July 26, 2011
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The unveiling of the new-look, high-tech Pit with its $60 million updates in bells, whistles, and technology surely was one of the highlights of the University of New Mexico’s 2010-11 athletic season.
It was a highly anticipated and much-deserved unveiling for the loyal Lobo fans, who patiently attended Lobo basketball games in the season of 2009-10 while construction was in full force.
The new-look Pit had the obligatory open house and a handful of dignitaries said some nice things about the old girl and the much needed facelift that pulled her into the 21st century. But the real unveiling came in a men’s exhibition against Eastern New Mexico.
The Pit is really all about basketball and wrapping Lobo fans around the game and the team they love. What the new Pit did was make that wrapping a more fan-friendly arena for fans to enjoy while they enjoyed their Lobos.
The new Pit is gorgeous and surely one of the finest basketball facilities in the nation. The renovation includes an expanded concourse, new concessions, 40 suites, 365 club seats, TVs everywhere and a Lettermen’s Lounge offering panoramic views of Albuquerque’s skyline.
There also are vast improvements hidden in deep corners of The Pit: new locker rooms, weight & conditioning areas, a modern training room, improved media facilities.
The obvious advantage to UNM fans is the fan-friendly experience that comes with Lobo basketball. But the changes to this storied building, built in 1966, also become tremendous recruiting tools for coaches Steve Alford and Yvonne Sanchez.
The changes already have returned the NCAA Tournament to The Pit and these events are vibrant stimulants to fuel the economy of the city and the state. And all that stuff is important. The impact of Lobo athletics to our community has often been understated, ignored or simply not understood.
Maybe the neatest thing about The Pit unveiled in 2010-11 was that it hadn’t changed at all. It was still that sunken cauldron of emotion providing Lobos with a home court edge that might be unequaled in college ball.
It was a special thing to welcome and embrace the new Pit. It was just as nice to see the old Pit was still there, too.
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and Sports Columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.