Seawolves using big arena for ESPNU game
Players warm up before the opening tipoff in an opening round NIT game between Stony Brook and Illinois at Stony Brook Arena. (Mar. 17, 2010) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
It was a landmark event in Stony Brook athletic history last March when the Seawolves hosted an NIT first-round game against Illinois of the Big Ten at sold-out Stony Brook Arena. The athletic department invested about $65,000 to refurbish a venue that has been in limbo ever since a $20-million appropriation to remodel the building was frozen by the state three years ago because of the financial crisis.
Stony Brook athletic director Jim Fiore hopes to re-create that same atmosphere in the 4,000-seat facility for the Seawolves' nationally televised matchup with Maine on ESPNU on Saturday morning at 11. Once again, the arena had to be restored to working order, although the cost was closer to $50,000 the second time around.
Fiore expects another sellout. "We have less than 300 student tickets remaining with more than 650 already out," he said Friday evening. "We're going to have 3,000-plus from the community. It'll be sold out without question."
The school and basketball coach Steve Pikiell would not have minded playing at 1,800-seat Pritchard Gymnasium, which can be a tough environment for visiting teams. But America East officials encouraged Stony Brook to stage the ESPNU game in the larger arena, so the school went to work with a major marketing effort.
"It's going to be like a winter homecoming with several alumni events," Fiore said. "It's on national TV, so the students are fired up for it."
The school is hosting a breakfast tailgate event for the students, and there will be contests, including one in which a fan could win a Mercedes-Benz and one in which a student could win $20,000.
"It's a community effort,'' Fiore said, "but first, we're trying to win a basketball game and have a great atmosphere."
The Seawolves (10-14, 5-7 America East) are tied for fifth in the conference but are coming off a road win against New Hampshire. Maine (14-10, 8-4) is second behind league leader Vermont but comes in on a three-game losing streak.
This might be the last game at Stony Brook Arena for some time because it becomes costly to repeat work to restore the court. Fiore said there's no indication when funds will be freed for completion of the construction project, but he added, "We're hopeful it will be freed. We're right there. I know it's a priority for the university president."
