Sports
La Salle University Unveils Basketball Arena Renovation Project – La Salle University Athletics
Men’s Basketball | September 27, 2023
PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University announced Wednesday the unveiling of its arena renovation project that will elevate the new home for Explorers men’s and women’s basketball.
The arena renovation project at TruMark Financial Center will feature a 360-degree bowl design that will change the court orientation, from east to west instead of north to south. The new seating will bring fans closer to the action. There will also be a hospitality area and additional premium seating surrounding the court.
“Athletics is really the front porch for the university. At La Salle, we know that basketball in particular has such an impact on our identity and the visibility of the brand of the university,” La Salle University President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D. “We play in a very competitive Atlantic 10 Conference. To continue to compete in that conference, facilities are important. This renovation is the first step in providing the fan experience and the home court advantage that our team and our fans deserve.”
In addition to the new design, the Explorers’ home court will also feature upgrades to the video boards, audio system, lighting, and in-game production to enhance the entire fan experience.
“Starting today, we are beginning a new chapter for La Salle Athletics that will unleash the full potential of this university not only on this campus, but in this city and beyond,” La Salle University Vice President of Athletics & Recreation and Director of Athletics Ashwin Puri said. “This transformation will create a loud, intimate, and intense atmosphere for our fans. That atmosphere will give current and future student-athletes an unparalleled collegiate experience.”
The new arena, which is expected to be completed in fall 2024, is being supported through a generous gift from the late John Glaser, ’62, and will be renamed John Glaser Arena.
La Salle basketball legend Tom Gola, ’55, the arena’s current namesake, will continue to have a large presence on site with the creation of Tom Gola Plaza where a statue of the Hall of Famer now stands and a renaming of the driveway in front of the arena as Tom Gola Way.
“This project has been a long time coming for the Explorer faithful and I am so grateful to all of the donors who have helped to bring this project to fruition,” Allen said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize and thank the late John Glaser, who is a member of the La Salle Class of 1962, for his foresight and especially a multimillion-dollar gift that he made that was the catalyst for this project. And as for the Gola family, it’s really important to all of us that we continue to honor Tom’s legacy here at La Salle. We have been working with Tom’s wife Caroline to envision how we could accomplish this. I’d like to thank Caroline for her partnership and continued commitment to La Salle in Tom’s name.”
Season tickets for the 2023-24 campaign for the men’s and women’s basketball teams are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets to ensure priority access and best available seating for next year by visiting goexplorers.com/tickets or calling 215-951-1999. From today through Oct. 4, fans can use the code ARENA to receive 10 percent off season tickets for the 2023-24 season when purchasing online.
If you are interested in giving to the project with a meaningful gift, please contact Brian Frankowski at frankowski@lasalle.edu or Josh Karp at karp@lasalle.edu to arrange a time to speak about your support.
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