About the Debate Facilities
David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex
Debate Hall
On January 2, 2000 the Hofstra Basketball programs moved into the 5,023-seat Hofstra Arena, which was renamed the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in 2006. Construction of the $15 million, 93,000 square-foot facility began in the fall of 1998 and was completed in December 1999. The Complex houses the Hofstra Men and Women's Basketball, and Wrestling teams, and also hosts commencements, exhibitions, trade shows, concerts and other special events.
“Mr. Mack has been extremely generous to Hofstra over the years, and the David S. Mack Sports Complex will serve as just the latest reminder on our campus of that generosity,” said Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz, referring to the David S. and Sondra Mack Student Center and Mack Hall, which houses the University Club.
On October 15, 2008 the Mack Sports Complex hosted the third and final debate between presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, which was broadcast live around the world. Hofstra and the Mack Sports Complex will once again host a Presidential Debate as the University will host the second debate on October 16, 2012.
The Mack Sports Complex includes full chair back seating for spectators in an arena configuration. The air-conditioned facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard, men's and women's locker rooms, a training room, a large weight room, dressing rooms for stage events, four concession stands, five ticket windows, six luxury boxes and offices for Hofstra's athletic administration and basketball staffs.
David S. Mack Physical Education Center
Media Filing Center and Spin Alley
The Pride Volleyball team calls the David S. Mack Physical Education Center its home. Built in 1970, the David S. Mack Physical Education Center has established itself as a showcase for volleyball in the metropolitan area. The 800-seat arena hosted Hofstra's NCAA Tournament first round match in 1995 and has hosted regional and national United States Volleyball Association events, including the 1983 exhibition between the United States Olympic team and the Japanese Olympic team. Hofstra's David S. Mack Physical Education Center also served as the 1987 home of the New York Liberties of Major League Volleyball and as the training site for the 1989 United States Maccabiah teams. It also is the home to various high school championships.
The arena was refurbished in 1978 with a new ticket lobby and refreshment area. Access roads and ample parking are located around the building. In 1991 new scoreboards with a message center were added to the David S. Mack Physical Education Center, replacing the four-sided scoreboard that had served Long Island sports fans at the old Island Garden in Hempstead and at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, adjacent to the University. The David S. Mack Physical Education Center is also outfitted with multiple Senoh Systems, the finest volleyball apparatus available.
The David S. Mack Physical Education Center was resurfaced for the second time in 1995 with a wooden Thrust-A-Pad floor, which covers the entire 40,000-square-foot building and gives Hofstra the second largest indoor wooden facility on the East Coast. The floor has been placed over the old synthetic surface and adds greater flexibility, thereby decreasing the chance of leg injuries.
After the Mack Sports Complex was constructed, the David S. Mack Physical Education Center became a volleyball-only venue and received a new scoreboard that features space for in-match statistics to be displayed. The David S. Mack Physical Education Center was also decorated with banners commemorating Hofstra's NCAA Tournament appearances and conference championships, and several volleyball illustrations, by artist Chris Bigelow, were added to the walls. This past offseason the main court at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center was completely redone, including new logos painted on the floor.
The David S. Mack Physical Education Center has been home to five professional teams in its existence: The New York Nets (American Basketball Association), the New York Knicks Summer League team (National Basketball Association), the Long Island Knights and Surf (United States Basketball League) and the New York Liberties (Major League Volleyball). In addition, the Physical Education Building has hosted concerts, banquets, trade shows, conferences, commencement exercises and scholastic sporting events for the Long Island community.
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