, academic gatherings, concerts and Fairfield Prep events. Athletics has been working collaboratively with University leadership on all aspects of the project throughout every stage of planning.”
Due to COVID-19, construction was delayed until early spring of 2021. The construction timeline for the Convocation Center is 18-24 months, therefore the first athletic game to be played in is still to be determined.
A historic building on campus, Alumni Hall was sent off with love and appreciation from the Stags community. Although the New Arena and Convocation Center is very exciting, the town of Fairfield will never forget the importance of George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.
The Fairfield Community launched a final “Last Call at Alumni Hall” farewell reception on Saturday, March 7, in Alumni Hall. The campaign was developed to engage the Fairfield University fan base during the final days of Alumni Hall before its demolition.
As one of the longest standing buildings on the Fairfield campus, Alumni Hall is a place that holds many valuable memories in the history of Stags athletics. Remarks were given by Fairfield University President, Mark R. Nemec, PhD, and by Rev. Charles H. Allen, S.J., University Chaplain and special assistant to the President, who led a special prayer.
The event allowed guests the opportunity to spend time in the building and share stories about their own experiences in Alumni Hall. Attendees were encouraged to show their Stag spirit by wearing red or Fairfield gear to the event.
Opening on Dec. 5, 1959, Alumni Hall has been a vital part of the identity here at Fairfield University. Alumni is home to the University’s MAAC Champion men’s and women’s basketball teams, who have won the championship three times each, and the 11-time MAAC winning volleyball team.
In place of Alumni Hall, Fairfield University plans to build an 85,000-square foot, 3,500-seat Convocation Center, which was originally projected to open in 2021. The arena will host the Division I basketball and volleyball programs, Fairfield College Preparatory School basketball, and will host convocations, concerts and gatherings for the University.
Deputy Director of Athletics Zach Dayton said, “The arena and Convocation Center will be a state-of-the-art venue that will serve as the home of the Fairfield University men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams, academic gatherings, concerts and Fairfield Prep events. Athletics has been working collaboratively with University leadership on all aspects of the project throughout every stage of planning.”
Due to COVID-19, construction was delayed until early spring of 2021. The construction timeline for the Convocation Center is 18-24 months, therefore the first athletic game to be played in is still to be determined.
A historic building on campus, Alumni Hall was sent off with love and appreciation from the Stags community. Although the New Arena and Convocation Center is very exciting, the town of Fairfield will never forget the importance of George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.
Jeez, can we stick a fork in it and get out the shovels already? Sorry, not a guy who gets all weepy over "things." Feel the same way about beloved Fenway. I'm as big a Sox fan as there is, and been there 50 or so times, but it's a dump. Add 10,000 seats, add all the amenities, add parking, and replicate the Green Monster along with all the other nuances that make it unique. And before somebody asks "Where you gonna put it?" my answer is I have no freakin idea, but for the love of Mary, get on with it.
It will take some time for Gilbane the GC and the project manager to mobilize and get ready to start on the CC. I assume the GC has completed the final review of the plans , called a page turn, with the town building dept. and has already secured a building permit. After that some time will be spent setting up safety fences around the site and most likely reducing the street in front of AH from four lanes down to two as they did with the Rec plex upgrade. A “ lay down “ area for equipment , supplies and construction trailers will be created on the side and rear of present AH. Once all the preliminaries are completed then the real work of Demo classic AH will begin. I saw a timeline posted that said 18-24 month construction period.