Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Rose Hill Gymnasium 441 E Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458
Year Opened: 1925
Capacity: 2,850
Happy Centennial Birthday Rose Hill Gym
The Rose Hill Gymnasium still shines for a building that just turned 100 years old in January 2025. The facility underwent a makeover, first to the inside and then to the outside including a new entrance, lobby, bathrooms and a concession stand. The complete upgrade was unveiled in time for last season (2024). A possible modern arena to replace Rose Hill Gym was studied and discussed for a number of years, but that does not seem to be in the plans for the immediate future.
The historic gymnasium, opened on January 16, 1925, and is often compared to some of the meccas of college basketball including The Palestra in Philadelphia, Matthews Arena in Boston, Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and John J. Lee Amphitheater in New Haven. Rose Hill was the second oldest gym in Division I and now moves up to the number one position as Matthews Arena in Boston (home of Northeastern University) is being torn down this spring (2025) to make way for a new facility.
The building becoming a centenarian did not get as much attention as it deserved as the Rams struggled on the court and finished in last place in the 15-team Atlantic 10 Conference at 3-15. Rose Hill Gym has been used continuously as an athletic facility since 1925, with the exception of the 1943–1944 academic year, when the building was used as a U.S. Army barracks.
Rose Hill, which hosts basketball and volleyball, has undergone a number of makeovers during the past decade. New video boards were installed in 2013, all of the stands were replaced in 2017 and in 2019 the entire floor and subfloor were replaced.
The new entrance and lobby creates an airy, sun-filled arcade with a sparkling glass entrance. The arcade brings together the new campus center with the Rose Hill Gym and the athletics facilities.
Upon entering under a glass canopy, students and fans can now either proceed left into the renovated Joseph M. McShane, S.J. Campus Center and the original Student Center, right to enter the gym, or straight to head into the Vincent T. Lombardi Memorial Center, which is home to an indoor track, aquatics center, intramural and recreational basketball and volleyball courts. The building only seats 2,850 but can fit 3,200. There are chairbacks on both sidelines and bench seating behind the baskets.
The name Rose Hill dates back to 1787 when Robert Watts, a wealthy New York merchant, acquired the property and named it after his family’s estate in Scotland.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a new concession stand as fans enter the arena with standard, but limited, stadium fare and is equipped to take both cash and credit cards. Coke products are sold. There are new bathrooms situated next to the concession stand. The lines for both food and bathrooms back up at halftime.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere received a boost in 2022 and 2023 from what every school needs - wins. The Rams moved up to finish third in the Atlantic 10 in 2023 and reached the A10 Semifinals at Barclays before falling to eventual champion Dayton. Fordham took a step back the last two seasons as the team unfortunately has returned to a familiar position in the bottom of the league standings under third-year coach Keith Urgo.
Urgo dubbed the building “Rose Thrill” in 2023 due to the raucous atmosphere bolstered by the student section which had a group that removed their shirts, painted their chests and became The Shirtless Herd. The fans have not brought the same energy this season as no games sold out.
The game-day experience at Rose Hill Gym has been average for many years. The team relies on support from a loyal but small contingent of alumni as student support is lacking. It is unfortunate because the building can be a great home court advantage due to the noise generated by a large crowd.
The atmosphere is enhanced by the band, cheerleaders and dance team who perform throughout the game. The two large digital scoreboards at each end of the court are clear but do not provide replays. A small auxiliary board or ribbon board with in game statistics would be a welcome addition. The sound system is excellent, but probably a touch too loud. The public address system is a bit garbled.
Neighborhood 3
The campus, while set in the Bronx, feels like a suburban setting with plenty of trees and greenery. Visitors often forget they are in the middle of a city until hearing an occasional horn or siren from outside the gate. The University also boasts an impressive church built in 1845. The church contains the old altar from the current St. Patrick's Cathedral as well as stained glass windows given to the university by King Louis Philippe I of France.
The campus borders the New York Botanical Garden, with the Bronx Zoo located just a few blocks from campus. Visitors to the area looking for places to eat during their trip to Fordham should head over to Arthur Avenue where several fantastic Italian restaurants can be found in addition to some great bakeries and Italian delis. A few of my favorites restaurants include Enzo’s, Roberto’s, Antonio’s, Mario’s and Tra Di Noi.
Fans 3
Fan support fell this past season (2024-25) as Fordham averaged 1,570, down from 1,840 last year.
All of the seats offer solid views close to the action even in the balcony which contains only two rows of seats. Fordham needs to get more students in the building as student tickets are free and the students generate much of the noise.
Access 3
Fordham University is located right in the middle of the Bronx, only a few miles from Interstates 95 and 87, as well as the Bronx River Parkway.
Public transportation is a good option. The Metro North Railroad out of Grand Central Station or coming down from Westchester and Connecticut has a Fordham stop next to the campus. Botanical Garden stop is another option and actually a shorter walk to the gym. The D line of the NYC subway system is located about a 12-minute walk from campus. In addition, city buses stop regularly just outside the gate.
If driving, there is a large parking garage ($10) on campus, located a short walk from Rose Hill Gym. The car line to pay for parking can back up especially on well attended games. Sometimes fans can get lucky and find a few free spots on Southern Boulevard.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for Fordham Rams basketball games are affordable, Chairbacks are $35 ($30 for youth and seniors), baseline reserved is $25/20. With affordable concession prices, catching a Fordham basketball game is a less costly entertainment option for New York sports fans.
.
Extras 4
One point for the historic significance of the building. From the stone facade to the seats close enough to the action to hear the players and coaches, Rose Hill is a real treat and a true throwback arena. Rose Hill has hosted many huge concerts including Simon & Garfunkel, The Ramones, The Beach Boys, and Billy Idol. The gym was just profiled this month in a digital piece and You Tube video:
The new entrance includes a new box office, concession stand, bathrooms, which add aesthetic and functional improvements to the gameday experience.
Hanging from the rafters are the Fordham conference and playoff appearance banners on one side and the flags of the Atlantic 10 and its 14 conference opponents on the other. Five retired numbers hang from the baseline - Charlie Yelverton (34), Ken Charles (44), Bob Mullens (7), Ed Conlin (11), and Anne Gregory (55).
The final point is for the proximity to Little Italy and the great stores, restaurants, delicatessens, and pastry shops of Arthur Avenue. Fans should make an effort to get to the Bronx’s Little Italy either pre or postgame.
Final Thoughts
A Stadium Journey to this basketball mecca should be on every sports fans’ bucket list. There is also plenty to do in the area before or after to add to the experience. The Little Italy section of the Bronx is a 10 minute walk offering some excellent Italian restaurants and pastry shops. The campus, with its Gothic architecture, ivy-covered buildings and expansive lawns, makes Rose Hill one of New York City’s most attractive college campuses.
Comments