Fordham to Call IZOD Center Home in 2009-10; St. John’s Back on Schedule?
Posted by Fordham SportsNet on July 7, 2009
BY CHARLES COSTELLO
It may not be the new on-campus arena many alumni and Fordham basketball fans have been calling for, but Fordham SportsNet has learned that three regular season men’s basketball games will be played at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey this upcoming season. All three games will be home games for the Fordham Rams.
The IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Fordham will play three home games this season at the Meadowlands arena. (izodcenter.com)
One Meadowlands matchup has been known for some time, an early season non-conference game against the Villanova Wildcats, a team that’s sure to draw many fans for the quick ride up the Jersey Turnpike. The next two opponents – dates and teams to be announced shortly – will surely be Atlantic 10 teams. That being said, the logical choices include a big draw like Xavier or Dayton, teams whose fans tend to travel well. And one of the Atlantic 10′s Philadelphia schools – Saint Joseph’s, Temple, LaSalle – is a likely choice because of each school’s ability to draw fans from the New Jersey and Philadelphia area.
The IZOD Center is home to the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. The former home of the New Jersey Devils, the arena is a popular spot for concerts, corporate events, and family shows, along with its rich history of hosting sporting events. The arena’s capacity is over 20,000 for basketball games. Fordham had been in talks with Madison Square Garden and the Prudential Center in Newark before agreeing to terms with the IZOD Center.
St. John’s in ’09?
Last week, ESPN.com’s Andy Katz reported that Fordham and St. John’s would resume their rivalry this year in a non-conference game hosted by the Red Storm. Fordham SportsNet can confirm this report. The game will take place in Queens at Carnesecca Arena on the campus of St. John’s. The two schools have not met since 2002.
98ramgrad said
The only thing more embarassing than playing before an empty crowd at the Rose Hill Gym is playing in front of a sparsely filled, cavernous arena that isn’t easy t get to. We will have three home games and be outnumbered in the seasts each time. Terrible for Fordham.
Nice work!