Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Hynes Athletics Center 715 North Ave New Rochelle, NY 10801
Year Opened: 1974
Capacity: 2,578
Iona on the Rebound in New Rochelle
The Iona Gaels hope last year was an aberration as they did not win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament for only the second time in the previous seven years. The Gaels were trying to avoid a hit from the loss of legendary coach Rick Pitino who took his prowess to St. John’s University. Second-year coach Tobin Anderson is tasked with returning the Gaels to a familiar spot. Anderson is working with a new roster in these days of the transfer portal and after a slow start, the Gaels look to be a force down the stretch.
Iona has won 7 of the last 11 tournament titles, but St. Peter’s grabbed the prize in 2024. The Gaels, an original league member, have won 14 MAAC championships since the league was founded in 1982. Siena and Manhattan are next with five. Iona, Manhattan, St. Peter’s, and Fairfield are the only original MAAC schools remaining in the now expanded 13-team conference as Sacred Heart and Merrimack joined the fold this year.
For Iona, one disappointment has been the lack of buzz at Hynes Athletic Center since Pitino’s departure. Iona averaged 2,310 spectators in 2022-2023 and 1,784 last year. The number is 1,776 so far this season.
Iona University’s nickname, the Gaels, comes from its roots. A Gael is anyone of Irish-Gaelic ancestry. The school was founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, commonly known as the Irish Christian Brothers.
Food & Beverage 3
The one drawback is fans have to go downstairs for the main concession stand and bathrooms. There are also two vending machines. Head down there early if you don’t want to miss any of the second half because the line is often quite long. Hot dogs are $3.50, chicken tenders and fries $8. Water ($2), 20 oz soda ($3), pretzels ($3.50), and snacks are also available.
On the plus side, as fans enter, there is a small concession stand in the left corner with snacks and soft drinks including candy, popcorn, chips, water, and soda. Coca-Cola products are the beverage of choice. Alcohol is not available at Hynes.
Atmosphere 3
The arena is a non-descript low-lying building from the outside. Once inside it looks like a typical mid-major facility.
The gym is the home of Iona's volleyball and men's and women's basketball programs. The facility also houses a pool used by the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. The Hynes Center underwent major renovations during the summer of 2019 that provided significant improvements to a building that opened in 1974. The court was flipped and used to be a north-south configuration but now runs east-west. There were no seats behind the baskets in the original design.
The well-lit arena features an intimate setting with nine rows on the side away from the teams and 12 rows on the other sideline. The chairback seats are only on the left side of the arena away from the team benches. Iona's current seating layout contains 225 chairbacks and 40 courtside seats. The proximity to the court allows fans to hear much of what is going on and there is not a bad view from any seat.
The arena has four large LED boards in each corner of the arena that give real-time individual player and team statistics and provide highlights and replays. The sound system is solid and the PA announcements are clear. The PA Announcer provides enthusiastic announcements and often provides the score, how much time is remaining, and some description of Iona baskets.
There is also an in-game MC who fires up the crowd with announcements and contests during timeouts. There are two dance teams. There is an Iona Dance Team and the Iona Black Student Union team founded in 2018. There are also cheerleaders and a band to add to the excitement. The Iona mascot (The Gael) was not in attendance on this visit.
Neighborhood 3
The area is safe and offers several restaurants within walking distance and there are more options in the New Roc City Area.
Just outside the entrance on North Avenue, sits the long-standing Beechmont Tavern (since 1928), Mister Taco, The Mirage Restaurant, AJ’s Burgers, Smokehouse Tailgate Grill, and of course Subway, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Dunkin within walking distance.
Fans 3
Fan support is decent but could be better. On this visit, student presence was lacking. There was a good amount of alumni and local fans including families. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of just over 3,300 so the university does need to promote the team to attract more local fans and sell season tickets.
Access 4
The campus is easily accessible. It is on North Avenue which is close to I-95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway and traffic is usually minimal. There is a Metro North and Amtrak stop at New Rochelle station which is just 1.2 miles from the gate. The campus is small and it is less than a 5-minute walk from the entrance to Hynes Center.
Return on Investment 5
All seats offer a great view of the action. Students get free admission. Seats range from $41.25 for a chairback seat to $21.25 for reserved seats along the sidelines with no backs. Seats behind the basket are general admission and sell for $16.25. Seats are $11.25 for children 12 and under for either baseline or on the side. The box office and arena open one hour before game time. There is a three-level parking garage with free parking and ample spaces.
The prices are reasonable, especially considering the expenses of attending big-time sports in the New York metro area.
Extras 3
The Gaels have an MC who pumps the crowd up before the game and during time-outs. The dance teams are well respected and appreciated by the loyal fans.
There is also a small Arrigoni Hall of Fame (the redesign was made possible by a lead gift from Edward F. Arrigoni '56) along the wall just to the right of the main entrance and a trophy case before the stairs leading to the concessions and bathrooms.
Richie Guerin, Iona’s all-time leading scorer, is the only retired number (14) hanging from the rafters. The guard played for Iona from 1951-54 and played in the NBA from 1956-1970 with the NY Knicks and the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks. The late and legendary coach Jim Valvano is also honored with a banner. Valvano coached the Gaels for five seasons (1975-80).
Final Thoughts
The mantle has been passed and it is up to Anderson and his staff to keep Iona at the top of the conference. Anderson is a fiery and likable coach who is often yelling encouragement and constantly teaching his players. The Gaels should remain a power in the MAAC and hopefully #GaelNation will take notice and come to the cozy confines of Hynes to enjoy the excitement.
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