Nova's Arena

[JTG]

If anyone was at the game yesterday, what is Nova's crowd like? On tv it seemed very tame. Nothing like the ear splitting noise in Cintas. Or was it a matter of us being ahead for most of the game. I was just surprised that a team with their pedigree would have such a pedestrian crowd.

[xudash]

I did not attend the game, but my reaction or observation is that, with Jay gone and a rough year in progress under a new coach, they are deflated. Frankly, I also believe that they felt like that Xavier was going to open it up on them at any moment. On that note, had we not missed so many bunnies and made such stupid turnovers, we would have beaten them more badly.

I don’t mind the architecture (I believe the place was built in the 80s), but the lighting on the ceiling is odd to me. It almost looks like the kind of neon lighting you would find in a Walmart. I believe the place seats under 7000 as well.

[JEHARDI]

Was at the game. Students do not come back until the 17th but it was full and loud at times. Brother and brother in law and a number of nieces and nephew are Nova grads or currently attending. Expectations are low.Arena was completely renovated a number of years ago, great place to see a game.
X was well represented.

[X-band '01]

Are you sure about that? I'm seeing tomorrow as the day the spring semester begins.

If students were still on break, I'm also positive that there would have been some tickets for the Creighton game released to the public for sale.

[xudash]

Are you sure about that? I'm seeing tomorrow as the day the spring semester begins.

If students were still on break, I'm also positive that there would have been some tickets for the Creighton game released to the public for sale.

I believe the reference was to Villanova students, not Xavier’s students.

I am aware that the place was renovated recently. In fact, that ceiling lighting plan was part of the renovation. Maybe it’s just me, but it just seems odd.

[JTG]

I believe the reference was to Villanova students, not Xavier’s students.

I am aware that the place was renovated recently. In fact, that ceiling lighting plan was part of the renovation. Maybe it’s just me, but it just seems odd.

I liked your comment that the lighting looks like the inside of a Walmart

[nuts4xu]

Is that Nova's primary arena? Do they play all home games in that place?

I know some of our BE brothers like to play Xavier in the smallest band box home gym they can find. Under 7000 person capacity?

Sounds very A-10-ish to me.

[bleedXblue]

Is that Nova's primary arena? Do they play all home games in that place?

I know some of our BE brothers like to play Xavier in the smallest band box home gym they can find. Under 7000 person capacity?

Sounds very A-10-ish to me.

Its around 6500 seats from what I recall and I think it was updated/renovated recently.

Yes IMHO very small considering they are 3 time national champs

[xupuck10]

Is that Nova's primary arena? Do they play all home games in that place?

I know some of our BE brothers like to play Xavier in the smallest band box home gym they can find. Under 7000 person capacity?

Sounds very A-10-ish to me.

Nova also plays games at the Wells Fargo Center. They're the 3rd tenant (76ers and Flyers), so I'd assume they have to schedule around the NBA and NHL. It looks like Nova had 5 games at WF this year. I know that in past years when WF was hosting a Regional, they capped it at 4 games so they could still be placed in that region. St. Johns only has 4 games at MSG this year because MSG is hosting the East; hopeful thinking for them going into the year. Georgetown took the opposite approach and had all of their home games at Captial One in DC.

Fun fact around arenas for this year's NCAA regionals; the Midwest and West will both be at T-Mobile sponsored arenas - T-Mobile Center in KC and T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.

[Pault]

Its around 6500 seats from what I recall and I think it was updated/renovated recently.

Yes IMHO very small considering they are 3 time national champs

Was at game...arena was "OK," and did remind me of the A10, where many of the arenas are small...publication that I saw said Finneran seated 6501. Crowd was relatively tame. We had seats WAY UP HIGH on one end of the court...definitely, not the best! However, enjoyed it and supporting our Muskies. BTW, I have now been to all of the away venues in the BE. Had started on this quest when we were in the A10, and after attending roughly half to their arenas, we switched conferences (glad we did!), I had to start all over again. We were in Storrs last year...in my opinion the best arena is in Omaha...Creighton's arena is an NBA arena...and Wintrust in Chitown is nice too. Marquette plays in Fiserv, the same as the Bucks. One neat experience is the fans are super in each city...when we (a bud and me) went to Providence, two guys who are from our hometown in upstate NY, went to game with us...had great time...they showed us around Newport, RI...what magnificent homes there...right on the ocean. We are already planning next years excursion. I would recommend it!

[XUGRAD80]

Was at game...arena was "OK," and did remind me of the A10, where many of the arenas are small...publication that I saw said Finneran seated 6501. Crowd was relatively tame. We had seats WAY UP HIGH on one end of the court...definitely, not the best! However, enjoyed it and supporting our Muskies. BTW, I have now been to all of the away venues in the BE. Had started on this quest when we were in the A10, and after attending roughly half to their arenas, we switched conferences (glad we did!), I had to start all over again. We were in Storrs last year...in my opinion the best arena is in Omaha...Creighton's arena is an NBA arena...and Wintrust in Chitown is nice too. Marquette plays in Fiserv, the same as the Bucks. One neat experience is the fans are super in each city...when we (a bud and me) went to Providence, two guys who are from our hometown in upstate NY, went to game with us...had great time...they showed us around Newport, RI...what magnificent homes there...right on the ocean. We are already planning next years excursion. I would recommend it!

Paul, just curious as to what town in upstate NY that was. I was born in Cooperstown and grew up in a couple of small towns close to that.

Very cool that you’ve been able to visit all of the away BE venues.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Paul, just curious as to what town in upstate NY that was. I was born in Cooperstown and grew up in a couple of small towns close to that.

Very cool that you’ve been able to visit all of the away BE venues.

Yeah def a cool thing to do.

I have only been to DePaul and Butler. Definitely want to make it to a game at Creighton eventually.

[Masterofreality]

Getting to all the league venues is definitely something to aspire too.
I was able to attend games in every A10 and MCC arena, even Fordham. I also was able to go to places that have been replaced like in Rhode Island and Loyola’s old place the International Amphitheater.
The worst fans were in Richmond and VCU (of course the same city) besides VD. The worst building was Lasalle’s Tom Gola Garage.
Fun buildings were at U of Detroit, St Bonnies and St. Joes. Charlotte has a gorgeous building and Providence. The Friars have GREAT fans and not arrogant at all. Creighton has cool fans and an awesome building that they fill up. Marquette’s are arrogant as hell and Butlers are just assfaces. They have zero reason to be but they are. Their building is cool though. Seeing a game at the Palestra in Philly was really neat. Xavier played St.Joes there one year when Hagan was being renovated. The artifacts and the history mounted on the concourse walls was so awesome.

As to Nova. The building is OK, but just weird. It’s right next to their football field but there is room for expansion. There is plenty of parking right across the street. With National Championships, I’m really surprised that they cheaped out when they renovated. They added no seating and what they have are uncomfortable with crowded concourses. It’s still a weird place to play and watch. Their fans have entitlement, rightly so, but they’re getting knocked down a peg.
With Jay Wright gone, their facilities are definitely NOT a recruiting tool.
The place I feared most going to? Temple. On North Broad in Philly and not a good neighborhood. At least they had a private secured and patrolled parking garage attached to Liacouris, but just getting there was scary. You’d see stuff on the street that you wanted no part of. UMass was an outpost on a frozen tundra. Nice facility though.
My last 2 buildings to get to: Seton Hall and Carnesecca.
Arena tours are fun and the slings and arrows don’t hurt, unless you are stuck at VD.

[xudash]

Getting to all the league venues is definitely something to aspire too.
I was able to attend games in every A10 and MCC arena, even Fordham. I also was able to go to places that have been replaced like in Rhode Island and Loyola’s old place the International Amphitheater.
The worst fans were in Richmond and VCU (of course the same city) besides VD. The worst building was Lasalle’s Tom Gola Garage.
Fun buildings were at U of Detroit, St Bonnies and St. Joes. Charlotte has a gorgeous building and Providence. The Friars have GREAT fans and not arrogant at all. Creighton has cool fans and an awesome building that they fill up. Marquette’s are arrogant as hell and Butlers are just assfaces. They have zero reason to be but they are. Their building is cool though. Seeing a game at the Palestra in Philly was really neat. Xavier played St.Joes there one year when Hagan was being renovated. The artifacts and the history mounted on the concourse walls was so awesome.

As to Nova. The building is OK, but just weird. It’s right next to their football field but there is room for expansion. There is plenty of parking right across the street. With National Championships, I’m really surprised that they cheaped out when they renovated. They added no seating and what they have are uncomfortable with crowded concourses. It’s still a weird place to play and watch. Their fans have entitlement, rightly so, but they’re getting knocked down a peg.
With Jay Wright gone, their facilities are definitely NOT a recruiting tool.
The place I feared most going to? Temple. On North Broad in Philly and not a good neighborhood. At least they had a private secured and patrolled parking garage attached to Liacouris, but just getting there was scary. You’d see stuff on the street that you wanted no part of. UMass was an outpost on a frozen tundra. Nice facility though.
My last 2 buildings to get to: Seton Hall and Carnesecca.
Arena tours are fun and the slings and arrows don’t hurt, unless you are stuck at VD.

Villanova's strength also represents a handicap when it comes to capital projects for them: the Township of Radnor. Lovely setting and location for their campus, but good luck pulling permits to get things done - like a LARGER arena - in that neighborhood. That is the reason they ended up putting money into that 80's structure.

At least they weren't dumb enough to renovate a structure built in 1969 with orange shag carpeting, like former Little Brother did up I-75.

[X-band '01]

Getting to all the league venues is definitely something to aspire too.
I was able to attend games in every A10 and MCC arena, even Fordham. I also was able to go to places that have been replaced like in Rhode Island and Loyola’s old place the International Amphitheater.
The worst fans were in Richmond and VCU (of course the same city) besides VD. The worst building was Lasalle’s Tom Gola Garage.
Fun buildings were at U of Detroit, St Bonnies and St. Joes. Charlotte has a gorgeous building and Providence. The Friars have GREAT fans and not arrogant at all. Creighton has cool fans and an awesome building that they fill up. Marquette’s are arrogant as hell and Butlers are just assfaces. They have zero reason to be but they are. Their building is cool though. Seeing a game at the Palestra in Philly was really neat. Xavier played St.Joes there one year when Hagan was being renovated. The artifacts and the history mounted on the concourse walls was so awesome.

As to Nova. The building is OK, but just weird. It’s right next to their football field but there is room for expansion. There is plenty of parking right across the street. With National Championships, I’m really surprised that they cheaped out when they renovated. They added no seating and what they have are uncomfortable with crowded concourses. It’s still a weird place to play and watch. Their fans have entitlement, rightly so, but they’re getting knocked down a peg.
With Jay Wright gone, their facilities are definitely NOT a recruiting tool.
The place I feared most going to? Temple. On North Broad in Philly and not a good neighborhood. At least they had a private secured and patrolled parking garage attached to Liacouris, but just getting there was scary. You’d see stuff on the street that you wanted no part of. UMass was an outpost on a frozen tundra. Nice facility though.
My last 2 buildings to get to: Seton Hall and Carnesecca.
Arena tours are fun and the slings and arrows don’t hurt, unless you are stuck at VD.

In the Big East, I've been to our beloved Cintas Center, the Prudential Center, Hinkle Fieldhouse and the Bradley Center when that was Marquette's home venue. I will be checking off Wintrust Arena next Wednesday - gonna try to get a ticket through Xavier if possible.

I've also been to the Capital One Arena (back when it was the MCI Center) and Madison Square Garden, but those were postseason games and not for Big East action.

As far as the Amphitheater that you mentioned when it came to Loyola, the only time I've ever seen that arena was on Hoop Dreams when Arthur Agee's team was winning the Chicago City League championship.

[Masterofreality]

As far as the Amphitheater that you mentioned when it came to Loyola, the only time I've ever seen that arena was on Hoop Dreams when Arthur Agee's team was winning the Chicago City League championship.

The “Armpitheatre” in Chicago was stinky. Literally! Because it was right next to the old Chicago Stockyards and they actually had cattle sales in that building.
The old Chicago Zephyrs of the NBA played there back in the 50’s.
After that Loyola game, which we actually lost, there was a team meet and greet with Pete Gillen back at the Hyatt Regency hotel downtown. Moose Griffin “Mr. Neutral” and I attended. Pete was great and very cordial to every one and we gave the team high credit for showing up and mixing with the crowd after a tough loss. Loyola was good with Alfredrick Hughes that year.
Those were the days.

[xupuck10]

In the Big East, I've been to our beloved Cintas Center, the Prudential Center, Hinkle Fieldhouse and the Bradley Center when that was Marquette's home venue. I will be checking off Wintrust Arena next Wednesday - gonna try to get a ticket through Xavier if possible.

Xavier sent out an email to purchase tickets from DePaul: Use promo JAN18 on the DePaul ticket portal (https://depaulbluedemons.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/EVExecMacro?linkID=depaul&evm=prmo&RSRC=&RDAT=&caller=PR&display=reg&mkt_tok=NTgyLURYRi05NzYAAAGJQPZvdG5tV7f4UBSYx3mC_T QkhLvY8XNM4vOWQYRBn8OdGaoa7_IoRc8vjt4O_i3edc6C9eFl g3xpU2MwrlS7zf7knBc4CGqHWtn8gUxagQ) to purchase tickets.

[bleedXblue]

Xavier sent out an email to purchase tickets from DePaul: Use promo JAN18 on the DePaul ticket portal (https://depaulbluedemons.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/EVExecMacro?linkID=depaul&evm=prmo&RSRC=&RDAT=&caller=PR&display=reg&mkt_tok=NTgyLURYRi05NzYAAAGJQPZvdG5tV7f4UBSYx3mC_T QkhLvY8XNM4vOWQYRBn8OdGaoa7_IoRc8vjt4O_i3edc6C9eFl g3xpU2MwrlS7zf7knBc4CGqHWtn8gUxagQ) to purchase tickets.

We talk about it every year........

Why cant the BE figure out this game and put it on a weekend? Whos buying tickets for a Weds night game and making that drive up.

We did it on two separate occasions 4-5 years ago, but both times it was a Saturday game. X had good representation both times.

[nuts4xu]

I once attended a game with my friends in the Palumbo Center when Xavier played at Duquesne. Our entire group wore matching Xavier attire and were friendly to everyone we encountered, including some of the elderly ladies at the hotel bar. We were highly ranked at the time, and Duquesne was the opposite. Their arena is in downtown Pittsburgh, and I felt very good walking from the hotel to the arena. We attended the alumni reception, took advantage of the free food, and made our presence known with our exemplary behavior.

For some reason, I don't believe the Duquesne fans approved of my friends, and I nearly had to resort to fisticuffs with a portly old Pittsburgher to defend myself.

Fortunately, MOR kept me from knocking the guy's teeth out and order was restored.

Sean Miller coached that Xavier team, and we lost on the road that faithful Saturday evening. But a good time was had by all!

Road trips to opposing arenas are a blast, especially when we win OR you are with a good group of Xavier fans.

[Masterofreality]

I once attended a game with my friends in the Palumbo Center when Xavier played at Duquesne. Our entire group wore matching Xavier attire and were friendly to everyone we encountered, including some of the elderly ladies at the hotel bar. We were highly ranked at the time, and Duquesne was the opposite. Their arena is in downtown Pittsburgh, and I felt very good walking from the hotel to the arena. We attended the alumni reception, took advantage of the free food, and made our presence known with our exemplary behavior.

For some reason, I don't believe the Duquesne fans approved of my friends, and I nearly had to resort to fisticuffs with a portly old Pittsburgher to defend myself.

Fortunately, MOR kept me from knocking the guy's teeth out and order was restored.

Sean Miller coached that Xavier team, and we lost on the road that faithful Saturday evening. But a good time was had by all!

Road trips to opposing arenas are a blast, especially when we win OR you are with a good group of Xavier fans.

The Snuggie Bus trip will live in Infamy! Thanks for the memory, SON!!! (Hearts)
That needs to be repeated to DePaul some year. But maybe we’re just all in a different place now?

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

Re Fordham:

Never got there to see XU, but would still like to see a game there some day. Who knows . . .

I did, however, get to attend a Graduation Mass on the floor of the Rose Hill Gym.

You know who else was there? Jay Wright. That's right.

His son graduated from Fordham the same year as Elliot Cooley FU '16.

Jay was at the tent party, too, but made a hasty exit. Good for him.

[xupuck10]

We talk about it every year........

Why cant the BE figure out this game and put it on a weekend? Whos buying tickets for a Weds night game and making that drive up.

We did it on two separate occasions 4-5 years ago, but both times it was a Saturday game. X had good representation both times.

Consistently one of the most annoying parts of the schedule year in and year out, especially when trying to coordinate pregame activities. Even when we've had Saturday games recently, we've had bad times for trying to host a pregame event.

[xudash]

Consistently one of the most annoying parts of the schedule year in and year out, especially when trying to coordinate pregame activities. Even when we've had Saturday games recently, we've had bad times for trying to host a pregame event.

TV money influencing the scheduling of games.

I lived in Pittsburgh for almost 15 years and was X's alumni chapter president while there. Hosted a reception for Pete Gillen. I'll always love Pete. He had some great one-liners.

Anyway, the Palumbo Center is yet another example of a glorified high school gym. If I recall correctly, 1979 was Duquesne's last truly good showing in college basketball. Let's all agree that was a while ago.

You look at some of these schools - especially St. Joe's for dumping too much money in their bandbox - and there is no wonder they have placed themselves in college basketball's version of long-term purgatory.

If you were in the Cintas Center last night, you were a witness to college basketball played at the highest level in one of the nicest, most highly respected home courts in the country. For that matter, it's nothing but big-time watching it on the TV.

We are where we are - and where we're headed - thanks to fundamentally two people: Dr. Dailey (sp) and Father Hoff.

[X-band '01]

Technically, the Palumbo Center is no more - they completely rebuild the arena and now call it UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. There's still an atrium that pays homage to the Palumbo Center.

Now that you've mentioned the greatness of Dr. Daily, I'm waiting to read MOR's annual rant of how lucky Xavier was that they hired Pete Gillen and not Tim Grgurich.

[Masterofreality]

TV money influencing the scheduling of games.

I lived in Pittsburgh for almost 15 years and was X's alumni chapter president while there. Hosted a reception for Pete Gillen. I'll always love Pete. He had some great one-liners.

Anyway, the Palumbo Center is yet another example of a glorified high school gym. If I recall correctly, 1979 was Duquesne's last truly good showing in college basketball. Let's all agree that was a while ago.

You look at some of these schools - especially St. Joe's for dumping too much money in their bandbox - and there is no wonder they have placed themselves in college basketball's version of long-term purgatory.

If you were in the Cintas Center last night, you were a witness to college basketball played at the highest level in one of the nicest, most highly respected home courts in the country. For that matter, it's nothing but big-time watching it on the TV.

We are where we are - and where we're headed - thanks to fundamentally two people: Dr. Dailey (sp) and Father Hoff.

100^

[Masterofreality]

Technically, the Palumbo Center is no more - they completely rebuild the arena and now call it UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. There's still an atrium that pays homage to the Palumbo Center.

Now that you've mentioned the greatness of Dr. Daily, I'm waiting to read MOR's annual rant of how lucky Xavier was that they hired Pete Gillen and not Tim Grgurich.

Ha! This is truth.

[nuts4xu]

The Snuggie Bus trip will live in Infamy! Thanks for the memory, SON!!! (Hearts)
That needs to be repeated to DePaul some year. But maybe we’re just all in a different place now?

I recall Kahn's Krazy scrambling to get the bus filled and cover the cost. It may be tough to put together a trip like that again, especially with the same people. It would take some brave soul to use a credit card up front, with the hope they can recoup the cost. Everyone says they would go, but when it comes time to actually pay for the trip, folks tend to drop off the face of the Earth.

It would be fun to do 10 years later, it would likely bring a new generation of X fans, some of whom have no memory of the MCC, Cincinnati Gardens, or Schmidt Fieldhouse.

We are definitely all in a different place, but that doesn't mean we can't make this happen. Hell, I would settle for a Sprinter van, packed with 8 or 10 people, a cooler of beer, a batch of jello shots, and a couple of flying J pizzas.

Let's continue to look for opportunities when the schedule comes out, and plan something in the offseason.

[flatspat]

I recall Kahn's Krazy scrambling to get the bus filled and cover the cost. It may be tough to put together a trip like that again, especially with the same people. It would take some brave soul to use a credit card up front, with the hope they can recoup the cost. Everyone says they would go, but when it comes time to actually pay for the trip, folks tend to drop off the face of the Earth.

It would be fun to do 10 years later, it would likely bring a new generation of X fans, some of whom have no memory of the MCC, Cincinnati Gardens, or Schmidt Fieldhouse.

We are definitely all in a different place, but that doesn't mean we can't make this happen. Hell, I would settle for a Sprinter van, packed with 8 or 10 people, a cooler of beer, a batch of jello shots, and a couple of flying J pizzas.

Let's continue to look for opportunities when the schedule comes out, and plan something in the offseason.

I'm in , Nuts

[Masterofreality]

We are definitely all in a different place, but that doesn't mean we can't make this happen. Hell, I would settle for a Sprinter van, packed with 8 or 10 people, a cooler of beer, a batch of jello shots, and a couple of flying J pizzas.

Let's continue to look for opportunities when the schedule comes out, and plan something in the offseason.

YOU of all people really want to go there???? HAHAHAHAHA!!