St. John’s construction officials say the third wave of renovations to Carnesecca Arena “are 98 percent finished.”

Craig Diana, project manager for the Carnesecca renovations, said the changes to the video scoreboard, sound
system, ceiling and lighting will be completed in time to host an NBA preseason game between the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets Oct. 23.

“For the most part, by the end of this week we’ll be finished,” Diana said.

He added that, though the construction is close to being completed, workers still need to be trained on using the new equipment, which he said would also begin this week.
Renovations began June 15, just after commencement services for the Class of 2009. It is the second major renovation in as many years to the arena, which changed its name from Alumni Hall in 2004.

Prior to the start of the 2008-09 basketball season, the arena adopted a new playing surface and added roughly 800 chair-back seats as well as upgraded ticket and lobby areas.

“Continuing the renovation of Carnesecca Arena is vital, not only to our basketball programs, but to the entire athletics department since it houses most of our student-athletes,
administrators and coaches,” Athletic Director Chris Monasch said earlier this year. “Carnesecca Arena is the heart of
our athletics program.”

Even before the new seating debuted, the University worked toward making the arena a more student-friendly building, constructing the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence Oct. 2007.

The 4,500 square foot facility, located on the arena’s main floor, was built to serve as a home for the Student Development for Athletes program.

Highlighting the space is a 54-seat study center, set to meet the educational needs of the University’s student-athletes and their demanding schedules. Study rooms were also built in addition to four private tutoring rooms so that the athletes could have one-on-one interaction with the University’s academic support staff.

“The Carnesecca Arena renovations will be something that our current student-athletes will certainly enjoy, and its impact on recruiting will be tremendous,” men’s basketball head coach Norm Roberts said earlier in the year. “The new Carnesecca Arena will also provide an enhanced game-day atmosphere for our student body and fans as well.”