VIDEO: Villanova Basketball releases new renderings of Finneran Pavilion

A Look at Villanova’s Amazing Basketball Facility and 2016-17 Footwear

Assuming most of you signed up to be a Finneran Pavilion Insider, you received an email tonight with a fresh video of the renderings that were released at a private donor event in New York City.

In typical Villanova fashion, one of those links in the email did not work. But the video on twitter does...

Here are the highlights that we see, but let us know if you see anything different. Also make sure to check out the FAQ portion of the Finneran Pavilion website which has been updated with in-depth detail:

• The renovated walkway to the main entrance, with Villanova Athletics monuments (previously released), but also with a new overhead shot.
• The reconfigured space behind the current student section, which will now be two floors with improved concessions and seating space. Of note, the entrace to the arena appears to be on the second floor, and the concourse will be 360 degrees throughout the building.
• Several of the aforementioned lounges - which were told are meant to serve events, VIPs, and recruiting. A Hall of Fame exhibit will also be opened, as will the One Court Club which will house the 2016 Final Four floor.
• A new locker room inside the Pavilion.
• Renovated seating throughout note that the lower level of the sidelines appear to have chairbacks, while the upper level appears to have bleacher seating.
• The current student section appears to be renovated into two separate levels. The students will be on both baselines, per the FAQ. My read is that it reduces the wall of students in the South end, and displaces the rest to the lower end of the North side.

My reaction:

Its really exactly what I expected given how close it is to the details I posted back in October. Capacity was never likely to increase, and gameday experience plus amenities, concessions, etc. were always going to be the priority.

I must say, the renderings look beautiful. The added cost of tickets, clubs, concessions, merchandise, etc. will bring in more money and make going to the games a heck of a lot more fun. But it does feel a bit rushed, and de-prioritized when looking at other projects around campus. This line was telling:

As with all projects on campus, cost is a significant consideration. Increasing seating capacity was considered, but a full teardown and rebuild to add seating would cost well over $125 million. With all of the other University projects currently being undertaken, borrowing for this project is not feasible. Therefore, the project needs to be funded entirely by donor support. While we have made significant progress toward our $60 million goal, we are still actively fundraising for the project.

Its something we know, but it still hurts. This is the flagship sport that the school has stated drives notoriety. But it will likely always come secondary to academics and the arts at villanova. this isnt ohio state or alabama. h**l, it isnt even Notre Dame. Its Villanova. It hurts to say, but the administration just cant see - or refuses to acknowledge - the revenue and visibility that sports drive in America.

A lot of this has to do with Bill Finnerans donation and the timeline associated with it. I think if Villanova could have raised $125 million and done this right, they would have. But theyre struggling to bring in $60M even with Finneran covering a third of it. Theres your story.

My biggest gripe? Spending $60 million and still leaving some fans with bleacher seating in the upper tank. Season ticket holders up there wont be happy with that and the increased cost of seating, I bet.

Villanova has shown the ability to build things beautifully in recent years and I have no doubt this building will be gorgeous when completed. Its just tough to know that there could have been more.

Source: http://www.vuhoops.com/villanova-basketball/2017/3/8/14864836/villanova-basketball-finneran-pavilion-video-renderings

Continue Reading ..

Ryan Arcidiacono"s flying act captivating Villanova basketball

Villanova Men"s Basketball: March. 5, 2016 - Highlights vs. Georgetown

NEW YORK -- Before Villanova tipped off Friday night against Providence, college hoops play-by-play man Gus Johnson was chatting with Wildcats senior Ryan Arcidiacono about his habit of diving into the crowd for loose b***s.

I told Gus Johnson I was going for him, Arcidiacono said jokingly.

Arcidiaconodidnt dive into Johnson, but in the second half of the Big East Tournament semifinal Friday at Madison Square Garden, he did go airborne once again, soaring over a press table and three rows into the stands to bat the ball away from Providence guard Kris Dunn on a potential breakaway.

This has become Arcidiaconos trademark move.

Flying.

Into the stands.

Ive done it my whole life, Arcidiacono said after Villanova advanced to Saturdays Big East championship game against Seton Hall.

Thats the way Ive played my whole life, and thats what we do at Villanova, so it was a perfect fit for me to come here, and I just think overall, offensively, defensively, Im just a good fit here.

And all the dives and the charges and stuff, thats just a product of playing Villanova basketball.

It seems to happen once or twice a game.

Loose ball or an errant pass, and theres Arch flying over the sideline table, scattering notebooks and laptops, and landing in the stands.

The arena grows quiet for a moment, then a roar goes up as Arcidiacono emerges unscathed from this sea of humanity, climbs back over the table onto the court and assures his teammates hes fine.

If that was any other of my teammates, they would do the same thing, Arcidiacono said.

I just think I seemed to find the opportunities to do it. But I love it. I saw Kris Dunn back there by himself. I had to make a play on the ball."

No. 3 Villanova, 29-4, faces 24-8 Seton Hall in the Big East title game Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Arcidiacono is playing well in his final Big East tournament. He has 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two turnovers in the Wildcats wins over Georgetown and Providence, and hes made seven of 10 threes.

But the enduring memory of both games at the Garden so far is Arch flying into the stands.

The leader he is he gives his body up, said Josh Hart, Villanovas leading scorer. That could have been a nasty fall. He could have really got hurt and he did not care at all. Hes all in to this team. Youve got to love him.

Hart has seen Arcidiacono do this for three years now, and he said Fridays launch into the air to knock the ball away from Dunn at a key moment may have been Archs best acrobatic act yet.

Today was big, Hart said. Today might have taken the cake. Ive seen him jump over many stands, many tables, but today might have taken the cake.

He does whatever he has to do to win. If he didnt get that steal, that might have been a layup for Kris. That was a huge play. He didnt hit a three or have a crazy move or an assist to somebody, but that play was huge.

I think we had a turnover and they were going to have a for-sure two points, but luckily he was able to make that play.

Arcidiacono, who grew up in Bucks County watching Villanova and learning what it meant to play Villanova basketball an unselfish, team-first brand of ball said hes never gotten hurt launching himself into the stands.

No, I thank my parents, I have a hard head, he said. I"ve done worse when I was younger.

I enjoy it. I like it and I embrace it. Anything I can do to affect the game on the defensive end and make the plays and get our team on top.

Arcidiacono on Friday became the first Villanova player ever with 1,500 points and 500 assists and only the second Big East player to reach those milestones since 2010. DePauls Brandon Young also did it.

But the post-game conversation centered on his high-flying dives.

That"s what he grew up watching, coach Jay Wright said. That"s all he knows. He grew up in Philly watching Villanova basketball and watching Allan Ray and Randy Foye. It"s like a kid growing up in Indiana watching Indiana basketball.

So I really don"t think anything of it. He does it in practice every day. He did it in high school. He did it before he came to Villanova. I love it.

Arcidiacono did miss his senior year at Neshaminy High School after undergoing back surgery, but he said hes never gotten hurt playing basketball.

Actually, no, he said. Strong bones? Ive had worse growing up. Never really had an injury that would keep me out. There were games I had to get stitches, but nothing that kept me out.

"I fractured my shoulder once fractured my shoulder when I was in seventh grade during football. There was a kid, we were running a drill and this kid hit me pretty good. It was like two cars going right at each other.

I came back the next year but I was very soft on the football field because I didnt want to get hurt for basketball.

So apparently Arcidiacono isnt just smart and tough and talented.

Hes also indestructable.

We dont even worry about him, Hart said. We dont even think about it. Just go make the play and put it in Gods hands.

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/ncaa/villanova-basketball-ryan-arcidiacono-flying-into-stands-hustle-josh-hart-jay-wright-2016-big-east-tournament

Continue Reading ..

Ryan Arcidiacono"s flying act captivating Villanova basketball

Villanova Men"s Basketball: Feb. 27, 2016 - Highlights at Marquette

NEW YORK -- Before Villanova tipped off Friday night against Providence, college hoops play-by-play man Gus Johnson was chatting with Wildcats senior Ryan Arcidiacono about his habit of diving into the crowd for loose b***s.

I told Gus Johnson I was going for him, Arcidiacono said jokingly.

Arcidiaconodidnt dive into Johnson, but in the second half of the Big East Tournament semifinal Friday at Madison Square Garden, he did go airborne once again, soaring over a press table and three rows into the stands to bat the ball away from Providence guard Kris Dunn on a potential breakaway.

This has become Arcidiaconos trademark move.

Flying.

Into the stands.

Ive done it my whole life, Arcidiacono said after Villanova advanced to Saturdays Big East championship game against Seton Hall.

Thats the way Ive played my whole life, and thats what we do at Villanova, so it was a perfect fit for me to come here, and I just think overall, offensively, defensively, Im just a good fit here.

And all the dives and the charges and stuff, thats just a product of playing Villanova basketball.

It seems to happen once or twice a game.

Loose ball or an errant pass, and theres Arch flying over the sideline table, scattering notebooks and laptops, and landing in the stands.

The arena grows quiet for a moment, then a roar goes up as Arcidiacono emerges unscathed from this sea of humanity, climbs back over the table onto the court and assures his teammates hes fine.

If that was any other of my teammates, they would do the same thing, Arcidiacono said.

I just think I seemed to find the opportunities to do it. But I love it. I saw Kris Dunn back there by himself. I had to make a play on the ball."

No. 3 Villanova, 29-4, faces 24-8 Seton Hall in the Big East title game Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Arcidiacono is playing well in his final Big East tournament. He has 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two turnovers in the Wildcats wins over Georgetown and Providence, and hes made seven of 10 threes.

But the enduring memory of both games at the Garden so far is Arch flying into the stands.

The leader he is he gives his body up, said Josh Hart, Villanovas leading scorer. That could have been a nasty fall. He could have really got hurt and he did not care at all. Hes all in to this team. Youve got to love him.

Hart has seen Arcidiacono do this for three years now, and he said Fridays launch into the air to knock the ball away from Dunn at a key moment may have been Archs best acrobatic act yet.

Today was big, Hart said. Today might have taken the cake. Ive seen him jump over many stands, many tables, but today might have taken the cake.

He does whatever he has to do to win. If he didnt get that steal, that might have been a layup for Kris. That was a huge play. He didnt hit a three or have a crazy move or an assist to somebody, but that play was huge.

I think we had a turnover and they were going to have a for-sure two points, but luckily he was able to make that play.

Arcidiacono, who grew up in Bucks County watching Villanova and learning what it meant to play Villanova basketball an unselfish, team-first brand of ball said hes never gotten hurt launching himself into the stands.

No, I thank my parents, I have a hard head, he said. I"ve done worse when I was younger.

I enjoy it. I like it and I embrace it. Anything I can do to affect the game on the defensive end and make the plays and get our team on top.

Arcidiacono on Friday became the first Villanova player ever with 1,500 points and 500 assists and only the second Big East player to reach those milestones since 2010. DePauls Brandon Young also did it.

But the post-game conversation centered on his high-flying dives.

That"s what he grew up watching, coach Jay Wright said. That"s all he knows. He grew up in Philly watching Villanova basketball and watching Allan Ray and Randy Foye. It"s like a kid growing up in Indiana watching Indiana basketball.

So I really don"t think anything of it. He does it in practice every day. He did it in high school. He did it before he came to Villanova. I love it.

Arcidiacono did miss his senior year at Neshaminy High School after undergoing back surgery, but he said hes never gotten hurt playing basketball.

Actually, no, he said. Strong bones? Ive had worse growing up. Never really had an injury that would keep me out. There were games I had to get stitches, but nothing that kept me out.

"I fractured my shoulder once fractured my shoulder when I was in seventh grade during football. There was a kid, we were running a drill and this kid hit me pretty good. It was like two cars going right at each other.

I came back the next year but I was very soft on the football field because I didnt want to get hurt for basketball.

So apparently Arcidiacono isnt just smart and tough and talented.

Hes also indestructable.

We dont even worry about him, Hart said. We dont even think about it. Just go make the play and put it in Gods hands.

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/ncaa/villanova-basketball-ryan-arcidiacono-flying-into-stands-hustle-josh-hart-jay-wright-2016-big-east-tournament

Continue Reading ..