Dec. 12, 2000
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University unveils its newly renovated Leavey Center Wednesday, when the SCU men's basketball team hosts Fresno State at 7:30 p.m.
The Broncos' home opener against the Bulldogs will take place under a new roof surrounded by spectacular 23-foot glass walls, a new floor, new bleachers and a new suspended scoreboard.
"We are thrilled to have an opportunity to provide a first-class playing facility such as the Leavey Center for our athletic teams," said Cheryl Levick, SCU athletic director. "This project is a cornerstone in our long-term plan to maintain a nationally-competitive athletics program."
The $11.75 million project, begun after the West Coast Conference tournament last spring and completed last week, is just the first phase of a two-year renovation of the 25-year-old Leavey Center.
The first phase, highlighted by the removal of the famous "bubble" roof last spring, required SCU coaches and administrators to move into temporary quarters. The renovated basketball/volleyball arena replaces the former Toso Pavilion.
The renovation's next phase beginning in 2001 will include new and expanded upper level seating, additional concession stands, a new athletic weight room and 25,000 square feet of athletic department office space.
Devcon Construction of Milpitas was the general contractor on the project.
Because of the renovation, the SCU women's volleyball team played its matches at the Pat Malley Recreation and Fitness Center, the men's basketball played its first two exhibition games and first seven games of the season on the road, and the women's basketball team played two exhibition games and two of its first three games of the season at the gym at nearby Bellarmine Prep.
The Broncos will be shooting at new backboards, on a shiny, 14,000 square-foot floor, under the light of 48 hanging lights and another 64 floodlights.
Spectators in the floor sections will be sitting on 351 new chair-back and 630 new bench seats, and concrete bleachers at both ends of the court have new, comfortable seats. The seating capacity of 5,000 at the Leavey Center has not changed. Spectators also may use expanded, renovated women's restrooms and new men's restrooms. A new elevator connects courtside to the second-floor entrance level.
During daylight hours, the Bronco teams' practices receive extra illumination through 20,700 square feet of quarter-inch-thick glass, in 1,008 wall sections that wrap around the large oval structure at the southeast end of the 104-acre campus. Approximately two-thirds of the glass panels are tinted to prevent glare.
A new scoreboard is a dominant feature of the new Leavey Center, with lights and video displays suspended 30 feet above center court from the steel support beams of the new 70,000-square-foot roof.
The Broncos men's team has a 254-97 record in the Leavey Center. In the first seven games of the 2000-01 season, the team has traveled nearly 7,800 miles, en route to its 4-3 record. After Wednesday's game, the men return to the Leavey Center on Dec.23, beginning a five-game home stand against Nevada.
The 4-2 SCU women's basketball team, fresh off a win at the University of California/Berkeley on Sunday, opens a five-game home stand at the Leavey Center on Dec. 27 against the University of Maryland.
For information about individual, group and season tickets to Bronco basketball, call 408-554-4660, or go to www.santaclarabroncos.com. Parking is available north of the Leavey Center off the main SCU entrance, and east of the center. For seating information, click here.