Pride Roofing University Center - Southeastern Louisiana Lions

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00

Pride Roofing University Center W University Ave Hammond, LA 70402

Southeastern Louisiana Lions website

Pride Roofing University Center website

Year Opened: 1982

Capacity: 7,500

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Lion's Pride on the Northshore

In 1928, Southeastern Louisiana University opened its doors on 60 acres of farmland just north of Lake Pontchartrain in the small Northshore community of Hammond, situated on the former estate of attorney Hunter Leake II. The institution originally began as Hammond Junior College in 1925 at a different location before relocating to its present site and becoming a four-year university. Today, Southeastern has grown into a 365-acre campus with an enrollment of approximately 14,400 students, making it the third-largest university in Louisiana.

Basketball at Southeastern Louisiana University began during the 1947-48 season. The Lions initially competed at the NAIA level before moving up to NCAA Division II in the 1970s. Southeastern began its transition to Division 1 during the 1987–88 season, competing as an Independent from 1987 to 1991. The program then joined the Trans America Athletic Conference – the forerunner to today’s Atlantic Sun Conference – from 1991 to 1997, before becoming a member of the Southland Conference in 1997, where the Lions continue to compete today.

Since moving to Division 1, the Lions have captured four conference championships, including three Southland Conference titles in 2004, 2005, and 2018. The pinnacle of the program’s success came during the 2004-05 season, when Southeastern earned its first, and to date only, NCAA Tournament appearance, falling to Oklahoma State in the opening round. The Lions have also made one NIT appearance, advancing to the postseason in 2018.

The Lions play their home games at the Pride Roofing University Center on campus, a 7,500-seat arena that has served as the program’s home since the 1982-83 season. Before moving into this venue, Southeastern hosted its basketball games at Cefalu Coliseum, which once stood on the site now occupied by the university’s track and field complex. In 2023, the naming rights to the facility were purchased by a Louisiana-based roofing company, Pride Roofing, for ten years. The building is referred to as ‘The UC’ by students and alumni.

Food & Beverage   2

Food and beverage options inside Pride Roofing University Center are extremely limited; there is just one concession stand, located on the north side of the building near the main entrance, making it easy to find, but the stand is small in terms of size and selection.

The menu sticks to the basics, offering items such as nachos, popcorn, hot dogs, candy, and chips. While the variety is minimal, the pricing is positive, with all items costing under $5, making concessions affordable for families and casual fans. Coca-Cola products are the exclusive beverage options, and alcohol is not sold anywhere inside the UC.

Given the limited in-arena choices, fans looking for a more satisfying meal are better off eating before or after the game. Fortunately, Hammond offers a wide range of dining options a short drive from campus, from national chains along Highway 51 and Interstate 12 to locally owned restaurants popular with students and locals.

Atmosphere   3

Pride Roofing University Center sits on the north side of campus and has a look that’s hard to miss – from the outside, the building resembles a green tin octagon. Fans can enter through two main entrances on the north and south sides, both feeding into an inner and outer concourse that circles the building.

At the north concourse, visitors are greeted with an impressive Hall of Fame display, highlighting Southeastern Louisiana’s athletic history across all sports. Individual sections honor each program, while special attention is given to All-American athletes, making it a nice stop when walking along the concourse.

Inside the seating bowl, the setup is quite simple, with two levels of seating wrapped in SLU's signature green and gold. One of the biggest positives is that every seat is a chairback. The lower bowl is green, while the upper-level features yellow seating. Above the court, championship banners for both men’s and women’s programs hang from the rafters, alongside two retired jerseys.

A basic scoreboard hangs at midcourt, lacking replay capabilities, and the arena itself is noticeably dimly lit, giving the UC a throwback atmosphere. The court is oriented east to west, and the interior is lined with local business signage, which adds a community feel. In fact, the in-arena advertising even led me to a new local restaurant that I checked out after the game; Ronnie's Boudin and Cracklin', located a few miles from campus.

Overall, Pride Roofing University Center isn't as flashy as some of the modern college basketball arenas, but it delivers a comfortable environment, and all the seats seem close to the floor, no matter where you sit.

Neighborhood   4

Hammond is the largest city in the Parish with a population of about 20,000. Hammond is a true college town, with most of the attractions centered on the university in a pretty big downtown area. The campus is located within walking distance to downtown, only a few blocks north – this area is quite pretty with a railroad that runs right through the middle of downtown, along with several small parks.

You can find plenty of restaurants and bars downtown, including La Carrenta for Mexican, Brady’s for burgers and beers, Tommy’s on Thomas for pizza and Italian fare, Mariner’s Inn and Cate Street Seafood for seafood, Lee’s Diner, and Our Mom’s and Tope La for popular Creole and Cajun foods. For popular spots to get a drink, you can try Cate Street Pub, Red White and Brew, Benny’s Place, or Crescent Bar, while for attractions in Hammond, you have the Louisiana Children’s Discovery Museum, which makes for a great place to take the kids.

Keibert & Sons Gator Tours and the Global Wildlife Center, just outside Hammond, are also good options – the latter is home to a drive-through safari-style zoo. For shopping in Hammond, you have Hammond Square, a beautiful outdoor shopping mall with plenty of mall-style chain stores and restaurants.

If you have time, I recommend taking a trip to neighboring Ponchatoula, which is about a 5-mile drive south of SLU’s campus. This beautiful small town is centered on its strawberry industry, as the Strawberry Capital of the World – if you are here in the spring, be sure to check out the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Ponchatoula has a nice downtown with plenty of restaurants, as well as a giant strawberry right next to City Hall; the city even has a cool market inside an old train station where you can buy all kinds of items, such as shirts, art, and food.

For places to stay in the area, there are plenty of hotels in Hammond closer to the interstate, or for a more upscale hotel in Hammond, you can try Michabelle Inn, located in a historic 19th-century home. You can also find plenty of hotels in Baton Rouge if you elect to stay in the Louisiana capital city instead, or from Hammond, you are also only about 45 minutes from the many attractions and nightlife of New Orleans.

Fans   2

The first thing fans will notice upon entering Pride Roofing University Center is that the building feels far larger than the current size of the program. With Lions basketball averaging between 300 and 500 fans per game, large sections of empty seats are common, giving the arena a quiet and spacious feel.

There is no dedicated student section, though there is a good number of students present. A solid number of SLU students turn out, including several members of the SLU baseball program. However, rather than clustering in one area, students and fans are spread throughout the seating bowl.

For most home games, the upper-level seating is closed, moving fans into the lower bowl and allowing spectators to sit anywhere they choose.

No band or mascot is interacting with the crowd, and no in-game efforts to generate noise or energy – as a result, the atmosphere remains strictly focused on basketball. With the Lions playing in the Southland Conference, you can also expect to see many visiting fans in attendance, especially when schools like New Orleans, McNeese State, or Northwestern State visit. For most games, the women’s teams will play before the men’s, and many fans will stay for both games.

Access   4

Getting to Hammond is fairly simple; the city is conveniently located right on the I-12/I-55 corridor, about 40 miles east of Baton Rouge and 40 miles northwest of New Orleans. Getting to SLU’s campus is also pretty easy; just take I-12 to Exit 40, then SLU is about 2.5 miles north of the exit, a few blocks north of downtown.

Along the way, you’ll pass by all the shopping at Hammond Square, and you’ll have a nice drive through downtown. You can’t miss Pride Roofing University Center, as it is located across the street from campus on University Blvd, considered the northern part of campus.

Louis Armstrong International Airport, closer to New Orleans, is the closest airport if you are flying in. I-55 ends at the Airport, and Hammond is a straight 45-minute drive on that freeway. This drive will take you through Manchac Swamp on the second-longest bridge in the country, though sometimes your GPS may advise you to take Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to the North Shore instead, which is actually the longest bridge in the country. However, it can sometimes take over two hours to get from New Orleans to Hammond based on traffic, if you use the causeway.

Once on the arena’s property, you’ll find plenty of parking around the UC. You can even park anywhere on campus and walk under the scenic underpass that goes under University Blvd to get to campus.

Return on Investment   3

Attending a Southeastern Lions basketball game offers a good return on investment. General Admission tickets through the athletic office are listed at $15, which provides admission to both the men’s and women’s games. The best advice is to purchase tickets on the secondary market; these tickets are regularly available for under $5 on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats, making it far more cost-effective than buying directly from the ticket office. With games rarely approaching capacity, availability is never an issue, and fans can purchase tickets without worrying about sellouts.

Another positive is that fans are free to come and go as they please. Parking is free in the large surface lots surrounding Pride Roofing University Center, eliminating this extra expense as well. Inside the arena, with the upper level closed and attendance low, fans can sit virtually anywhere in the lower bowl, including mid-court or closer to the floor. When factoring in the low secondary market ticket prices, free parking, and access to a lower-level D1 basketball experience, Lions basketball offers a strong return on investment.

Extras   3

One extra for the Athletic Hall of Fame on the north concourse, a display which showcases trophies, retired jerseys, historic programs, photographs, and memorabilia representing every athletic program at SLU. It serves as both a museum and a timeline, offering fans a chance to get familiar with the school’s athletic history.

One of the most significant pieces in the Hall of Fame honors Robin Roberts, widely regarded as Southeastern Louisiana’s most accomplished and nationally recognized former athlete. Long before her acclaimed broadcasting career on Good Morning America, Roberts was a standout basketball player for the Lions, and her jersey is prominently displayed in the Athletics Hall of Fame. Her impact on the program is further recognized with the retirement of her No. 21 jersey, which was officially retired in 2011 and now hangs from the rafters in Pride Roofing University Center.

While still in high school, Robin was visiting LSU as a potential basketball recruit. On the drive back to her home in Mississippi, she passed through Hammond and made a stop on the Southeastern campus. Drawn to the school’s small, close-knit atmosphere, Roberts ultimately chose to sign with SLU and played with the Lions from 1979 to 1983.  The opening of the UC marked Roberts’ final year playing basketball.

Pride Roofing University Center also carries a rich history outside of collegiate athletics, particularly in the world of professional wrestling. During the 1980s, the building was a regular stop for Mid-South Wrestling, promoted by Cowboy Bill Watts. At the height of wrestling’s territorial era, the UC routinely hosted packed cards featuring some of the most iconic names in the sport – fans attending events in that era could witness legendary matchups involving The Rock 'n' Roll Express, The Midnight Express, Junkyard Dog, Kamala, Kerry Von Erich, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and Ernie Ladd.

Pride Roofing University Center has also hosted several concerts, including Doobie Brothers, Black Crowes, Cheap Trick, and Ray Charles. In addition, from 2001-2008, the facility hosted the girls' Louisiana High School Basketball State Championships.