Saint Mary’s Plans Upgrade To McKeon Pavilion
By Phil Watson
Jan 12, 2011; Moraga, CA, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels fans rush the court after the win against the Gonzaga Bulldogs McKeon Pavilion. The Saint Mary’s Gaels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 83-62. The facility is in line for some upgrades, the school announced on Friday. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Saint Mary’s College announced on Friday a $13 renovation plan that will add seats and suites to tiny McKeon Pavilion.
According to The Associated Press, the upgrade will add 500 seats, along with video boards and suites to the facility, which is one of the smallest in the West Coast Conference with a capacity of just 3,500.
Other parts of the renovation plan include a new weight room, training and on-site sports medicine areas, a new locker room for the women’s volleyball program and offices for the athletic department.
Saint Mary’s men’s basketball program has been one of the winningest in the nation in recent years, despite the small gym. From 2007-08 through last season, the Gaels are 161-42 and have qualified for the NCAA tournament four out of the last six years, advancing to the Sweet 16 in the 2010 tournament.
The two years the Gaels didn’t reach the NCAA tournament, they played in the NIT, reaching the quarterfinals in 2009.
Prior to this recent run of success, Saint Mary’s had only reached the NCAA tournament three times in the previous 69 seasons, qualifying in 1989, 1997 and 2005 and never winning a tournament game.