Long Island's Cool Basketball Facilities
I was one of many who were sad to see the Long Island basketball team move away from the historic Schwartz Athletic Center. The 1,000 seat gymnasium was once the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre. The transformation into a gym kept the charm of a 1920’s Hollywood theatre…but they played basketball there. It was much like Vanderbilt’s basketball home, but much more opulent and cozy. I have always been a sucker for old opera houses and theatres, so the Schwartz Athletic Center was always one of my personal favorites.
From 1962 to 2006, the Blackbirds basketball team called the theatre home. Watching a game, even just on television, was extremely interesting. But LIU outgrew their home and opted to build a giant Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center to house the basketball teams, among many other things. The building of the new facility was the largest in school history and the 112,000 square foot building is certainly more than just a basketball arena.
It may not look as cool on television…it is pretty much just another new fancy arena that is common among programs like Long Island. It has a nicer scoreboard, there is not a bad seat in the house and it is easier to get to the hot dog vendor, but the interior charm is gone.
However, I was won over by the exterior. The slanted windows overlooking the soccer field are cool. And the more glass the better I suppose, but it is the top of the new facility that is really neat. Tennis courts and a track sit atop the Athletic Center. Now you can play tennis or go for a jog while watching soccer. I hope they don’t let people like me up there to play tennis during a soccer game or the poor goalie is going to be looking over their shoulder for my inevitable errant serve.
Read the in-depth men’s basketball preview of this team
