Martire Family Arena

Sacred Heart University broke ground on March 15, 2021, for its state-of-the-art hockey and skating arena located on the University's West Campus in Fairfield.

The arena is named for the Martire family. Frank Martire, a 1969 graduate of Sacred Heart, is chairman of the University's board of trustees and has an equity interest in the NHL's Las Vegas franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights. The Martires also supported the Frank & Marisa Martire Center for the Liberal Arts and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

The inaugural first pucks were dropped on January 14 and 15 in 2023. The Pioneers' Division I men's ice hockey team played an overtime game against Boston College of Hockey East before the women's team knocked off ECAC Hockey's Harvard University the following day.

The 122,158-square-foot facility includes the latest technology in ice management to support the 85 x 200 ice surface. Student-athletes enjoy technologically advanced locker rooms, a world-class strength and conditioning facility designed at a level consistent with the NHL, a comprehensive sports medicine and hydrotherapy suite, a rapid-shot puck room for off-ice training and team film, meeting and lounge spaces. Sacred Heart's nationally recognized figure skating team also benefits from a pro-motion training harness in addition to a specifically designed Olympic-level locker room.

As fans enter West Campus, they first encounter the grand entry plaza, which boasts a contemporary aesthetic, utilizing the finest material finishes to match SHU's campus architecture. As they continue to the parking garage, ample gameday underground parking with direct access to the spacious entrances will make finding seats both simple and accessible. Fans can catch highlights on the center-hung scoreboard, enjoy enhanced lighting effects and find a personalized jersey that fits just right in the pro shop. The food and beverage experience on the concourse will have favorite gameday foods as well as local brews. Premium seating offers luxury suites and two club rooms overlooking the rink and seating bowl.

Development and construction of the arena was a collaboration among JLG Architects, the SLAM Collaborative, Dimensional Innovations and Consigli Construction. It is located a minute off Exit 46 of the Merritt Parkway for easy access for students and the community.

GAME NIGHT PARKING

Free general parking on West Campus includes two outdoor (Red and Purple) and two indoor (Green and Yellow in the West Building) lots. If lots fill up, cars will be directed a half mile away to main campus for shuttle service. The address is 5151 Park Avenue and park in any lot before getting on a "West Campus" labeled shuttle or a another vehicle designated for game night service.

SHU students are not allowed to park on West Campus on game nights; a shuttle from main campus has regular runs from Edgerton Hall starting 90 minutes before puck drop. Shuttles drop off at front of the arena and operate throughout the game until 30 minutes after its conclusion.