Fordham SportsNet

(This article is Part IV of Fordham SportsNet’s series detailing Frank McLaughlin’s thoughts on the current state of the Fordham men’s basketball program. Today, the AD talks about the Rose Hill Gym and plans for a new arena.)

BY CHARLES COSTELLO

The Rose Hill Gym opened its doors for the first time on January 16, 1925 for a game between Fordham and Boston College. Today, it’s the oldest gym still being used by an NCAA Division I team. Despite a two million dollar renovation in the summer of 2002, and even with all its history, the Gym is what it is: A quaint, 3200 seat venue that does little to attract recruits and opponents. And without the modern amenities newer facilities provide, the Gym is simply unable to produce that special gameday experience fans have come to expect.

For years, Fordham University officials have faced intense questioning from alumni and fans about plans for a new arena. Most recently, rumors have run rampant about designs for a new arena, what it would take to build a new arena on campus, and whether or not the administration feels a new basketball home is a priority. When Fordham SportsNet sat down with Frank McLaughlin, the AD talked about the Rose Hill Gym and plans for a new arena.

“The plans are there,” McLaughlin said. “The plans have changed over the course of time. They’re probably different today than they were three years ago because of the economy. There’s no question that if there’s a major donor that was interested in building an arena and made a substantial contribution obviously it would move up on the priority list.”

When McLaughlin talks about a new arena he is really talking about an entire convocation center. Right now, the Lombardi Center serves as the home to the Rose Hill Gym, athletic offices, weight and training rooms, basketball and tennis courts, an indoor track, a swimming pool, and other athletic facilities and necessities. A more modern, updated facility would be ideal, McLaughlin says, for everyone from athletes to fans.

“We need a student center. We need a rec center. We need an athletic center. We need all three. They’re mandatory. We have to have them,” McLaughlin said, referring to NCAA requirements. “We’re in a league now which is a killer league. If you look at Saint Louis University, two years ago we were better than them. But you build an 85 million dollar facility, that really enhances your recruiting, your support. It becomes a real pride factor for an institution.”

It’s become clear, to McLaughlin and others, that the Rose Hill Gym just doesn’t measure up to college basketball arenas across the country.

“There’s no question we’re at a disadvantage,” McLaughlin said. “Kids that are basketball players come here and the first thing they want to see is the arena.

“There’s no question if we had a facility we’d really enhance the program. If you took [Fordham head coach] Dereck Whittenburg and made him the head coach at Xavier I’m sure they’d be successful. If you took Sean Miller from Xavier and put him here he would struggle. (Since this interview took place Miller left Xavier to become the head coach at Arizona.)

While the Sean Miller reference may say more about the overall state of Fordham basketball than just simply the need for a new arena, McLaughlin understands the importance of having a facility that attracts talent, increases enthusiasm, and creates the modern gameday experience fans get in newer venues.

“If we had Saint Louis’ facility or Xavier’s facility the first thing you’d get is a much higher level player. You get a much higher level player you have a much better team. You have a much better team then people want to come and see the team,” McLaughlin said.

Right now, people aren’t coming to Rose Hill to see the team. Fordham’s 3-25 record last season had a lot to do with that. McLaughlin understands that part of the equation. But the AD and other higher-ups at the university also see the empty seats at the current facility.

“I’ve heard people here on campus [ask] ‘why do we even have to build something if we don’t pack the present gym?” McLaughlin said. “Maybe if our alumni and the students prove that this place is packed then maybe other people would say it’s a necessity.”

For now, McLaughlin is involved in ongoing discussions with Madison Square Garden, the IZOD Center, and the Prudential Center, potential sites for Fordham to play some of its home games in the future. The Rams are scheduled to play Seton Hall in Newark next season, and there’s talk of a game against Villanova at the Meadowlands. During the Bob Hill era, the school began playing some home games at the Garden with mixed results. There was the big win against St. John’s back in 2000, but there were also a lot of empty seats any time the Rams played at MSG.

“We’ve looked at all of those [facilities] and we’ve talked to the people,” McLaughlin said. “To be honest with you, we don’t have a great product right now. One of the worst things would be to go into the Garden to play a game and have 3500 people. Believe me, we’re working on all those things. We’re at a disadvantage. If there was an eight to ten thousand seat facility in this area, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, we don’t have that.”

(Up Next: A message to fans.)

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