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Leo D. Mahoney Arena
Leo D. Mahoney Arena is an 85,000-square foot, 3,500-seat multi-use space at the heart of the Fairfield University campus. It is the home of Fairfield Basketball and Volleyball in addition to serving as a venue for University events, and concerts. The $51 million project, which was 100 percent donor-funded, stands in the footprint of its predecessor, Alumni Hall.
Mahoney Arena opened on Nov. 18, 2022 with a 77-53 win for Fairfield Women's Basketball over Stonehill. Fairfield Men's Basketball made its debut in the Arena on Dec. 3, 2022, earning a 67-55 victory over defending MAAC Champion Saint Peter's. The first points in Mahoney Arena history went to Callie Cavanaugh, while Allan Jeanne-Rose scored the first points in the venue in Men's Basketball history.
Mahoney Arena boasts a state-of-the-art broadcast and media center, luxury seating and lounge areas, and updated features that truly make it a showpiece of Fairfield’s modern campus. The main entrance leads fans to a spacious, open concourse level looking toward concessions, a beer garden, and access to seating that surrounds the court below.
Above the concourse, a club area named The Diffley featuring 172 cushioned chairback seats, a premium bar and a spacious lounge area. The lower (court) level houses amenities to support Stags student-athletes, including locker rooms, a film room, a team lounge, and a training room for taping, icing, and first aid operations.
The University partnered with industry leader Daktronics to design, manufacture and install 15 total LED displays for Mahoney Arena. The center-hung system is made up of nine displays – four main video displays, four corner wedges and a lower ring. A 360-degree ribbon display circles the seating section and, at court level, four scorers’ table displays have been installed.
Leo D. Mahoney and his loving wife of 46 years, Joan E. Mahoney, were the children of Irish immigrants and did not attend college themselves. Leo and Joan’s belief in the importance of Jesuit education and their Catholic values led them to support all three of their children, Shelagh Mahoney ‘87, Meghan Mahoney ‘89, and Patrick Mahoney ‘93, in attending Fairfield University. Fairfield held a special place in their hearts as they watched their children develop into the people they are today. In the early 1990s, Leo sat on the Fairfield University Trustees Advisory Council. Leo was the President and co-founder of one of the largest suppliers of road salt in the northeastern United States. Beginning in the early 1950s with a single contract for salt with the City of Lowell, the business grew steadily over the next 60 years.
Leo actively engaged his children in his philanthropic and business endeavors. He took pleasure in passing along the lessons learned, especially the importance of making decisions with your heart. Leo was active in the company until the time of his death always stopping by the office after daily Mass to work with his daughter, Shelagh Mahoney, who is now President of his companies. While Leo always enjoyed the give and take of business, he was happiest spending time with friends and family and especially his cherished grandchildren; Molly McNamee Cary, Sean McNamee, Michael McNamee, Leo McNamee, Kate McNamee, James Finneral, Grace Finneral, and Finn Mahoney.
His daughter Shelagh is a Fairfield University alumna, Board of Trustee member and supporter of Fairfield University. Shelagh and her husband Joe McNamee are the happy parents of five children, all of whom have received Jesuit educations: two current Fairfield University students, two Fairfield University alumni, one Boston College alum, and parents-in-law to one Fairfield University alum.
