LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena College and the Times Union Center have announced an extension of their agreement which will keep the downtown Albany facility as the home of Siena Men's Basketball through the 2024-25 season. The Times Union Center, formerly known as Knickerbocker Arena and later as Pepsi Arena, has served as the full-time home of the Saints for the past 22 seasons. The Times Union Center is owned by Albany County and managed by ASM Global.
 
"Siena Basketball has held a special place in the Capital Region – and Albany in particular – since the early 1950's when the team played nationally ranked opponents in the Washington Avenue Armory," said Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics John D'Argenio. "The area's affinity has continued since Siena started playing games in the Knickerbocker Arena in 1990 all the way through today in the Times Union Center. Being embraced by the area has allowed us to rank in the top-100 in attendance in the country for 22 straight years. We are thankful to Albany County and executive Dan McCoy for continuing to embrace the College, and to Bob Belber and his team at the Times Union Center for making the venue our home. Their support and that of the fans is humbling to us."
 
The Siena Men's Basketball program first began playing games downtown during the 1990-91 season, before making the full-time move to the facility in 1997-98. Siena has welcomed nearly 2.5 million fans over 380 all-time games at the Times Union Center – an average of almost 6,500 spectators per contest – and ranked in the top-100 nationally in Division I men's basketball attendance in all 22 seasons since making the venue the program's home.
 
"We are thrilled to be the home of the Siena Men's Basketball program," said ASM Global General Manager of the Times Union Center Bob Belber. "It is an honor to be part of such a prestigious program, and we love opening our doors to the Siena fans. It is due to such a great relationship with John D'Argenio and Siena College that we are able to bring events like NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball to Albany, and we look forward to continuing that relationship for many years to come."
 
This past season, Siena ranked second amongst all Northeast mid-major teams and 12^th overall in the Northeast in average home attendance. The Saints out-ranked a dozen high-major programs including Power 5 teams Boston College, California, Oregon State, Stanford, USC, and Washington State, and exceeded the overall Division I national average of 4,659 by more than 1,000 fans.  
 
"Over the last nearly three decades, Siena Basketball has become synonymous with Albany County's downtown arena, and I couldn't be more proud to welcome these talented athletes back to the Times Union Center for another phenomenal season for local fans," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. "Thanks in part to this partnership with the Saints and our $20 million investment, our facility has earned BOMA's Comeback Building of the Year Award, and just ranked No. 52 in Pollstar's Top-200 Arena Venues in the entire world."
 
Siena and the Times Union Center have combined to host 20 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships over the past 30 seasons, highlighted by a conference tournament record 53,659 fans at the 2010 MAAC Championships. Siena and the Times Union Center have also co-hosted the 1995 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds, 2003 Men's East Regionals, 2015, 2018, and 2019 NCAA Women's Regionals, and are set to host the 2020 Men's First and Second Rounds this coming March.
 
Excitement is high surrounding the Saints entering the program's 23^rd season of full-time competition at the Times Union Center this coming winter. Under the direction of new head coach Carmen Maciariello, Siena is set to return 10 letterwinners headlined by unanimous 2018-19 MAAC Rookie of the Year Jalen Pickett from last year's squad which posted a 17-16 overall record and finished tied for second in the conference with an 11-7 league mark.  
 
Nearly 90% of Siena Basketball season ticket holders have already renewed their seats for the upcoming campaign, marking an eight-percent spike from this time last year and the highest renewal percentage at the start of October in five years. Additionally, nearly 200 new season tickets have already been purchased through the Siena Fan Relations Management Center in collaboration with The Aspire Sports Marketing Group.
 
Join in the excitement! 2019-20 Siena Basketball season tickets as well as flex plans are on-sale now, and can be purchased by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center during traditional business hours Monday-Friday at (518) 487-2202, online at sienasaints.com/tickets, or by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu.