CT Hoops Haven (2025): Sacred Heart's Shiny New Gym Elevates Gameday

Editor's Note: Patch Field Editor Michael Lemanski, a 1992 University of Connecticut graduate, and his daughter Samantha Lemanski, 15, are both major UConn men's and women's basketball fans. But Connecticut's college hoops scene is more than just the Huskies, who are a state and national powerhouse. There are five other Division I programs in Connecticut: Central Connecticut State University; Quinnipiac University; Fairfield University; Sacred Heart University; and Yale University. Last season, the duo set out to visit all of Connecticut's Division I basketball facilities to see what they had to offer. Mission accomplished. This bonus installment, however, takes a look at Sacred Heart's brand-new gym which opened for the 2024-25 season.

FAIRFIELD, CT — A season ago, while my daughter and I traveled throughout the Nutmeg State's Division I college "Hoops Havens," the least comfortable gym was Sacred Heart University's court.

Back in February 2024, we noted the uncomfortable benches and, in general, run-down condition of the gymnasium in the William H. Pitt Center at the Fairfield campus.

While we still had a great game day experience, we noted the aging condition of the facility, expressing excitement at the prospects of a new, renovated gym to open the next season.

This is why on Sunday, Jan. 5, faced with a wife at work and holiday hustle-bustle suddenly over, we thought we'd traverse the Merritt Parkway to Sacred Heart's shiny new basketball shrine.

And we were not just pleasantly surprised at what greeted us. We were downright amazed.

The only thing that is the same as last year's home court is the exterior of the building.

Inside, well, it is a brand-new facility, one echoing comfort, state-of-the-art presentation, and a symphony of color that takes the prior 1990s arena into 2025.

If you took Central Connecticut State University's general layout, added in the University of Connecticut's Gampel Pavilion technology and the color and cleanliness of Fairfield University's Leo D. Mahoney Arena (which opened in 2022) ... you have the new Pitt.

We were there to see the Sacred Heart Pioneers battle the Canisius University Golden Griffins on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 5, for an afternoon tip-off.

Of course, the 2,000-seat arena was mostly empty, a byproduct of school being on winter break and Connecticut's college hoops scene being dominated that day by UConn men's and women's games going on simultaneously at the same time as this game.

Of note is Sacred Heart's conference change, as it is now part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the same one as Fairfield and Quinnipiac University in Hamden. Prior, the Pioneers were part of the Northeast Conference, which includes CCSU in New Britain.

The game was hardly a matchup of titans, with Sacred Heart going into the contest 6-8 and the poor Golden Griffins out of Buffalo, N.Y., winless at 0-13.

When the game ended, however, the final score — 99-82 Sacred Heart — was just a footnote to, essentially, another enjoyable afternoon out at a new CT Hoop Haven.

What hits you when you walk in is just how fresh and clean the facility is. You feel like you're entering someone's new home for a holiday party.

From the red-colored walls to the new seats to a bright, shiny floor, the arena — as it should — screams "Pioneers."

In simplest terms, the seating in much of the building is way, way more comfortable, with only the ends (presumably for standing students) having bleachers.

On one side of the baseline are traditional, stadium chairbacks. On another side are long, comfortable, benches with backs to them.

Honestly, sitting on those latter benches is no different than stadium seats, and at $13-$19 each to sit right on the floor, it's a good bargain.

While ticket prices compared to a year ago have gone up, the new arena makes those new prices not only worth it but still a bargain.

Outside the doors was a nice, small concession stand with standard arena fare (popcorn, pretzels, hot dogs, drinks, candy, snacks, etc.), along with water, soda, and beer.

The concession prices, however, were incredibly affordable, at least half what you'd pay at a game at the XL Center in Hartford.

Our traditional shared halftime beverage and pretzel cost us $7 for both, which is what one beverage at a UConn sporting event costs.

Parking, as it was a year ago, was easy and free, and traffic was manageable given the small crowd and easy access to the parkway afterward.

If there was any stress on the day, it was when we learned that UConn was getting clobbered by the Providence College Friars at the same time and Paige Bueckers had hurt her knee.

We enjoyed watching the game we were at, but, admittedly, we were checking our phones a lot.

But it all worked out and, like the enjoyment of our Sacred Heart game day experience, our stress evaporated as the men came back to win and Bueckers' knee injury in a typical UConn blowout did not appear catastrophic (fingers crossed).

All in all, it was a win, win and win day for us.

If you're looking for something affordable to do and enjoy a nice, competitive game of college hoops, find out when Sacred Heart is playing ... and go to the state's newest Hoop Haven.

It is all well worth it.

For Sacred Heart University men's and women's basketball ticket information, click on this link.

From Feb. 26, 2024: 'CT Hoops Havens: Best Yet To Come At Sacred Heart's Gym'

From Feb. 29, 2024: 'CT Hoops Havens: State College Basketball More Than Just UConn'