John Glaser Arena

Last updated
John Glaser Arena
The Glaser
John Glaser Arena
Address1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia
United States of America
Coordinates 40°02′24″N75°09′24″W / 40.039993°N 75.15654°W / 40.039993; -75.15654
ParkingAbout 200 spaces
OperatorLa Salle University
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
OpenedOctober 26, 2024
RenovatedApril, 2024 - October, 2024
Construction cost$12,000,000+
Tenants
La Salle Explorers men's and women's basketball

John Glaser Arena (also known as The Glaser) is a 3,000+ seat multi-purpose arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania situated inside TruMark Financial Center. It is home to the La Salle University Explorers men's and women's basketball teams. It is located at the former site of Tom Gola Arena.

Contents

The arena was named after John E. Glaser who donated the funds to renovate Tom Gola Arena into a new arena. The former arena was named after former Explorers captain and head coach Tom Gola, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

History

La Salle played at Tom Gola Arena from 1998-2024. In September 2023, La Salle revealed a plan to renovate Tom Gola Arena to create a 360-degree, bowl style arena. The renovation plans highlighted the need for an updated facility to meet the standards of a college basketball facility as well as a way to improve team performance. [1] Tom Gola Arena did not have seats behind the baskets and research, conducted by John E. Glaser showed that opposing teams shot better against La Salle due to an absence of fans. [2] Demolition of Tom Gola Arena started in March, 2024. Renovation into John Glaser Arena started in April, 2024, and lasted until October, 2024.

John Glaser Arena opened on October 24, 2024 with Hoops Fest, a celebration to kick off the basketball season. Hoops Fest featured a live performance by American rapper DD Osama. [3] The John Glaser Arena hosted its first game on November 4th, 2024 with the men's basketball team defeating American 65-52. [4]

Features

The arena features 1,700 permanent seats, VIP seats, and retractable seating close to the floor. Four entrance tunnels are located in each corner of the court. A brand-new lighting, sound, and scoreboard system was implemented as well as a new men's locker room. Renovations were made to the concession area, bathrooms, and media room. [5]

Tom Gola Plaza

To continue to namesake and legacy of Explorer's legend Tom Gola, a plaza, outside of Trumark Financial Center, in his honor was dedicated on September 26, 2024. The plaza features an existing statue of Tom Gola as well as new lights and benches, a newly constructed brick surface featuring the names of doners, as well as a historical marker. [4] [6]

Historical Marker commemorating Tom Gola and his achievements Tom Gola Historical Marker.jpg
Historical Marker commemorating Tom Gola and his achievements
Statue and plaza honoring Explorer's legend Tom Gola Tom Gola Plaza.jpg
Statue and plaza honoring Explorer's legend Tom Gola

Tom Gola Way

The driveway in front of TruMark Financial Center was renamed Tom Gola Way to continue the namesake of Tom Gola. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Gola</span> American basketball player and politician (1933–2014)

Thomas Joseph Gola was an American basketball player and politician. He is widely considered one of the greatest NCAA basketball players of all time. Gola was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Salle University</span> Catholic university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

La Salle University is a private, Catholic university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Gola Arena</span>

Tom Gola Arena was a 3,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania situated inside the TruMark Financial Center. It was home to the La Salle University Explorers men's and women's basketball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Salle Explorers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of La Salle University

The La Salle Explorers are the varsity sports teams from La Salle University in Philadelphia. The Explorers compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The men's and women's basketball teams also participate in the Philadelphia Big 5. On June 3, 2019, Brian Baptiste was named director of athletics and recreation effective August 1, 2019. Baptiste is deputy AD for capital projects and operations at Northwestern University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TruMark Financial Center</span> Indoor athletic arena on La Salle Universitys campus

The TruMark Financial Center, known as the Hayman Center until 2017, is the indoor athletic arena on La Salle University's campus. It is located directly across a walkway from the St. Francis and St. Edwards residence complex. The building was opened in February 1998 from a very large donation from Harry Blake Hayman I. The building was dedicated in the name of his parents; a plaque was placed on the front, inside beside the main doors.

The 1953–54 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team represented La Salle University in the 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Ken Loeffler. La Salle won the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament.

The 2011–12 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by eighth year head coach John Giannini, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena and are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 21–13, 9–7 in A-10 to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Basketball tournament to Saint Louis. They were invited to the 2012 National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Minnesota.

The 2012–13 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by ninth year head coach John Giannini, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 24–10, 11–5 in A-10 play to finish in a three way tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament to Butler. They received an at-large bid to the 2013 NCAA tournament, their first NCAA bid in 21 years. They defeated Boise State in the First Four, Kansas State in the Round of 64, and Ole Miss in the Round of 32 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen where they lost to Wichita State.

The 2013–14 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by tenth year head coach John Giannini, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 15–16, 7–9 in A-10 play to finish in eighth place. They lost in the second round of the A-10 tournament to St. Bonaventure.

The 2014–15 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by eleventh year head coach John Giannini, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 17–16, 8–10 in A-10 play to finish in ninth place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament where they lost to Davidson.

The 2016–17 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by 13th-year head coach John Giannini, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 15–15, 9–9 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for seventh place. As the No. 8 seed in the A-10 tournament, they lost to Davidson in the first round.

The 2017–18 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by 14th-year head coach John Giannini, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 13–19, 7–11 in A-10 play to finish in a three-way tie for 10th place. As the No. 12 seed in the A-10 tournament, they lost in the first round to Massachusetts.

The 2018–19 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by first-year head coach Ashley Howard, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 10–21, 8–10 in A-10 play to finish in ninth place. They lost in the second round of the A-10 tournament to Rhode Island.

The 2019–20 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by second-year head coach Ashley Howard, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Conference.

The 2020–21 La Salle Explorers basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by third-year head coach Ashley Howard, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 9–16, 6–11 in A-10 Play to finish in 12th place. They lost in the first round of the A-10 tournament to Saint Joseph's.

The 2021–22 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by fourth-year head coach Ashley Howard, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 11–19, 5–13 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for 12th place. As the No. 12 seed in the A-10 tournament, they defeated Saint Joseph's in the first round before losing to Saint Louis in the second round.

The 2022–23 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by first-year head coach Fran Dunphy, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The 2023–24 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team represented La Salle University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Explorers, led by second-year head coach Fran Dunphy, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. This season was the final season the Explorers played at Tom Gola Arena.

The 2023–24 La Salle Explorers women's basketball team represented La Salle University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Explorers, led by sixth-year head coach Mountain MacGillivray, played their home games at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

References

  1. ↑ Staff, News (2023-10-11). "John Glaser Arena announcement". The La Salle Collegian. Retrieved 2024-10-24.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. ↑ "La Salle University Unveils Basketball Arena Renovation Project". La Salle University Athletics. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  3. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  4. 1 2 MacAulay, Jessica; Staff, CBS News Philadelphia (2024-10-22). "CBS News Philadelphia gets a sneak peek at La Salle University's newly renovated John Glaser Arena - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  5. ↑ "John Glaser Arena, LaSalle University". SPS Technology. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  6. ↑ Lynch • •, Cherise (2024-09-26). "La Salle University unveils new plaza dedicated to basketball legend Tom Gola". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  7. ↑ MacAulay, Jessica; Staff, CBS News Philadelphia (2024-10-22). "CBS News Philadelphia gets a sneak peek at La Salle University's newly renovated John Glaser Arena - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
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