View source for Finneran Pavilion

{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Villanova, Pennsylvania}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = William B. Finneran Pavilion
| nickname = The Finn
| image = [[File:FinneranPavilionNov2018.jpg|250px]]
| caption = The Finneran Pavilion during a basketball game in November 2018
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|40.034072|-75.336553|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Villanova University]]<br/>[[Villanova, Pennsylvania|Villanova, PA]] 19085
| broke_ground = 1985
| built = 
| opened = February 1, 1986<br/>October 5, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/colleges/villanova/villanova-pavilion-renovations-basketball-stadium-arena-20181005|title=Villanova's Finneran Pavilion reopens after a $65 million renovation|publisher=Inquirer|date=October 5, 2018|access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>
| renovated = 2017–2018
| closed = February 25, 2017 (Original Pavilion)
| demolished = 
| owner = Villanova University
| operator = Villanova University
| surface = Maple
| construction_cost = $24.9 million<br/>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|24900000|1986}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Tully International Inc.
EwingCole (Renovation)
| former_names = John Eleuthère du Pont Pavilion (1986–1997)<br/>The Pavilion (1997–2017)
| tenants = [[Villanova Wildcats]] ([[NCAA]]) (1986–1995, 1998–2017, 2018&ndash;present)<br/>[[Philadelphia Freedoms]] ([[World TeamTennis|WTT]]) (2010–2016)
| seating_capacity = 6,501 (basketball)<br/>5,500 (concerts)<br/>3,500 (tennis)
| publictransit = {{Unbulleted list|{{ric|SEPTA Metro}} [[SEPTA Metro]]: {{rint|philadelphia|M}} ({{stl|SEPTA Metro|Stadium}})|{{bus icon|12px}} {{rint|septa|60px}} [[SEPTA]] bus: {{SEPTA bus link|106}}}}
}}
The '''William B. Finneran Pavilion''' is a 6,501-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Villanova, Pennsylvania]], [[United States]], about 10 miles northwest of downtown ([[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]]) [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]].

Built in 1985, the arena is home to the [[Villanova University]] Wildcats [[basketball]] teams. It is recognizable from the outside for its hyperbolic paraboloid roofline, similar to [[Alfond Arena]] at the [[University of Maine]]. It replaced the still-existing [[Jake Nevin Field House|Villanova Field House]], later renamed the "Jake Nevin Field House," a small arena-auditorium built in 1932.

The first men's basketball game played at the Pavilion took place on February 1, 1986, a 64–62 victory against the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|University of Maryland]].

For basketball games where larger crowds are expected, Villanova plays at the [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]] in Philadelphia (where Villanova holds the record for largest Pennsylvania crowd to watch a college basketball game, att. 20,859).<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/games/2006-02-13-uconn-villanova_x.htm No. 4 Villanova goes deep to beat No. 1 UConn]</ref> The Finneran Pavilion is known for its famed [[student section]], which constitutes a full third of the seating. Formerly located in the south end, the student bleachers seat 2,000 students but have been known to be filled with as many as 2,500 students.

Until 2016, it was the home court of the [[Philadelphia Freedoms]] of [[World TeamTennis]].<ref>{{cite web|last=George|first=John|title=Philadelphia Freedoms of World Team Tennis moving home court to Villanova|periodical=Philadelphia Business Journal|date=January 26, 2010|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2010/01/25/daily14.html|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref>

{{convert|23016|sqft|m2}} of arena floor space is utilized for [[concerts]], [[Convention (meeting)|conventions]], [[trade shows]], [[graduation]] ceremonies and other special events. There are two meeting rooms.

==History==
[[File:2005 1104hoopsmania0012.JPG|thumb|left|The Pavilion student section]]
The facility was originally known as '''John Eleuthère du Pont Pavilion''', as it was funded in part by [[John Eleuthère du Pont]], a member of the wealthy and influential [[Du Pont family]]. In 1997, the du Pont name was removed from the facility, with the family's tacit permission, after John was convicted of the [[murder]] of [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic]] [[amateur wrestling|wrestling]] [[gold medal]]ist [[Dave Schultz (amateur wrestler)|Dave Schultz]].  From 1997 to 2017, it was simply '''The Pavilion''' before its current name was adopted as 1963 graduate William B. Finneran made a $22.6 million donation to the school in April 2016 to help with its current improvements.

===Renovation===
[[File:2005 1104hoopsmania0005.JPG|thumb|left|The Pavilion in 2006 pre-renovation]]
In 2016 it was announced the Pavilion would undergo a $65 million renovation to improve the aging facility. At the end of the 2016–17 academic year, the facility closed to begin on the renovations.  During the renovations, Villanova's men's team played the 2017–18 season at Wells Fargo Center, while the women's team used [[Jake Nevin Field House]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vuhoops.com/2017/2/14/14612240/villanova-basketball-finneran-pavilion-renovation-announced-60-million|title=Villanova Basketball's Pavilion Renovation approved by Board of Trustees|publisher=vuhoops.com|date=February 14, 2017|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref> The renamed '''William B. Finneran Pavilion''' reopened in October 2018 with new concession stands, "enhanced audio-visual capabilities", new seating, along with a new entrance. The renovation also included the Court One Club which features the court from the [[2016 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|2016 National Championship Game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finneranpavilion.com/faqs|title=Finneran Pavilion FAQs|publisher=Villanova University|access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> Another part of the renovation included reducing the student section on the south end and adding student seating to the baseline of the north end.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://villanova.com/sports/2018/10/9/finneran-pavilion-a-to-z-guide.aspx|title=Finneran Pavilion: A to Z Guide|publisher=Villanova University|access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> The first game played in the renovated Finneran Pavilion was a 100–77 victory over [[Morgan State Bears men's basketball|Morgan State]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=401083350|title=Morgan State vs. Villanova|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref>

==Events==
The Finneran Pavilion is the current home to the Villanova Men's and Women's Basketball Teams. The arena also hosted other Villanova events including the yearly "Hoops Mania" event in Fall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://villanova.com/news/2018/10/1/mens-basketball-fridays-hoops-mania-to-serve-as-finneran-pavilions-opening-night.aspx|title=Hoops Mania 2018|publisher=Villanova University|access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> Hoops Mania is the kickoff event to the Villanova Men's Basketball season and has had past performers such as Drake, Nicki Minaj and Wiz Khalifa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villanovan.com/renovation-to-hoops-mania-celebration/article_450c1e60-ba1d-11e8-bec1-33e430f45b70.html|title=Renovation to Hoops Mania Celebration|publisher=The Villanovan|date=September 16, 2018|access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> The Pavilion was the home court of the [[Philadelphia Freedoms]] of [[World TeamTennis]] from 2010 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=George|first=John|title=Philadelphia Freedoms of World Team Tennis moving home court to Villanova|periodical=Philadelphia Business Journal|date=January 26, 2010|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2010/01/25/daily14.html|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://villanova.cstv.com/facilities/nova-facilities-pavilion.html}}

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[[Category:College basketball venues in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Villanova Wildcats basketball]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Indoor arenas in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Convention centers in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Big 5]]
[[Category:World TeamTennis stadiums]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1986]]
[[Category:Villanova Wildcats sports venues]]