Rose Hill Gymnasium

Rose Hill Gymnasium
"The Prairie"
Location	Fordham University; Bronx, NY 10458
Coordinates	40°51′44″N73°53′02″W / 40.862148°N 73.883824°W
Public transit	Harlem/New Haven lines at Fordham
Owner	Fordham University
Operator	Fordham University
Capacity	3,200 (basketball and volleyball)
Surface	Hardwood
Opened	January 16, 1925
Tenants
	Fordham Rams (basketball and volleyball)

Last updated November 27, 2024

Rose Hill Gymnasium is a 3,200-seat multi-purpose arena on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University in The Bronx, New York City, New York. The arena, which opened in 1925, is the oldest on-campus venue currently used primarily for an NCAA Division I basketball team^[1] and the second-oldest overall (with the oldest being Northeastern University's Matthews Arena, which opened in 1910 and currently used for its basketball and hockey teams). The volleyball team of Fordham University also uses the gym. The Rose Hill Gymnasium has a gothic facade in keeping with the rest of Fordham University's buildings. The interior design features two high-tech video boards, bleachers that surround all four sides of the court, and additional elevated seating along the court. ESPN named this gym one of the four “cathedrals” of college basketball.^[2] At the time it was built, it was one of the largest on-campus facilities in the country, earning it the nickname "The Prairie." The Rose Hill Gymnasium has been the site of many legendary college and high school basketball games, including the final high school game of Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. During World War II, it was also used as a barracks. New York City Mayor Ed Koch lived in these barracks for a time. As early as 1970, an effort headed by famed Fordham alumnus Vince Lombardi was made to build a new arena. This effort ended with Lombardi's death and the move of head basketball coach "Digger" Phelps to the University of Notre Dame.^[3]

Architectural style

Some of the features of the building that display a Gothic Revival architectural style include arches and arch-like shapes, buttresses around the windows for exterior support, stone carvings, a parapet with crenellations commonly used in medieval castles, a stone sculpture of a cross and Fordham's emblem above the main arch to the entrance, and walls made of rough light field stones.^[4]

History

The Gymnasium hosted its first basketball game on January 16, 1925.^[5] The game was refereed by Frankie Frisch, a Fordham alumni, and New York Giants' second baseman.^{[ citation needed ]}

During World War 2, this gym was used as a U.S. Army barracks to shelter the soldiers and separate them from the general public. On May 11, 1946, President Harry Truman visited this barrack and rang a ship bell that remains there today. Fordham athletic teams continue to ring this bell after conference championship wins.^{[ citation needed ]}

Renovations

The Rose Hill Gymnasium was almost renovated in the early 1970s. Vince Lombardi, a Fordham football alumni, wanted to transform the small gym into a 10,500-seat gym. This plan fell through when Lombardi died in 1970, and the head basketball coach Digger Phelps left Fordham for Notre Dame in 1971. Instead, Fordham University built a separate athletic facility attached to the gym.^[6]

In 2018, the Rose Hill Gymnasium basketball court was renamed the Frank McLaughlin Family Basketball Court after alumnus Frank McLaughlin, who was a basketball player (1965–1969), assistant coach (1970–1971), and athletic director (1985–2012) for Fordham University.^[7]

In 2019, Caldwell & Walsh Building Construction Inc. renovated the gym floors from old wood to a modern shock-absorbing material. The renovation was completed in a four-and-a-half-month period.^[8]

Related Research Articles

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Memorial Gymnasium is a multi-purpose facility located in Nashville, Tennessee. Usually called Memorial Gym or simply Memorial, the building is located on the western side of the Vanderbilt University campus. It was built in 1952 and currently has a seating capacity of 14,326. It serves as home court for the school's men's and women's basketball programs, and will also serve as the home of Vanderbilt's upcoming women's volleyball program, scheduled to begin play in 2025.

The Walter A. Haas Jr. Pavilion is an indoor arena on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. It is the home venue of the Golden Bears men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, and men's and women's gymnastics teams. The arena is located in the middle of the main sports complex, overlooking Evans Diamond (baseball) and Edwards Stadium (track/soccer).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digger Phelps</span> American college basketball coach and broadcaster

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center</span> Multi-purpose arena on the campus of Kent State University

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lavietes Pavilion</span> Multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts

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References

↑ "Mag: Yale, Bulter among nation's oldest basketball stadiums". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
↑ Hanson, Dave (2015-11-26). "Rose Hill Gymnasium – Fordham Rams". Stadium Journey. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
↑ At Fordham, Gym Has History if Not Allure
↑ "Glossary - Loyola's Historic Architecture - Department of History - Loyola University Maryland". www.loyola.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
↑ "Mag: Yale, Bulter among nation's oldest basketball stadiums". ESPN.com. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
↑ Krupnick, Matt (2014-03-11). "At Fordham, Gym Has History if Not Allure". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-04-08.
↑ "Rose Hill Gym to be Renovated, Renamed". The Fordham Ram. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
↑ "Basketball Court Renovation Nears Completion". Fordham Newsroom. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2021-04-09.

External links

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[1] "Mag: Yale, Bulter among nation's oldest basketball stadiums". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-06-16.

[2] Hanson, Dave (2015-11-26). "Rose Hill Gymnasium – Fordham Rams". Stadium Journey. Retrieved 2021-04-08.

[3] At Fordham, Gym Has History if Not Allure

[4] "Glossary - Loyola's Historic Architecture - Department of History - Loyola University Maryland". www.loyola.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-09.

[5] "Mag: Yale, Bulter among nation's oldest basketball stadiums". ESPN.com. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2021-04-08.

[6] Krupnick, Matt (2014-03-11). "At Fordham, Gym Has History if Not Allure". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-04-08.

[7] "Rose Hill Gym to be Renovated, Renamed". The Fordham Ram. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-04-08.

[8] "Basketball Court Renovation Nears Completion". Fordham Newsroom. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2021-04-09.

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v t e Fordham University
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Campuses	Rose Hill Lincoln Center Westchester London Centre
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v t e Fordham Rams men's basketball
Venues	Rose Hill Gymnasium (1925–present)
Rivalries	Manhattan St. John's
Culture & lore	"Wonder Fives"
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
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v t e Fordham Rams women's basketball
Venues	Rose Hill Gymnasium (1970–present)
Rivalries	Manhattan St. John's
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25