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McCann Arena – Marist Red Foxes

Greg Venuto

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey


Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43

McCann Arena 3399 North Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601


Year Opened: 1977

Capacity: 3,200

 

Red Foxes’ Revival Continues in Poughkeepsie

After struggling for several years, Marist University has emerged as a contender in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) over the past three seasons. In 2023, the Red Foxes made an improbable run to the Conference Championship game. Last year, they made the semifinals of the tournament held in Atlantic City before falling to Fairfield. This season Marist is at the top of the 13-team league and a No. 1 seeding for the March conference tournament in Atlantic City is not out of the question. The Red Foxes are looking for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1987.


The McCann Center opened in 1977 but was renovated and the field house was rebranded as McCann Arena in 2011, giving it a modern feel. Marist’s best days were back-to-back NCAA appearances in 86 and 87 led by future NBA standout Rik Smits from Eindhoven, Netherlands. His jersey No. 45 is retired. Smits is the school’s second all-time leading scorer (1,945 points). Chavaughn Lewis at 2,119 scored the most points in Marist history. The other players to have their numbers retired are Drafton Davis (No. 3), Steve Smith (No. 12) and women’s star Rachele Fitz (No. 12).


The Red Foxes, who joined the MAAC in 1997, have enjoyed only two winning seasons since 2007-2008, but appear to be on their way to making it three this year.


In 2011, an addition was built which connected the arena to the James J. McCann Center. Features of the facility include: player locker rooms, player lounges, a team film theater, coaches' offices, coaches' locker rooms, video editing rooms, conference rooms, a reception area, and a kitchenette.


Marist, which officially became a university on January 29, was founded in 1905 by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious institute, to prepare brothers for their vocations as educators. In 2003, it became a secular institution. Marist's 180-acre main campus overlooks the Hudson River and is situated along its east banks. The University has a branch campus in Florence, Italy, and offers 50 semester or academic year abroad options.


Marist is situated in Poughkeepsie, a city of about 32,000 roughly 80 miles north of New York City. A left turn upon entering the campus will lead you to McCann. The building's namesake, James J. McCann (1880-1969), was a Poughkeepsie native and a strong supporter of Marist Athletics.


John Dunne, in his seventh year, guides the Red Foxes. Dunne, who has posted two winning seasons at Marist, is a MAAC lifer having previously coached 12 years at Saint Peter’s before serving as an assistant at Siena and Manhattan.


Food & Beverage 3

The box office is on the right as fans enter the lobby of McCann Arena with a concession stand operated by Marist Dining Services with tables and chairs on the left side. The fare includes cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, beef chili, sausage and pepper sandwiches, and pretzels. Soda, water, and Gatorade are also for sale.


On the right side of the lobby, there is the Marist Pro Shop selling everything from shirts, baseball, and bucket hats to golf bags. There is also a small stand selling alcoholic beverages and water. The selections included White Claw, bee, and wine.


Atmosphere 3

This visit was a testament to how lively McCann can be when the students turn out. Marist managed a sell-out for the first time since 2008 and the joint was jumping for a win over Siena before 3,200 fans in a game televised by ESPNU. Marist is averaging 1,833 through its first 10 home dates.


The doors open 90 minutes before game time.


The Red Foxes have been starved for better student support to enhance the game-day experience which is not easy considering the school has about 5,500 undergraduates. The band, cheerleaders, dance team, MC, and mascot are quite energetic and it made for a loud and engaged building on this night. On this occasion, the Marist men’s swim team was on hand appropriately wearing their “uniforms” bathing suit,s and some caps. They enthusiastically stood and cheered on the Red Foxes from behind each basket switching ends at halftime.

During the renovation, two 10’ x 15’ Daktronics LED video boards were installed in the Northeast and Southwest corners of the arena. The boards are clear but do not show replays and could show more statistics. The arena does not have any signage or ribbon boards.


Neighborhood 3

Poughkeepsie is situated in Dutchess County between the Lower Hudson and Capital District regions. The city is home to several major corporations including IBM and educational institutions including Marist, Vassar College, Dutchess Community College, and The Culinary Institute of America.


Schatzis Pub (202 Main Street) in downtown Poughkeepsie is a great place for pre or post-gaming especially if you enjoy German food and beer. Cosimo’s Trattoria and Palace Diner are two popular places within walking distance of the stadium. Palace is open 24 hours. Double O Grill, about 15 minutes away on Route 9, is another great destination to eat and drink.


There are plenty of hotel options if looking for an overnight stay. Almost all of the big chains including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Holiday Inn have at least one property within five miles of the campus.


Fans 3

The fan score went up a point this year due to the raucous crowd. Hopefully, the students can keep up the support throughout the remainder of the season. Last season, the building was typically only half full as the Red Foxes averaged 1,501. The biggest crowd was 1,738 for a Sunday afternoon showdown with Siena in January.


The side sections feature chairback seats with ample legroom, while behind the baskets are mostly bleachers. The first six rows were converted to chairbacks in two sections and the first four rows in the sections directly behind the basket. The arena has 1,244 chairbacks.


The band, cheerleaders, and dance team are situated behind the basket that the opposition shoots at in the second half.


Access 4

The best access to Poughkeepsie from the west is to cross the Mid-Hudson Bridge only two miles from campus and head north up Route 9. Traveling up or down Route 9 can be time-consuming with traffic moderate to heavy and slowed by many traffic lights. The Taconic Parkway, which runs north and south, is about 20 minutes from the arena and traffic can be less burdensome coming in on Route 55. I-84 is about half an hour away. 84 East leads into Putnam County and eventually Connecticut. 84 West heads over the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge into Orange County.


Parking is free on campus and typically there is no shortage of spots. The Poughkeepsie train station, served by Metro North and Amtrak, is 1.2 miles from the stadium.


Return on Investment 5

Chairback seating costs $13 (no increase from last year) and bench seating is $11 for adults. Children 8 and under are $8. Ticket and concession prices are a bargain and parking is free which is hard to find in the sports world today and welcomed during inflationary times.


Extras 3

Marist celebrated its first victory as a University on this visit. An institution must offer graduate programs in at least three or more disciplines to qualify as a university in New York State. Marist offers 13 graduate degrees, as well as a doctorate program, across six schools. 


The Red Foxes sold courtside VIP seats for the second straight year. The seats were formerly part of the press row and cost $500 a ticket for the season and must be purchased in pairs.


Just two miles southeast of the stadium, there is a beautiful bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that spans the Hudson River called Walkway Over the Hudson Historic State Park. It is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge and connects Poughkeepsie (entrance at 61 Parker Avenue) to Highland. The span, a former railroad bridge that has been repurposed, is open from 7 am until sunset.


Final Thoughts

McCann Arena is certainly worthy of a Stadium Journey. The sightlines are excellent, there is plenty of free parking and it is an affordable arena for family-friendly entertainment. When it gets loud, the building comes to life.

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