Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center

Bill Greehey Arena

The 135,000-square-foot center honors the winning traditions of the men's and women's Rattler teams. Since its official dedication on Nov. 27, 2000, it has provided comprehensive on-campus wellness and intramural activities for the entire student body. The center also enables the University to build on its Marianist traditions of community and caring by bringing together all members of the St. Mary's family along with members of the broader San Antonio community for special celebrations, major speakers, concerts and performances, among other events.

The center:

Promotes Wellness and Recreation

• The campus community, including the 1,200 residential students, has more on campus opportunity to exercise in a health club environment.

Expands Opportunities in Athletics and Intramural Sports

• St. Mary's will now be on an equal playing field with other schools in the Heartland Conference and will be competitive as a new member of the NCAA Division II.
• The facility strengthens the intramural program by offering the more than one-third of the student body involved in intramurals more opportunities to practice and compete.

Serves the Community Through Convocation

• We will host celebrations such as the annual Academic Convocation for Freshmen, celebration for December Graduation and major lectures, concerts, among others.
• We will expand the community programming, like the National Youth Sports Program that enriches youth and introduces many of these youngsters to the college campus.
• The facility is a conference venue for the city of San Antonio.

The state-of-the-art facility features the following:

• A 3,500-seat performance arena with a regulation basketball and volleyball courts and the ability to host large convocations
• Four other basketball/volleyball courts for practice and intramural activity
• Natatorium
• Adequate locker rooms for all users
• Cybex and Paramount selectorized weight equipment.
• A training room
• Racquetball courts
• Six outdoor tournament-quality tennis courts
• An indoor running track
• Aerobic and dance facilities
• Additional classroom space
• Cardiovascular conditioning equipment
• 40 foot indoor climbing wall
• Athletics, Campus Recreation and Exercise and Sports Science department offices

Along with the 3,800-seat capacity (no bleacher seats), is a hospitality suite overlooking the arena. The Bill Greehey Arena is the first NCAA, Division II facility in the country to have video board capability. Two single-faced video boards will be installed on opposite corners to maximize viewability from anywhere in the arena. The 8'2" x 10'8", 15.8 MM LED boards provide a more dramatic and unique touch to all events. The LED boards connect to a four sided 6'xlO' scoreboard to create a more engaging and exciting facility.

The multi-purpose health and fitness center is the result of generous and enthusiastic support from community donors and culminates a three-year fund-raising effort involving more than 3,000 donors. Its name is in recognition of the largest capital gift of $3.1 million made by the St. Mary's Alumni Association, as well as the dedicated leadership, commitment and personal contributions of capital campaign chairman Bill Greehey, honored in naming the arena. Greehey, a distinguished alumnus of St. Mary's (B.B.A. '60), is chairman and CEO of San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., a Fortune 500 company and world leader in petroleum refining.