The road to Chaifetz Arena was a long one coming, yet University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., insisted for a good atmosphere for athletics on campus.
The game against Harris-Stowe State University last night was the culmination of not only Biond’s vision for the arena, but also the effort of many people to make that vision come to fruition.
“These are very exciting times for athletics,” Director of Athletics Chris May said. “The arena really delivers for those students who want to be more involved in athletics on campus.”
Supporting Saint Louis University basketball has not always been a simple walk across campus. Sure, all the games from 1926-45 were held in West Pine Gym, but every other game in SLU’s men’s basketball history has taken place off campus in the St. Louis area.
Art Voellinger, a columnist for the St. Clair Journal who has followed Billiken basketball for more than 50 years, said the biggest difference between past seasons and now is the eligibility rule. In the mid-1950s, SLU’s current team would not be able to play because freshmen were ineligible.
“This year there are nine freshmen who are trying to make their presence on the Division-I level known,” Voellinger said. “It’s their first appearance in the new facility, but they’ve played so much in the past that they don’t give the impression as freshmen.
As much as we’ve improved skills over the years, back then they felt the student athlete needed to adjust to the collegiate environment before he was allowed to play his sophomore year.”
Senior guard Tommie Liddell III said it’s nice to finally have a place where the team does not feel like a guest.
“The refs are good, the floor is good, the crowd is good, and even though there wasn’t a lot of people, it seemed like it because of the size of the arena,” Liddell said. “The crowd is our sixth man right now. More people are going to come watch us play and rattle some teams, which is good for us.
All of the transitions the team has had to make from facility to facility are seemingly over with the new arena. It all started in 1920 at the 1st Regiment Armory, where the Bills went undefeated with a 7-0 record in its first season ever.
Flash forward nearly 90 years and five basketball facilities later, the team is finally at home.
Head coach Rick Majerus agrees that the arena will continue to benefit the team for years to come.
“I think it’s a wonderful place to play,” Majerus said. “I like the sidelines and the color; it’s a beautiful building.”
