William H. Pitt Center - Sacred Heart Pioneers
- Paul Baker
- Dec 11
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 14
Photos by Paul Baker., Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
William H. Pitt Center 5151 Park Ave Fairfield, CT 06825
Year Opened: 1997
Capacity: 2,000
Turning the Tables (and the Court) at the Pitt Center
The William H. Pitt Health and Recreation Center is named for the local real estate executive and philanthropist who donated three million dollars to Sacred Heart University in 1996, a portion of which was used to finance the building of the facility.
The Pitt Center opened in 1997 and is the home to Sacred Heart’s basketball, volleyball, wrestling and fencing teams. Although it’s been the hub of Pioneer athletics for close to three decades, it no longer resembles the facility it was when it opened. In the summer of 2024, the basketball arena underwent a significant renovation. The basketball court was rotated 90 degrees, three video boards and a state-of-the-art broadcast control center were installed, as was a mezzanine for VIP seating and events, a new sound system and lighting.
Basketball has been played at Sacred Heart University since 1965. The Pioneers originally competed in Division Two, where they qualified for 13 NCAA tournaments and won a national title, in 1986. In 1999 Sacred Heart moved up to Division One. They have yet to qualify for a D-1 tournament. The women’s team began competing in 1981. They have played in five D-1 tournaments, most recently in 2024.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a snack cart in the lobby that serves up a basic menu for visitors to Pioneers basketball games. The cart offers hot dogs, pretzels, and a variety of chips and candy. It will get you through the game if you need a bite to eat during the game. Cans of Pepsi products are sold here, too. Be warned – the line for this cart gets long at halftime. The two kids working the cart move the line as fast as they can, but they can only do so much. There are some vending machines in the room just off the lobby. Bottles of Pepsi products, chips and candy bars can be purchased here if you want to skip the lines at the snack cart.
In addition, the Park Ave. Club is located in the old study hall on the second floor of the Pitt Center. The Park Ave. Club offers a private buffet, adult beverages and access to club seating overlooking the court. Tickets can be purchased for $25 per game.
Atmosphere 3
The gameday atmosphere is where fans who have not visited Sacred Heart in a while will see the biggest changes. Part of the renovations to the arena were three new video boards, two of which are set up on the near side corners, and the other which stretches the length of the far side of the gym. These are put to great use throughout the game with videos, stats, crowd shots and graphics. The Pioneers staff do a nice job integrating these boards into their game day presentation.
The cheerleaders and dance team are on hand performing throughout the game. The Pioneers’ mascot, Big Red, is on hand as well, but does not add much to the atmosphere. There was no pep band in attendance on the day Stadium Journey visited, nor was there much of a turnout from the student body. One can imagine what kind of home court environment the Pitt Center would create if the stands were packed with rowdy Sacred Heart fans.
The sound system is excellent and not overbearing. It’s possible to talk to the people around you without shouting. The PA announcer does his job in a workmanlike fashion. In fact, at times he almost seemed disinterested in the action happening on the court. There are games for fans during play stoppages where fans can shoot for various prizes.
Neighborhood 3
While Fairfield is a really nice place to live (in fact, towns in Fairfield County are regulars on any “Best Places to Live in the United States” list), it’s not exactly what you would consider a destination location. The Sacred Heart campus is located in a residential area, with few lodging or dining options in the immediate vicinity. The Trumbull Mall is located a mile from campus, complete with the usual chain offerings, such as the Cheesecake Factory.
Adjacent to the Sacred Heart campus is the Discovery Museum and Planetarium. This attraction features rotating exhibits and interactive educational displays. Across the street from the Pitt Center is JP’s Diner, a 50s style full-service restaurant which is open on game days.
The Sitting Duck Tavern is a popular local watering hole, and there are numerous options in downtown Bridgeport, located just a few miles away. Visiting fans will find no shortage of lodging or dining options along Route One, the main business thoroughfare in the area, and Interstate 95.
Fans looking for sporting options in the area will find plenty of options nearby. Sacred Heart teams play next door at Campus Field, baseball at Veterans’ Memorial Park and hockey at the beautiful Martire Family Arena. In addition, Fairfield University is just five miles away, with the Leo Mahoney Arena hosting the Stags basketball team. The Bridgeport Islanders, the top farm team of the New York Islanders, play downtown at Total Mortgage Arena.
Fans 3
Sacred Heart averaged 1,200 fans per game in the 2024-2025 season. While this figure is a bit below the MAAC average, it represents a marked improvement over their attendance from just a few seasons ago. It would appear at first glance that the renovations to the Pitt Center and the move to the MAAC have had a positive effect on attendance. For comparison, Stadium Journey visited Sacred Heart on a December Sunday during Finals week, which kept students away, but attendance was a solid 822.
You’ll find a mix of local basketball fans and families here at the Pitt Center. The gameday presentation is geared towards families and younger fans in attendance, so this is a place you can feel comfortable bringing the entire family. Even when the students fill the bleachers on the near end of the Pitt Center, it’s a lively, but not an uncomfortable, environment.
Access 4
Sacred Heart University is located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, a town of 61,500 residents in the southwest corner of the Nutmeg State. The campus is situated in the northeast corner of the city, directly across the street from neighboring Bridgeport. Sacred Heart is easily accessed by either the Merritt Parkway or Interstate 95. Traffic in this part of the state is usually quite heavy, so you may have to allot extra time to arrive at the Pitt Center. Fans using public transportation will be glad to know that the Greater Bridgeport Transit (GBT) number 4 bus routes from Bridgeport’s busy Amtrak station to a stop right at Sacred Heart’s front entrance on Park Avenue.
The Pitt Center is located on the southwest corner of campus, adjacent to the school’s other athletic facilities, including Campus Field. There has been a lot of construction on campus, and parking is at a premium near the athletic facilities. The lots closest to the Pitt Center are reserved, so most fans will park in the South Garage, about a quarter of a mile from the center, and the North Lot, about a half mile from the center. At least the scenery on this attractive suburban campus is worth the walk.
Fans will enter the Pitt Center into a small lobby, where the ticket and merchandise tables are located. Fans will also find the snack cart here, as well as a collection of hardware won by Pioneer teams over the years. Large restrooms, built to handle football-sized crowds, are located off the lobby to the right. The gym will be located straight ahead.
Seating is located along all four sides of the court. Seats on the sidelines consist of individual stadium seats, while baseline sections consist of molded plastic bleachers. In this bandbox of a gym, all seats have excellent views of the action.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets to Pioneer basketball games are reasonably priced, costing $25 for center sections and $15 for baseline sections. Parking is free in the garages and lots around campus, and no item at the snack cart will cost you more than five dollars. If you wish to access the Park Ave. Club, a ticket to this premium space will cost you $25. For a Division One basketball experience, this is a most affordable option for local fans.
Extras 2
Banners honoring the success of the school’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams hang on the walls of the Pitt Center gymnasium, and there is a nice trophy case packed with mementos won by all the Pioneer teams located in the lobby.
On your way into the Pitt Center, don’t forget to grab a quick photo with the statue of Big Red, who is sitting permanently on a bench just outside the entrance to the facility.
Final Thoughts
The renovations to the basketball arena at the Pitt Center took what was formerly a sleepy, plain gym and turned it into a sleek, modern bandbox of an arena, one that should provide the Pioneers with a significant home court advantage for years to come.
Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.
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