Island Federal Credit Union Arena, commonly referred to as Island Federal Arena, is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Stony Brook, New York. It is the home of the Stony Brook Seawolves men's and women's basketball teams. Originally built in 1990 as the Stony Brook University Arena, it underwent a $21.1 million renovation in 2012–14. Naming rights were sold to a regional credit union, Island Federal Credit Union. The Island Federal Arena has hosted the America East Conference men's basketball tournament finals in 2012 and 2016, as well as the NBA G League Finals in 2019. It contains four scoreboards and two video boards, plus four luxury suites with 16 seats each. It is also used for

concerts A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variet ...

trade show A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and ...

s, conventions, graduations and other special events.

History

The Stony Brook University Arena opened in 1990 at a construction cost of $17 million. It served as the West Wing for the Stony Brook Indoor Sports Complex. In April 2008, Stony Brook announced plans to renovate its arena. A $21.1 million renovation of the Stony Brook University Arena was announced with $20 million provided by the State of New York and an additional $1 million provided by private donations. It included a

seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available, and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that ...

for 4,008 spectators, four luxury boxes and a VIP lounge area at the loge level with premium courtside seating. During the renovations, both basketball teams played at Pritchard Gymnasium, which like the Island Federal Credit Union Arena, is part of the

Stony Brook Sports Complex The Stony Brook Indoor Sports Complex is a multi-purpose complex located in Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. The Complex houses the Island Federal Arena on the west end, the Pritchard Gymnasium on the east end, the Dubin Family Athletic ...

. During the arena's renovation, the basketball court was rotated 90 degrees from its original angle, and the seating bowl was built around it. The old arena contained gaps in the seating bowl, and the renovation faced challenges due to the physical limitations of the original structure. GLeagueFinals2019

The renovation of the arena was completed in 2014. On October 3, 2014, the arena officially reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first official general public event to take place at the newly renovated arena was a Harlem Globetrotters game. The arena hosted its first home basketball game on November 14, 2014, and Stony Brook defeated Columbia 57–56 on a game-winning layup. On October 28, 2014, it was announced that Stony Brook had reached a deal with Island Federal Credit Union to purchase naming rights to the arena for $7 million. Island Federal Arena served as the home court for the

Long Island Nets The Long Island Nets are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Uniondale, New York, and are affiliated with the Brooklyn Nets. The team plays its home games at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Nassau Count ...

during the 2019 NBA G League Finals due to conflicts with the Nets' home arena, the Nassau Coliseum. During the summer of 2019, Island Federal Arena renovated its court, which previously featured the interlocking "SB" logo at mid-court. The new court contains the Seawolves' logo at mid-court, with a silhouette of Long Island that spans the entire length of the floor.

Other events

Island Federal Arena has also hosted numerous concerts since its 1990 opening as the Stony Brook University Arena. The first concert hosted in the venue was

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

in 1991. It would not host another concert until 2000, when

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became the first music act to play the arena in nine years. Concerts in the 2000s were sparse, with only 3 Doors Down &

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(2000),

Sugar Ray Sugar Ray is an American rock band formed in Newport Beach, California, in 1986. Originally playing heavier funk metal and nu metal style music, the band achieved mainstream popularity in 1997 with their more pop-influenced single "Fly". The ...

(2001),

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(2004) and Jimmy Eat World &

Taking Back Sunday Taking Back Sunday is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. The band was formed by guitarist Eddie Reyes and bassist Jesse Lacey in 1999. The band's members currently are Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), John Nolan (lead guitar, keybo ...

(2005) headlining during the decade. Since the arena's rebranding as Island Federal Arena, Lupe Fiasco, 3LAU,

B.o.B Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. (born November 15, 1988), known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper and record producer. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Simmons was signed to Jim Jonsin's Rebel Rock Entertainment imprint in 2006. Two years late ...

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, Panic! at the Disco,

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, Timeflies,

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, Future,

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Post Malone Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his variegated vocals, Malone has gained acclaim for blending genres and subgenres of hip ...

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, A Boogie wit da Hoodie,

A$AP Ferg Darold Durard Brown Ferguson Jr. (born October 20, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Ferg (stylized as A$AP Ferg), is an American rapper from New York City's Harlem neighborhood. Aside from his solo career, he is a member of the hip hop collec ...

and Aminé have headlined concerts. Stony Brook University's winter graduation ceremonies take place at Island Federal Arena. Speakers including Supreme Court associate justice

Sonia Sotomayor Sonia Maria Sotomayor (, ; born June 25, 1954) is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009, and has served since ...

, author

Janet Mock Janet Mock (born March 10, 1983) is an American writer, television host, director, producer and transgender rights activist. Her debut book, the memoir '' Redefining Realness'', became a ''New York Times'' bestseller. She is a contributing edit ...

and designer Joshua Davis have held talks at Island Federal Arena.

Gallery

File:IslandFederalArena UMBC.jpg, Island Federal Arena in 2020 File:Island Federal Arena UMBC.jpg, Island Federal Arena in 2020 File:Warney Retired Number.jpg, Jameel Warney's retired number in the rafters File:SBU NCAA banner.jpeg, Banner commemorating Stony Brook's first NCAA Tournament berth

References

External links

Island Federal Credit Union Arena at stonybrookathletics.com
{{Colonial Athletic Association basketball venue navbox Stony Brook University Basketball venues in New York (state) Sports venues in Suffolk County, New York Stony Brook Seawolves men's basketball 1990 establishments in New York (state) Sports venues completed in 1990 College basketball venues in the United States

History

Other events

Gallery

See also

References

External links