After delays, thanks to the pandemic, Duquesne Athletics' new UPMC Cooper Field House is set to open on Tuesday, when the Dukes' men's basketball team hosts Dayton.
The Cooper Field house is located on the site of the former A.J. Palumbo Center.
In addition to men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball will also host at the new field house.
While we had many obstacles along the way with the pandemic and challenging work environments, UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is finally going to open due to the efforts of all involved with the project," said Director of Athletics Dave Harper. "I'd like to thank everyone for making this possible, our donors and community partners, the contractors and construction crews, and our Duquesne team. While the opening is somewhat muted due to the pandemic, it doesn't dampen our excitement."
"This is truly a transformation and will better position us for success competitively and academically. It will be the epicenter of development and growth for our student-athletes. It repositions our brand and our recruiting strategies as well. In addition, campus life, the Uptown area, and the greater Pittsburgh community will benefit from another first-class facility that will host a variety of events and add vibrancy to the area."
Chuck Cooper, a Duquesne Alumnus, was one of the first black players to even play in the NBA and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
The new field house has six sweets, 55 club level seats along with bigger concourses and "enhanced concession areas."
The Cooper Field House is also home to the Folino Sports Performance Center featuring the latest training equipment for student-athletes
Due to the continuing pandemic, access to the new field house is limited to game day personnel, immediate family of the athletes and a limited amount of Duquesne students.
Updates will be made as protocols continue to change.
While you won't be able to be there in person, Tuesday's game will be broadcast on ESPNU. Tipoff is at 9 p.m.
