This afternoon, I visited Fairfield University to check out the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Here are my thoughts about the new facility.
Upon entering the arena, I was immediately struck by the layout of the building. The design is quite impressive; everything's where it's supposed to be, and brand spankin' new at that.
A huge video board and scoreboard highlights center court, and a ribbon display which encircles the arena helps fans get into the action. The building is state-of-the-art, and looks great from top to bottom.
Nevertheless, the new home of the Stags has a few issues; these start with arena parking. The lots are somewhat distant from the main entrance; this might cause problems for those with disabilities.
Also, general accessibility seems to be a problem. Although the facility has side doors and rear entrances, fans are only allowed to access the building via the front lobby. This could make for long entry lines on certain game days.
Here's a bit more information about the thirty five hundred seat arena. (1)
Longtime Stag fans will note that there are significant differences between Mahoney Arena and its predecessor, Alumni Hall. The first of these, of course, is the facility's name.
The family of former University trustee Leo Mahoney was the largest donor to arena construction; as such, it is their name that appears on the marquee, so to speak. Keeping your boosters and donors happy is, apparently, a key task for any college athletic program (which I don't really have a problem with). (2)
General seating is another point of difference between the two arenas. Unlike Alumni Hall, the new building includes a club section, as well as tabletop seats. Also, the wooden bleachers are gone, which makes for a much better game-viewing experience.
The Fairfield University student section is gone as well; there doesn't seem to be any designated area for this purpose. I'm told that students are offered discounts on tickets in lieu of this.
Still another difference involves the location of restrooms. Bathrooms at Mahoney Arena are centrally located throughout the main concourses; compare this with Alumni Hall, where you actually had to go below court level to find a place to "answer the call".
Overall, although Mahoney Arena is quite less intimate than its forerunner (the refs can't hear you complain now!), it is also a much more modern and polished facility. Hopefully, this will have the effect of attracting better recruits, and contributing to a more successful basketball program.
Alas, Fairfield went down to defeat today, losing to the Siena College Saints by nine points. (3)
Be that as it may, I completely enjoyed my first visit to the on-campus venue. If you're a fan of college hoops, a trip to "the Leo" would be well worth your time.
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