Hagan Arena: Difference between revisions

| location = [[Saint Joseph's University]]<br />54th and Overbrook<br />[[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] 19131<br>{{USA}}

| broke_ground = October 6th, 2007

| opened = OctoberNovember 17th11, 20091949

| construction_cost = $25 million<br> (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|25000000|2009}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}renovation)

| architect = [[Burt, Hill Architects]]

| tenants = [[Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[NCAA Division I|D-I]]) (NCAA1949&ndash;2008, 2009–present)|Division<br I/>[[Philadelphia Freedoms]] ([[World TeamTennis|WTT]]) (2009–present2017–2019)

| seating_capacity = 3,200 (1949&ndash;2008)<br />4,200 (2009&&ndash;present)

The '''Michael J. Hagan Arena''' (previously known as the ''Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse'') of [[Saint Joseph's University]] is SJU's home court for Menmen's and Womenwomen's basketball. The new arena seats 4,200, which is 1,000 more than the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse seated. The renovation adds a concourse, larger offices and locker rooms, a Hall of Fame room, study rooms, basketball center, and practice facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://campaign.sju.edu/priorities/fieldhouse.html|title = Priorities}}</ref> 700 seats were added to the student section which puts the total at 1,700 and makes this part of the arena even more intimidating for opposing teams.

'''Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse''' was a 3,200-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. The arena, home to the [[Saint Joseph's University]] Hawks [[basketball]] opened in 1949 and was inaugurated on November 26 with a loss to the [[University of Rhode Island]]. The first women's varsity home game was a loss to [[Immaculata University]] on January 17, 1974. The building was dedicated to all college soldier-heroes on its dedication day, Veterans Day 1949.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sju.edu/ir/pdf/fall%2004-spring%2005%20files/Building%20History%209-04.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003858/http://www.sju.edu/ir/pdf/fall%2004-spring%2005%20files/Building%20History%209-04.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 26, 1967, the Reverend Dr. [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] spoke to 3,400 people in the Fieldhouse. Today, a bronze plaque in the lobby recognizes his visit.

The Hawks won 34 consecutive games in Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. In the mid -1970s and 90's90s, the Fieldhouse served as the practice home for the [[Philadelphia 76ers]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjuhawks.com/facilities/stjs-fieldhouse.html |title=Fieldhouse |access-date=26 February 2013 |archive-date=16 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416012851/http://www.sjuhawks.com/facilities/stjs-fieldhouse.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> There were over 125 sellouts over the last 15 years the Fieldhouse was open.

The final game at the Fieldhouse was a win over #8 ranked [[Xavier University]] on March 5, 2008. The sell-out crowd included Hawk legends [[Jameer Nelson]] and [[Jack Ramsay]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjuhawks.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030708aab.html |title=SAINT JOSEph's OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - Men's Basketball |access-date=2013-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222171103/http://www.sjuhawks.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030708aab.html |archive-date=2012-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During renovations, the [[Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball]] team played its home games at the [[Palestra]] on the [[University of Pennsylvania]]'s campus, while the women played on the campus of [[Philadelphia University]].

The Fieldhouse underwent extensive renovations and additions, with many sections of the building being razed for expansion purposes. Work began in the Fall of 2007. The final product of the project will addadded 1,000 seats to the arena, as well as the addition of a new basketball center, concourse, entrance and lobby on 54th and Overbrook and concessions. The renovations will continue through 2009, resulting in the Saint Joseph's men's basketball team playing their home games at the historic [[Palestra]] on the campus of the [[University of Pennsylvania]], with the women playing on the campus of Philadelphia University. With the reopening, the fieldhouse will be renamed the Michael J. Hagan Arena, in honor of Hagan who donated $10 million to the project. The renovations are expected to cost approximately $25 million.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/dailynews/breaking/sports/20070607_St__Joes_Fieldhouse_to_be_renovated__renamed.html St Jones Fieldhouse to be renovated and renamed] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

The arena was named after Michael Hagan, a 1985 graduate of Saint Joseph's and [[Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania|Washington Crossing]] resident who donated $10 million toward the project. The renovation is part of a larger project called ''With Faith and Strength To Dare: The Campaign For Saint Joseph's University''.

The first game at Hagan was a win against [[Drexel University]] and the Hawks went 8-48–4 in the first season at Hagan.

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[[Category:Basketball venues in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]