Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY: CARSON HAYEK, SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Since 1966, the Reilly Center has been a focal point of campus culture and athletics at St. Bonaventure University. As the arena reaches its 59th year on Dec.1, concerns have been raised about what the possible future holds for the facility.
Since 2021 the arena has upgraded its Wi-Fi, enhanced lighting and sound systems, replaced the HVAC system and redone a majority of the building’s electrical system. Most recently, the arena hallways have been repainted, doors entering the building have been renovated and a brand-new basketball court was laid down.
Even with the upgrades, Bob Beretta, Bonaventure’s athletic director, knows work still has to be done.
“The Reilly Center is iconic,” said Beretta. “Having said that, I do believe we need to focus on maintaining a level of excellence within the building, and I think we have to look at areas that we can improve in the building.”
Beretta specifically mentioned updating lighting and possibly replacing seating.
“The building needs modernization,” said Beretta. “Everything from aesthetics to all the practical elements. [For example] we have talked about brightening the hallways and putting photos on the wall of our current athletes. Some of the offices need major upgrades, and the reds (seats) need to be addressed [in the arena]. It’s easy to romanticize about the past, but we can improve certain areas that improve fan experience too.”
Specific renovation plans are based on what’s most needed, said Beretta.
“We have a lot of things in the hopper right now,” said Beretta. “We have a sequence project that we haven’t officially launched yet, but we will. With the transition to athletic director, there was a shift in the focus of what the capital campaign for athletics should look like. When my predecessor was here, there was a plan to build a $37 million basketball practice facility. [That project] is going to be scaled down.”
According to Beretta, the project will create a new strength and conditioning center that will be connected to Reilly Center.
“The new building will connect to the Reilly Center and service all of our student-athletes,” said Beretta. “There will be a nutrition center and sports medicine area, student-athlete lounge, new office space and a balcony that will overlook the venue. [The project] will also open locker room space for some of our other programs.”
Even though the plan has been laid out, the program still needs to raise the money for the $12 million project. Because the fundraising goal hasn’t been met yet, Beretta would not commit to a time that the project would be finished.
With the major plans in place for the Reilly Center, fans and students can be reassured that the arena is not going anywhere just yet.
“The Reilly Center is a gem,” said Beretta. “We have not discussed an alternate arena. It provides us with an incredible home-court advantage and has such a great history. The Reilly Center is a differentiator.”
hayekc24@bonaventure.edu
