St. John's University Athletics
The Carnesecca Initiative: Continuing Looie's Legacy
4/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Carnesecca Initiative Links
• The Carnesecca Initiative: "Continuine Looie's Legacy" (PDF)
• Special Message from Coach Carnesecca
• What They're Saying About The New Carnesecca Arena
Carnesecca Arena Construction Updates
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Renderings
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery I - June 24, 2008
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery II - July 9, 2008
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery III - July 30, 2008
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery IV - Aug. 13, 2008
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery V - Aug. 29, 2008
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery VI - Sept. 9, 2008
• Carnesecca Arena Renovation Photo Gallery VII - Sept. 17, 2008
Carnesecca Initiative Events
• 100 Years of St. John's Basketball
• 2008 Lou Carnesecca Golf Classic
• St. John's Basketball Centennial Honored By New York Stock Exchange
Contribute To The Carnesecca Initiative
• Donate Online
• Contact Mel Davis, 718-990-2374
QUEENS, N.Y. - Venerable Carnesecca Arena, home to the St. John's Athletics Program since 1961, is receiving a $5 million interior renovation in the summer of 2008 as part of a multi-phase upgrade to the facility, STJ Director of Athletics Chris announced in April. A new playing surface, an overhauled seating bowl with 800 chairback seats, and enhanced ticketing and lobby areas are among the series of changes Red Storm fans will see prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.
Commitments of $5 million and $1 million, made by donors to the University's Carnesecca Initiative in the past week, have enabled St. John's to jumpstart the second phase of what will eventually be a $30 million upgrade of the entire facility.
"The renovation of Carnesecca Arena is vital, not only to our basketball programs, but to the entire athletics department since it houses most of our student-athletes, administrators and coaches. Carnesecca Arena is the heart of our athletics program," said Monasch. "The work done this summer is a significant start to the project, which will be completed over the course of the next few summers."
The first phase of the Carnesecca Arena upgrade was completed last fall, as St John's dedicated the state-of-the-art Student-Athlete Center for Excellence on October 19, 2007. The new 4,500 square foot facility, located on the main level of Carnesecca Arena, serves as the home for the Student Development for Athletes program. The new space is highlighted by a 54-seat study center to meet the needs of St. John's student-athletes and their demanding academic and athletic schedules. Four private tutoring rooms are also included in the Center, allowing the academic support staff to have one-on-one interaction with the student-athletes. The rooms also provide an area for small study groups to meet.
With the academic needs of St. John's student-athletes met, this summer's Phase II renovations focus on Carnesecca Arena's interior and seating bowl. Upon completion, St. John's fans will enjoy a completely renovated interior, with brilliant sight-lines from each of the arena's 6,000-plus seats. Red Storm supporters will enjoy viewing athletic events in a climate-controlled atmosphere, making for a superior game experience. With the addition of 800 chair-back seats to the lower seating bowl, fans have the opportunity to get close to the action with an enhanced level of comfort - the intimacy of Carnesecca Arena will remain intact, while the overall fan experience is improved. St. John's most generous benefactors will be able enjoy the excitement of courtside seating - donors can catch the thrill of Red Storm basketball up-close, as the athletes enjoy a newly-refurbished hardwood playing surface.
 | "The Carnesecca Arena renovations will be something that our current student-athletes will certainly enjoy, and its impact on recruiting will be tremendous. The new Carnesecca Arena will also provide an enhanced game-day atmosphere for our student body and fans as well." Norm Roberts |
Future renovations for the historic venue include a refurbishing of the locker room areas and administrative offices, and a reconditioning of the arena's exterior façade, matching Carnesecca to its adjoining counterpart, the state-of-the-art Taffner Field House basketball training facility.
Headed by former St. John's All-American and longtime NBA star Mel Davis, the Carnesecca Initiative is the University's major fundraising venture to support the expansive renovations. Early leadership gift commitments have helped to move the first phases of the renovations forward and additional gifts will be needed to complete the full vision. For information about upcoming Carnesecca Initiative events, naming opportunities in the new Carnesecca Arena, or to make a donation, please contact Davis at 718-990-2374 or by e-mail at davism1@stjohns.edu.
"The Carnesecca Arena renovation will have a great impact on our basketball program. It is something that we as an institution have wanted to do for some time, and now some of the plans will come to fruition," said head men's basketball coach Norm Roberts. "The renovations will be something that our current student-athletes will certainly enjoy, and its impact on recruiting will be tremendous. The new Carnesecca Arena will also provide an enhanced game-day atmosphere for our student body and fans as well."
"Since we play most of our games at Carnesecca Arena, we're very excited for the renovation and its ability to continue to boost our game-day atmosphere," added women's head coach Kim Barnes Arico. "The intimacy of Carnesecca Arena is perfect for women's basketball, and we hope that the new features will encourage our fans to pack the house and support our teams. With great home crowds, the benefits to our program now and in the future will be incredible."
The on-campus competition venue of the Red Storm basketball, volleyball and fencing teams, what was then referred to as Alumni Hall opened its doors on December 4, 1961. In the fall of 2004, as part of a dedication ceremony honoring St. John's Hall of Fame coach, the University renamed the court and the building for longtime mentor Lou Carnesecca. With a seating capacity of 6,008, historic Carnesecca Arena ranks as the fourth-largest indoor arena in the Metropolitan area, behind the Meadowlands, Madison Square Garden and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. In 1961, the year the facility was opened, the building was rated second only to Madison Square Garden.
The major renovations planned for Carnesecca Arena are the latest in a series of upgrades to St. John's Athletic Facilities, as part of the University's multi-year facilities plan. The Carnesecca Arena and Taffner Field House complex will form the centerpiece to the St. John's Athletics Corridor, which spans from the soon-to-be-constructed University Center and DaSilva Memorial Field all the way to the newly-renamed Jack Kaiser Baseball Stadium. The Athletics Corridor will eventually be linked by pathways and green areas, uniting facilities that 13 St. John's varsity athletic programs call home - Red Storm Field (softball), DaSilva Memorial Field (men's lacrosse, women's track & field), The Courts at St. John's (men's and women's tennis), Taffner Field House (men's and women's basketball), Carnesecca Arena (men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's fencing), Belson Stadium (men's and women's soccer) and Jack Kaiser Stadium (baseball).
RED STORM FIELD
Red Storm Field is home to the St. John's University softball team. The field officially opened on May 6, 2001 vs. BIG EAST rival Syracuse University. The facility is equipped with an electronic scoreboard, a public address system and has a seating capacity of 250. It is located on the west side of campus, close to St. John's six award-winning residence halls.
DA SILVA MEMORIAL FIELD
Originally opened as St. John's Stadium in 1978, DaSilva Memorial Field was rededicated in 1998 in memory of John DaSilva, a St. John's University hockey star who was killed tragically in an automobile accident. DaSilva Memorial Field is home to the men's lacrosse and women's track and field teams, and is located adjacent to the construction site of St. John's new University Center. The field was resurfaced in the summer of 2004 to incorporate the addition of FieldTurf.
THE COURTS AT ST. JOHN'S
The Courts at St. John's serve as home to both the men's and women's tennis teams. Located just outside of Taffner Field House, the courts were completed in 2005 and are open daily throughout the year. In addition to serving as the home to the Red Storm tennis teams, The Courts at St. John's also provide students with an opportunity to participate in tennis as a recreational activity.
TAFFNER FIELD HOUSE
Taffner Field House, a $16 million, two-story, 43,000 square foot structure, was completed in the fall of 2005. The facility includes four full-size basketball courts, two for varsity basketball and two for the general student population. The facility includes offices and meeting spaces for recreation and intramural activities and men's and women's basketball, dedicated locker rooms for both student recreation and men's and women's basketball, an audio/visual and media room for all varsity athletic teams, and exclusive sports medicine and weight training facilities.
BELSON STADIUM
In the fall of 2002, the men's and women's Red Storm soccer programs began play at Belson Stadium, a 2,300-seat, state-of-the-art facility. The stadium was primarily funded by a $6 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Belson. Mr. Belson is a graduate of the School of Law, an emeritus member of the University's Board of Trustees and a generous benefactor of St. John's. The stadium is situated on a raised platform, with parking underneath and features FieldTurf and includes a state-of-the-art press box, private suites and media room.
JACK KAISER STADIUM
Formerly The Ballpark at St. John's, the home of Red Storm baseball was constructed in the spring of 2000, and renamed for St. John's Hall of Fame Coach, Athletics Director Emeritus and distinguished alum in the spring of 2007. Jack Kaiser Stadium, already considered one of the premier venues for collegiate baseball in the BIG EAST, will receive a remodeled entrance during the 2008 season. The facility boasts seating for 3,500 spectators, an electronic scoreboard in centerfield, a press box, lighting and public address system.