November 12, 2008
The “new” Carnesecca Arena will debut this weekend unveiling
major renovations to the historic facility when the Red Storm tips
off its 2008-09 men’s and women’s basketball campaigns this Friday
night (Nov. 14) with a double-header debut (6:30 p.m. – Women vs.
Northeastern and 9 p.m. – Men vs. LIU).
Almost four years after Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University surprised
the guest of honor, St. John’s and Hall of Fame Men’s Basketball
Coach Lou Carnesecca, by renaming Alumni Hall the new Carnesecca
Arena on Nov. 23, 2004, more than $5 million in interior
renovations have been incorporated into the arena’s infrastructure
and will be on display this year.
“Lou has meant so much to St. John’s for more than 50 years and
we felt the most fitting way to honor him was to name his classroom
after him,” noted Harrington, recalling that special dedication.
“The Carnesecca Initiative is an extension of our commitment to
Lou, his legacy and love for St. John’s University. I think all of
our students, alumni, fans and supporters will enjoy the new
amenities that Carnesecca Arena offers this year with plans for
more improvements in the near future.”
The facility, built in 1961, was one of the largest venues in
terms of seating capacity in the New York Metropolitan Area (6,008)
for quite some time. The new renovations have altered the overall
capacity of the arena (which now stands at an estimated 5,500) but
the facelift accommodates more leg room, 800 chair back seats and a
bowl-shaped configuration to add more courtside level sections for
students and fans alike.
In addition, the new floor plan has expanded to the lobby of
Carnesecca Arena, which is being transformed into a tribute to past
and present St. John’s teams with displays of championship
hardware, and new ticket windows stationed outside the front
entrance for easy access for fans while creating a better traffic
flow for large crowds.
Future renovations for the historic venue include a renovation
of the arena ceiling, a refurbishing of the locker room areas and
administrative offices, and a reconditioning of the arena's
exterior facade, matching Carnesecca to its adjoining counterpart,
the state-of-the-art Taffner Field House basketball training
facility.
Former St. John’s star and NBA veteran Mel Davis was brought
back to St. John’s to serve as Director of Leadership Gifts for the
Carnesecca Initiative and the project has taken off in more ways
than one. Davis has helped raise funding for the initiative by
coordinating a newly established annual golf outing, several
basketball alumni gatherings highlighted by a special Columbus Day
Float, ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange and
plans don’t stop there with bigger and better events on the horizon
during this season and beyond.
“Coach Carnesecca has meant so much to us – not only those of us
who were fortunate to play for him on the court, but to the
millions of followers of St. John's Basketball over the years,”
added Davis. “Contributing to the Carnesecca Initiative is a way
for all of us to help our future basketball teams enjoy the
successes that were so much a part of his legacy (526 wins in 24
seasons) at St. John’s. You have to see these new improvements to
believe them and experience the overall changes that have been
made. We’d like to have alumni, fans and friends visit the Queens
campus and experience this evolving historic building.”
Director of Athletics Chris Monasch, agrees that this endeavor
will pay dividends for all St. John’s Athletic teams and have an
impact in the immediate future.
"The renovation of Carnesecca Arena was vital, not only to our
basketball programs, but to the entire athletics department since
it houses most of our student-athletes, administrators and
coaches,” said Monasch. “Carnesecca Arena is the heart of our
athletics program and these new renovations are the first step in
the process as we begin to transform this hallowed landmark into a
state-of-the-art athletics facility that current and future
generations of St. John’s student-athletes can be proud of.”
All in all, these new renovations and those on the horizon which
make up a commitment to the tune of $30 million when all is said
and done, will make Carnesecca Arena a sports venue for the ages
and provide a unique and comfortable new home-team advantage for
fans and supporters of St. John’s Athletics to enjoy.
For more information on University renovations, St. John’s
facilities and pending building projects contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations at St. John’s
University by calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For information regarding St. John’s Athletics visit www.redstormsports.com or
call Mark Fratto, Associate Athletics Director for Athletic
Communications at (718) 990-6897.