"The Prairie" | |
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 | |
| Location | Fordham University Bronx, NY 10458 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°51′44″N 73°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) | |
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]
- ^ "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