Duquesne will open the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in a pivotal game for its men’s basketball team against Atlantic 10 rival Dayton on Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Dukes will try to avoid a season sweep by the Flyers in the new arena that took 22 months to build. UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is located on the former A.J. Palumbo Center site, and the new gym will host women’s basketball and volleyball and the Dukes’ men’s basketball team.
The arena’s namesake is Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and Duquesne alumnus Chuck Cooper. The building has six suites, 55 club-level seats to pair with more accessible concourses, and enhanced concession areas.
Fans will (eventually) enjoy two high-definition video boards, four lower level ribbon boards, and an enhanced sound system. Duquesne athletic director David Harper told reporters that there will be 50 students from the school in attendance. Friends and relatives of the players can attend in limited numbers — socially distanced, of course.
“The new arena allows us to enhance our recruiting,” Harper said. “It’ll be great for player development. We are seeking to develop higher-caliber athletes at Duquesne. We were behind the times on facilities. Now we are catching up.”
Coach Keith Dambrot savors the Folino Sports Performance Center, housed within the Cooper Fieldhouse.
The upgraded facility features nearly 10,000 square feet of training equipment, sports performance labs, and a nutrition center. The Joe and Kathy Guyaux Player Development Center includes two regulation practice basketball courts and is in the Cooper Fieldhouse, as well.
“I love the new place,” Dambrot said. “I can’t wait for everyone else to see it. We’ve waited a long time for this.”
The Dukes have played their home games this season at La Roche. Last season, they played a few games at Robert Morris and La Roche.
Starting Tuesday, Duquesne’s men and women will play their remaining home games at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
“Our goal is building a program that’s capable of reaching the postseason consistently,” Harper said. “Building this arena takes us closer to being a team that is always on the cusp of making the tournament.”
Nubyjas Wilborn: nwilborn@post-gazette.com and Twitter @nwilborn19.
First Published: January 29, 2021, 6:21 p.m.
