Finneran Pavilion

William B. Finneran Pavilion
The Ski Lodge
Photo preceding The 2006 Hoops Mania Festivities
Former names John Eleuthère du Pont Pavilion (1986–1997)
The Pavilion (1997–2017)
Location Villanova University
Villanova, PA 19085
Public transit Stadium–Ithan Avenue:
  Norristown High Speed Line
Owner Villanova University
Operator Villanova University
Capacity 6,500 (basketball)
5,500 (concerts)
3,500 (tennis)
Surface Maple
Construction
Broke ground 1985
Opened February 1, 1986
Construction cost $24.9 million
($55.6 million in 2017 dollars[1] )
Architect Tully International Inc.
Tenants
Villanova University Wildcats (1985–present)
Philadelphia Freedoms (WTT) (2010–2016)

The William B. Finneran Pavilion is a 6,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States, about 10 miles outside Philadelphia. It was built in 1985, and is home to the Villanova University Wildcats basketball teams. It is recognizable from the outside for its hyperbolic paraboloid roofline, similar to Alfond Arena at the University of Maine. It replaced the still-existing Villanova Field House, later renamed the "Jake Nevin Field House," a small arena-auditorium built in 1932. The first men's game played at the Pavilion took place on Saturday, February 1, 1986 versus the University of Maryland. The basketball court only takes up half the space of the building; it is expandable as an indoor track facility and recreation center. For games where larger crowds are expected, Villanova plays at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (where Villanova holds the record for largest Pennsylvania crowd to ever watch a college basketball game, att. 20,859).[2] The Finneran Pavilion is known for its famed student section, which constitutes a full third of the seating. Located in the south end, the student bleachers seat 2,000 students but have been known to be filled with as many as 2,500 students.

Until 2016, it was the home court of the Philadelphia Freedoms of World TeamTennis.[3]

The Pavilion student section

The facility was originally known as John Eleuthère du Pont Pavilion, as it was funded in part by John Eleuthère du Pont, a member of the wealthy and influential Du Pont family. In 1997, the du Pont name was removed from the facility, with the family's tacit permission, after John was convicted of the murder of Olympic wrestling gold medalist Dave Schultz. From 1997 to 2017, it was simply The Pavilion before its current name was adopted as 1963 graduate William B. Finneran made a $22.6 million donation to the school in April 2016 to help with its current improvements.

The arena is also used for concerts, conventions, trade shows, graduation ceremonies and other special events. The arena floor measures 23,016 square feet (2,138.3 m2); there are two meeting rooms.

At the end of the 2016-17 academic year, a $60 million renovation and is scheduled to reopen by the start of the 2018–19 season. During the renovations, Villanova's men's team played the 2017–18 season at Wells Fargo Center, while the women's team's used Jake Nevin Field House.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  2. ↑ No. 4 Villanova goes deep to beat No. 1 UConn
  3. ↑ George, John (January 26, 2010). "Philadelphia Freedoms of World Team Tennis moving home court to Villanova". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Villanova Basketball's Pavilion Renovation approved by Board of Trustees". vuhoops.com. February 14, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Finneran Pavilion FAQs". Villanova University. Retrieved June 10, 2017.

Coordinates: 40°02′03″N 75°20′12″W / 40.034072°N 75.336553°W / 40.034072; -75.336553

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