the Informer

Helena Kinane

The planning of the America East tournament has taken months of preparation and will bring 16 schools and their support groups to campus. Due to this increase in traffic and the need for space, students will have limited access to the Sports Center for the remainder of the tournament.

The Athletic Department produced the schedule for the Tournament and tried to find a balance between the space needed for the tournament and people’s access to the Sports Center.

Students will have limited access March 1 through March 3, but the Center will be closed to students March 4 through March 8. It will return to regular hours on Tuesday, March 9.

The closing of the Sports Center during basketball games can be frustrating for students involved in sports who try to work out in between classes and on weekends. Wanye Lawrence, a sophomore member of the cross-country team, said he gets to “work out mostly on the weekends.”

Students on sports teams are used to the interspersed hours that the Sports Center is open during basketball season.
“A lot of people hate it when the Sports Center is closed,” Lawrence said. “During the tournament we would have a difficult time working out.” However, since he is on the sports team, he said he could train outside.

Athletics Director Pat Meiser said, “We have little space and an old building so we have to address the issues the best we can.”

“In order to hold 18 teams with bands and cheerleaders you have to have space,” she said. With the addition of a pressroom the athletic department will need to move equipment out of the Fitness Room.

“We are expecting 20 newspapers, depending on who wins,” she said.

The Fitness Room will be set up for post-game interviews that the players can access from the side entrance.

Bringing so many teams to the campus means that as some teams are playing, others will need to warm up.

Associate Director of Athletics, Jim Keener said teams will use all four locker rooms and the volleyball court will be used for warming up teams or their support groups.

“Teams may have between four or eight support groups, with cheerleaders, pep bands and dance troupes,” Keener said. These groups need space to set up as well.

The closing of the Sports Center is also needed so the Athletic Department as time to set up tents that will be used for different tournament displays.

There will be a Fan Fest tent, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and the Basketball Hall of Fame will have a display.

Even though the Sports Center will be closed to students for the remainder of the tournament Lawrence is excited for the chance to cheer on the Hawks. “I am pumped to see the girls. They are number one in the America East and 25th in the country,” Lawrence said.

The tournament will bring a lot attention to the University and Lawrence sees it as a good thing for Hartford and it will put Hartford on the map.

For more information on the tournament and the basketball teams, students and faculty can visit www.hartfordhawks.com.