It is the end of an era-an era of busing basketball players and fans to and from the off-campus Scottrade Center. An era of hosting concerts in the parking lot behind Griesedieck. An era without Barry Manilow, Stevie Nicks and Raven-Symoné.

Instead, 592 days after the original groundbreaking on Aug. 28, 2006, the shiny new era of the Chaifetz Arena is almost ready to get under way, throwing open its doors to the general public for the first time with an open house on Thursday, April 10, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Though the arena will serve as the new home for SLU’s basketball team, arena officials are urging those who aren’t so fond of basketball not to look the other way.

“One common misconception people have is that [Chaifetz Arena] is just a basketball arena,” said the arena’s Director of Marketing Bob Kehm. “It’s truly a multipurpose arena . and a fantastic new concert venue.”

The arena is versatile enough that if an event like Disney on Ice came knocking, which would require a surface other than what the arena is usually equipped with, it would be able to step up to the challenge.

Student Government Association President Andrew Clifton praised the arena’s design and convenient on-campus location, which he said he hoped would help draw a large student presence at the events.

“I think it’s really going to amp up student life in the next few years,” he said. “It’s going to be a heck of a concert venue . There’s not a bad seat in the house.”

Once it is up and running, the arena will make it possible for athletes to go from practice to weight-training, press conferences to schmoozing in the lounge and sports therapy to a game, all without ever stepping foot outside.

Meanwhile, other students, like freshman Rae Koopman, are looking forward to the new concert possibilities that will hopefully open up with the arena.

“I think it will be cool to have major artists performing at [Saint Louis University],” she said.

After the open house on Thursday, April 10, the first formal event will follow 24 hours later, when the Harlem Globetrotters take the stage.

Barry Manilow earned the title of inaugural concert and will croon the night away on April 25, while SAB’s “Rock, Rap, and Rawhide” will take over the arena on April 26.

Both Stevie Nicks and Raven-Symoné are slated to perform later this summer as well.

For more information, see the Chaifetz Arena website, at www.the chaifetzarena.com.