By Austin Begay
Sports Editor

Both teams won in dominating fashion, accompanied by the roars of the crowd. CSU-Pueblo can’t help but feel pride in their new home court, one of the many renovations that have taken the campus into the future, leaving the old USC days behind.
The new arena has been referred to as the best in the conference by almost anyone on the staff, faculty or even the contractors that have been building the arena for most the summer and fall semester.
According to Todd Kelly, athletic development director, the new Massari Arena and student recreation center is “The best in the region, it will definitely help to recruit prospective students and athletes alike, it’s a winner hands down on appeal alone.”
Not only does the new arena help with student participation with the university, but over a thousand community members were on hand to witness the new opening of the arena. The 3,900 seat venue was almost completely filled. The new arena even has university President Joseph Garcia excited.
“We are very pleased with the finished Massari Complex. We have had to suffer for years playing in middle schools, high schools and the events center, the fans and especially players seem very happy to have a place to call home.”
Along with the new basketball court, the Massari complex is also home to the student weight rooms and work out facilities, basketball courts, racquet ball courts and a new indoor pool with possibilities for an outdoor deck area. Garcia added that the Massari Arena will not be the only new addition students will see at the university.
“We at the university want people to see new things; we are not only setting athletic, but academic standards as well. The fall will be great for kids to see our improvements to the university, with the completion of the Thunderbowl, to the new residence hall being built, and even the renovation of the psych building and library.” Twenty million dollars has been set aside for the new renovations to the university, to improve facilities, technology and even explore new frontiers with more options in our school’s undergraduate programs. “To get the money for our improvements was an effort, but for our students it was well worth it,” Garcia said.
The administration has been putting together programs to take our university from the university of second choice, to the hottest and fastest growing university in the state. In a statement to the students Garcia added “the university administration is making these renovations for the students, not just the sports teams, and if the students want more, come and support our teams and programs and take advantage of the opportunities we have created and support your classmates. We did this for you.”