Now this looks nice

[Halldan1]

Perfect for the teams using the facility.


https://shupirates.com/news/2019/12/6/walsh-gymnasium-renovation-to-commence-april-2020.aspx

General 12/6/2019 1:36:00 PM

Walsh Gymnasium Renovation to Commence April 2020

South Orange, N.J. - The renovation of historic Walsh Gymnasium to modernize the facility for the benefit of basketball and volleyball student-athletes and fans at Seton Hall University is now officially expected to commence in April 2020.

The facelift on Seton Hall's iconic athletics facility will include replacing all the old seats with new ones as well as replacing the bleachers on the court level with chairbacks. It will include the installation of a center-hung scoreboard and videoboard panels to the left and right of the stage as well as a new sound system. It will include replacing the portable baskets with new ones that come down from the ceiling. And it will include a brand new hardwood court, new paint and Seton Hall branding.

The renovation is expected to be completed by September 2020.

Walsh Gymnasium was the first permanent basketball facility to be built on the Seton Hall campus. Construction began in 1939 and was completed in the winter of 1941, when the men's basketball team played its first-ever game there. According to Alan Delozier in his book "Seton Hall Pirates: A Basketball History" Seton Hall University president Monsignor James Kelley based the Walsh Gymnasium concept on facilities found at St. Catherine's College and Yale University for their multipurpose dynamics.

Just this week, the department has opened registration for fans interested in purchasing the old Walsh Gymnasium seats, which are original to the building from when it opened in 1941. More information is available at SHU.edu/WalshChairs.

 

[Halldan1]

Just this week, the department has opened registration for fans interested in purchasing the old Walsh Gymnasium seats, which are original to the building from when it opened in 1941. More information is available at SHU.edu/WalshChairs.

https://setonhall.forums.rivals.com/threads/own-a-piece-of-walsh.43211/

 

[MBF72]

Looks great. What is the capacity? Is it the end of men's basketball games at Walsh?

 

[Halldan1]

If Willard has any say, absolutely. He hates playing in Walsh. Told me that personally many years ago and has repeated it after every game we still play there.

 

[Vegas pj]

Looks great. What is the capacity? Is it the end of men's basketball games at Walsh?

Based on pix, capacity will be cut by a few hundred. Sayonara to men's games being played there.

 

[Pirate Russ]

If Willard has any say, absolutely. He hates playing in Walsh. Told me that personally many years ago and has repeated it after every game we still play there.

Why does Willard hate it?

 

[Halldan1]

He doesn't like playing there because he doesn't practice on that court.

He has often said in the post game that his players don't shoot well upstairs because they practice downstairs in their facility.

 

[thehall07]

Based on pix, capacity will be cut by a few hundred. Sayonara to men's games being played there.

I thought it was exactly the same as it was before just replacing the seats...

 

[PosterFormallyKnownAsShuathelete]

He doesn't like playing there because he doesn't practice on that court.

He has often said in the post game that his players don't shoot well upstairs because they practice downstairs in their facility.

Such a moronic move. How bout they , uh, practice there?

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

I thought it was exactly the same as it was before just replacing the seats...

From the picture, it looks like only three rows of seating where the current bleachers are in the lower level. There are more than three rows of bleachers. If that’s true, only three rows with seat backs, then there will be less seating.

This is almost like the soccer and baseball stadium. During Sheeran’s time they were supposed to double the seating capacity (it was part of the capital campaign at that time but few student enhancements that were promised ever happened). With the new upgrades and new seating it looks like considerably less seating without the bleachers. I much prefer the seat backs but I hope there are plans in place to further expand seating if need be in years to come.

 

[Fishjam]

Long overdue facelift for Walsh but PLEASE announce the men’s facility soon.

 

[PiratePride]

Such a moronic move. How bout they , uh, practice there?

are you always this snarky?

 

[HallPirate]

They don’t practice at prudential...

 

[SOBO1]

He doesn't like playing there because he doesn't practice on that court.

He has often said in the post game that his players don't shoot well upstairs because they practice downstairs in their facility.

That would make sense if they practiced at prudential, but they don’t. If the school did the renovation right, it would be cool to play a game or two at walsh every year. Get alumni back on campus, give the students a traditional/authentic college experience.

the renderings look nice. Just a shame the original builders didn’t have the foresight to make it bigger, and the school doesn’t have the money to do a full renovation and hit all their wish list items.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

That would make sense if they practiced at prudential, but they don’t. If the school did the renovation right, it would be cool to play a game or two at walsh every year. Get alumni back on campus, give the students a traditional/authentic college experience.

the renderings look nice. Just a shame the original builders didn’t have the foresight to make it bigger, and the school doesn’t have the money to do a full renovation and hit all their wish list items.

They haven’t had any fundraising geared specifically for these projects. I’m sure they could do more if they just let people know what they wanted to do and let us donate toward these projects. I don’t know why they don’t tell us and ask us to kick in.

 

[SPK145]

That lower level looks bush league, no?

 

[setonball46]

We play at prudential, this is not about men’s basketball, looks good to me.

 

[SOBO1]

That lower level looks bush league, no?

They are replacing bleachers with seat backs and adding an overhead scoreboard. It’s the absolute bare bones minimum project plan. The gym needs a multi-million dollar investment to bring it into the world of 21st century colligate athletics. Unfortunately the school doesn’t have the funding to do it right. They’ve made the decision to allocate funds to higher priority projects. It stinks but it is what it is.

 

[SPK145]

They are replacing bleachers with seat backs and adding an overhead scoreboard. It’s the absolute bare bones minimum project plan. The gym needs a multi-million dollar investment to bring it into the world of 21st century colligate athletics. Unfortunately the school doesn’t have the funding to do it right. They’ve made the decision to allocate funds to higher priority projects. It stinks but it is what it is.

IMHO, keep the bleachers, redo the seats upstairs, add the overhead scoreboard.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

IMHO, keep the bleachers, redo the seats upstairs, add the overhead scoreboard.

Those are original bleachers, no? They’ve gotta go. They need to do a capital campaign for both athletics and the overall university. Seems this would be college fundraising 101 but for whatever reason we don’t do this. The university then does half of what they could and tell us after the fact that they didn’t have the money. They totally ignore the fact that they didn’t tell anyone of their plans or ask anyone for money. Doesn’t anyone else see this!?

 

[Halldan1]

They haven’t had any fundraising geared specifically for these projects. I’m sure they could do more if they just let people know what they wanted to do and let us donate toward these projects. I don’t know why they don’t tell us and ask us to kick in.

Be patient. The info regarding the practice facility will come out in good time. These things don't happen overnight.

 

[lloyde dobler]

Those are original bleachers, no? They’ve gotta go. They need to do a capital campaign for both athletics and the overall university. Seems this would be college fundraising 101 but for whatever reason we don’t do this. The university then does half of what they could and tell us after the fact that they didn’t have the money. They totally ignore the fact that they didn’t tell anyone of their plans or ask anyone for money. Doesn’t anyone else see this!?

The bleachers were replaced when they put in the new floor, but even that is now over 30 years ago.

 

[SOBO1]

Those are original bleachers, no? They’ve gotta go. They need to do a capital campaign for both athletics and the overall university. Seems this would be college fundraising 101 but for whatever reason we don’t do this. The university then does half of what they could and tell us after the fact that they didn’t have the money. They totally ignore the fact that they didn’t tell anyone of their plans or ask anyone for money. Doesn’t anyone else see this!?

They may have asked the heavy hitters for donations. The $100 - $500 donations from the masses barely dent the bill it would cost to do a high major facility upgrade.

 

[setoniansource]

I’ve said it before. Walsh needs to go. No one cares about the history.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Be patient. The info regarding the practice facility will come out in good time. These things don't happen overnight.

You do realize there hasn’t been a capital campaign since Msgr. Sheeran and no special fundraising for the OTC and Walsh Gym projects, right? I totally understand these things don’t happen overnight but sometime in my lifetime would be nice!

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

I’ve said it before. Walsh needs to go. No one cares about the history.

We’d need land for that which we unfortunately don’t have at this point. Would be great if there was a way to buy up all of the houses immediately surrounding campus but I just don’t see that happening any time soon.

 

[SOBO1]

We’d need land for that which we unfortunately don’t have at this point. Would be great if there was a way to buy up all of the houses immediately surrounding campus but I just don’t see that happening any time soon.

Without a sophisticated knowledge of the local zoning laws it seems like a great idea. It would have to be part of a long term plan. One would think over the course of the next 40-50 years every single house on the west side of south center street will go up for sale. There are only like 25 houses or so there.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Without a sophisticated knowledge of the local zoning laws it seems like a great idea. It would have to be part of a long term plan. One would think over the course of the next 40-50 years every single house on the west side of south center street will go up for sale. There are only like 25 houses or so there.

Local zoning in South Orange seems to be that anyone can do anything they want except for Seton Hall, then all bets are off. The town is just horrible for the university to deal with.

 

[Halldan1]

You do realize there hasn’t been a capital campaign since Msgr. Sheeran and no special fundraising for the OTC and Walsh Gym projects, right? I totally understand these things don’t happen overnight but sometime in my lifetime would be nice!

What I realize is that I read so much bitching and moaning here with readers always having the opinions that the Hall can't get out of their own financial way. Yet we have the worst donation rate in the conference among alums. Makes you wonder if those that talk the loudest might be the ones that give and or do the least.

If anyone has an issue with how the school runs their business said school is just a phone call away. Make your suggestions to them instead of here and then post your feedback when available.

To me that would hold weight. Otherwise it's just noise.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

What I realize is that I read so much bitching and moaning here with readers always having the opinions that the Hall can't get out of their own financial way. Yet we have the worst donation rate in the conference among alums. Makes you wonder if those that talk the loudest might be the ones that give and or do the least.

If anyone has an issue with how the school runs their business said school is just a phone call away. Make your suggestions to them instead of here and then post your feedback when available.

To me that would hold weight. Otherwise it's just noise.

What did I say that got you so upset? What did I say that was incorrect? I would think the vast majority here donate, myself included though it is none of your business.

You don’t have to donate to see that the university truly cannot get out of their own way when it comes to fundraising. If they could maybe, just maybe our giving rate wouldn't suck so much! Dr. Nyre is supposed to be good at fundraising, I certainly hope so because we cannot keep doing what we are currently doing and hoping that the giving rate jumps exponentially because that just won’t happen.

I’m just stating the obvious. Sorry if that hurt your feelings.

 

[PosterFormallyKnownAsShuathelete]

Why doesnt the mens team practice in walsh? Instead opting for that god forsaken aux gym?? Puzzling

 

[Vegas pj]

IMHO, keep the bleachers, redo the seats upstairs, add the overhead scoreboard.

BINGO! (Would've said DONE, but it might not be.)

 

[SHUMAN]

Local zoning in South Orange seems to be that anyone can do anything they want except for Seton Hall, then all bets are off. The town is just horrible for the university to deal with.

wouldn't the houses right behind the gym / rec center be Irvington, not South Orange.

 

[TrueBlue1989]

What I realize is that I read so much bitching and moaning here with readers always having the opinions that the Hall can't get out of their own financial way. Yet we have the worst donation rate in the conference among alums. Makes you wonder if those that talk the loudest might be the ones that give and or do the least.

If anyone has an issue with how the school runs their business said school is just a phone call away. Make your suggestions to them instead of here and then post your feedback when available.

To me that would hold weight. Otherwise it's just noise.

Times 1000000000000

 

[Soyaqui]

Rather the money go towards the practice facility. This looks like lipstick on a pig.

 

[Soyaqui]

Those are original bleachers, no? They’ve gotta go. They need to do a capital campaign for both athletics and the overall university. Seems this would be college fundraising 101 but for whatever reason we don’t do this. The university then does half of what they could and tell us after the fact that they didn’t have the money. They totally ignore the fact that they didn’t tell anyone of their plans or ask anyone for money. Doesn’t anyone else see this!?

This is why alum donation level is at the bottom of the big East.

 

[MBF72]

The new set up looks good, but [to me] more as a volleyball/women's basketball venue. We can sell the current gym as "historic," but it looks Div. II . Guess "historic"/Div. III is a fine line.

 

[MBF72]

are you always this snarky?

Is the "snarky" comment supposed to be funny? Practicing on the court at Walsh sounds logical.

 

[Halldan1]

The new set up looks good, but [to me] more as a volleyball/women's basketball venue. We can sell the current gym as "historic," but it looks Div. II . Guess "historic"/Div. III is a fine line.

But that's what it is, a women's BB and volleyball venue. The men play 1 game there and that's for the benefit of the students and alums.

Those programs deserve a proper venue and the soon to be updated Walsh is perfect for their needs.

 

[Halldan1]

Why doesnt the mens team practice in walsh? Instead opting for that god forsaken aux gym?? Puzzling

Not really.

2 reasons.

1. The women practice there often at the same time the men have their practice. After all it is their home court.

2. Willard likes to keep his practices behind closed doors. Harder to do that upstairs.