Share
this

Sports Center

Official Review by Sean Rowland, Stadium Journey Special Correspondent

The often mis-pronounced school of Quinnipiac (kwin-uh-pe-ack) is relatively new to the Division I basketball scene as the Bobcats, as of 2011, are in their 12th year competing with the big boys. They play in the NEC, a conference typically known for competing in High School-like gyms. However, Quinnipiac (and Monmouth University for that matter) is changing that perception as the school built the beautiful TD Bank Sports Center in 2007. This facility comprises of a 3,570-seat basketball arena, along with a separate hockey arena, and is a great place to catch a Bobcats basketball game.

Food & Beverage    2

Upon entering the TD Bank Sports Center, fans start in the main foyer and then either head to the basketball arena (on the left) or the hockey rink (on the right). In this concourse-like area there is only one stand for food, though there are four counters or registers making the lines go a bit faster. An arena this size brought nothing more than what is to be expected. Chicken Tenders ($5), Pretzels ($3), Potato Chips ($2) and Ice Cream ($4) were most of the offerings. Typically, I would have given three points, but the hot dog ($3) I tried was so disgusting, I hesitantly took one bite and then ended up spitting it out. It likely would have been a long, two and a half hour drive home if I kept eating it.

Atmosphere    4

What a treat it was to watch a basketball game here as the atmosphere was terrific and the arena is a decent one for fans. All seats feature backs to them and are quite comfortable. The seating bowl is one level which wraps around the court, keeping fans very close to the game. There is also a walkway that goes 360° around the top of the seats, thus allowing people to stand and watch if they so desire. TD Bank Sports Center seems smaller than most arenas in that 3,000 - 4,000 capacity range and this allowed for the noise to really reflect and reverberate, thus setting up a surprisingly great atmosphere.

Neighborhood    3

Quinnipiac is located in Hamden, CT, a town whose most famous resident lived here centuries ago: Eli Whitney, inventor of the Cotton Gin. You will see signs of Whitney all throughout the town from the main street named after him, to his old factory turned museum. There are also a couple food and drink establishments bearing his name. One of those is the Whitney Bar & Grille, a restaurant/sports bar that is a nice place to hang out before or after a game. A much bigger sports bar is Eli's on Whitney (see the trend here) and 18 TVs inside ensure that your game is on.

On the Northern side of town is where Quinnipiac is and it truly is a picturesque location. The arena is located on the newly-built York Hill campus, which is scenic in itself. But it is worth taking a drive a half-mile away through the Mount Carmel campus. This main section of Quinnipiac is nestled up against the base of Sleeping Giant State Park and on the approach, the mini-mountain really does resemble a sleeping giant.

Fans    4

The game I attended was an NEC Semifinal contest where Quinnipiac played the team that defeated them in the final at home last year (Robert Morris). Fans, specifically the students, were ready. I was very impressed with the yellow-colored student section as they were out in full force and making lots of noise. Chants of "Let's Go Bobcats" and "I believe" rang out from behind the basket numerous times. The other fans were great too and when the game was under 2 minutes, about half of them stood up and remained there the rest of the game. It was also LOUD. This goes back to the building design and there were a few times I couldn't hear myself. Even if the atmosphere was enhanced by what was at stake, fans at Quinnipiac have done a great job supporting their team as they have led the NEC in attendance the last two years.

Access    4

Hamden is in the Southern part of Connecticut and is considered a suburb of New Haven. The town is pretty easy to get to as both I-91 and Rt. 15 (the Merritt Parkway) provide access to the main artery through town: Whitney Avenue. The York Hill campus, where the arena sits atop of the hill, is right off of Whitney Avenue. Parking was easy as there is a lot right in front of the arena. I was there an hour before the game and coming out, I saw cars parked along the access roads, so I'm not sure if the main lot ran out of spaces. The parking lot not being that large is something to consider if you go to a game where a big crowd is anticipated.

Bathrooms are plentiful and more than adequate as there are facilities both in the concourse and inside the main arena in the corners.

Return on Investment    4

Even though the Bobcats may play in a lower-tier Division I conference, the quality of play is still great (just ask Villanova, who needed overtime to beat Robert Morris in the 2010 NCAA Tournament). Couple that with the fact that every seat is decent and the price is right, it is a worth a trip or two out to Hamden for some basketball. Parking is free and tickets range between $10 and $13.

Extras    3

Quinnipiac, specifically the student section, has dubbed the TD Bank Sports Center as "The Den", where they have gone 44-22 in the first four years of the new building.

Another point to the beautiful statue of the Bobcat out in front of the arena entranceway. There is also a cool story that goes along with the statute in that the Bobcat roams Sleeping Giant, overlooking and protecting Quinnipiac.

Lastly, I liked how they designed the building with open space behind the food stand in the concourse. Standing tables are placed here for fans to eat and congregate as huge windows behind them provide an open look to the surrounding countryside.


Follow all of Sean's journeys at Stadium & Arena Visits.

You must be a Stadium Journey member to post a comment.

Already a member? Sign in or Create a Stadium Journey Account

-- OR --