Ground was broken on Chaifetz Arena in August 2006, after years of
planning for an on-campus multipurpose facility that would be home to
SLU men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, and could host a
myriad of other events. Chaifetz Arena has 10,600 seats in a single
concourse, and also has 14 suites and two party suites, as well as a
large club for dinners and parties.
The Arena complex
includes the Chaifetz Arena, a two-court basketball-volleyball practice
facility, where the volleyball team will play its games. And on the far
western end of the complex is a new three-story office and support
building for the athletic department. It includes new locker rooms for
all Division I athletic teams. Chaifetz Arena also contains a new
strength and conditioning area and a state-of-the art sports medicine
facility.
The University expects to host 90 to 100 events each
year in Chaifetz Arena, including concerts, shows, trade shows,
commencements as well as men’s and women’s basketball.
Chaifetz
Arena is named in honor of University alumnus Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz
(SHAY-fetz) who made a $12 million naming gift to Saint Louis
University. Chaifetz, a 1975 graduate of Saint Louis University, is a
licensed neuropsychologist and is founder, chairman and CEO of
Chicago-based ComPsych Corporation, the world's largest provider of
employee assistance programs. Chaifetz is one of the world's most
frequently quoted experts on behavioral health, workplace issues and
employer and employee trends.
Chaifetz is a native of New
York, and in 1971 he turned down an appointment to the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point to attend Saint Louis University on the advice of
his high school dean and mentor. He credits former SLU President Paul
Reinert, S.J., with helping him remain at SLU when financial issues
threatened his ability to stay in school.
"Father Reinert told
me he believed in me and allowed me to stay at SLU at a time in my life
when I didn't have the financial resources to pay for my tuition,"
Chaifetz said. "I promised him not only would I pay my tuition, but that
I would pay back the University in an even bigger way in the future.
Now, this is an opportunity for me to give back to the University for
all the support and guidance I received as an undergraduate here. It is
my hope that the Chaifetz Arena will enhance the on-campus experience
for every future Saint Louis University student, as well as the city of
St. Louis."
Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic
university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The
University fosters the intellectual and character development of more
than 12,000 students on campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Founded
in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the
second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Through teaching,
research, health care and community service, Saint Louis University is
the place where knowledge touches lives. Learn more about SLU at www.slu.edu.
Chaifetz Arena is privately managed by Global Spectrum. Global
Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) is the fastest growing firm in the public
assembly facility management field with more than 70 facilities
throughout the United States and Canada. The Philadelphia-based company
is part of one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment
companies, Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of
the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National
Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey
League, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks,
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a regional sports programming network,
Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era
Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public
assembly facilities, and Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial
rights sales company and 3601 Creative Group, a full-service in-house
advertising agency. In a partnership with Disson Skating,
Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure
skating spectaculars on NBC.
