Media Credit: Toby Hicks/DP File Photo The Palestra is slated to be the home for 14 St. Joseph's men's basketball games in the 2008-09 season. While their arena undergoes renovations, the Hawks will use the facility. [Click to enlarge]

Thousands of Saint Joseph's basketball fans previously unable to get tickets to home games might have their best shot during the 2008-2009 season.

As the Hawks' Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse undergoes a $35 million renovation and expansion, St. Joe's will play next season's home games at the Palestra.

St. Joe's has consistently played about six games a year in the Palestra since 1955, but that number should jump to about 14, according to St. Joe's Athletic Director Don DiJulia.

"Because a lot of people can't get here [St. Joe's], their only chance to see the Hawks is to go to the Palestra," he said.

"Our average attendance numbers will go up."

Alumnus Michael Hagan gave $10 million to the renovation project and will have his name tied to the arena, the capacity of which will increase by about 1,000 to 4,200 seats.

The complex will also feature a new rec center and a two-story administration building to house the basketball infrastructure.

When asked about choosing a venue to play in during renovation, DiJulia said the Palestra was the only arena seriously considered.

Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky echoed that sentiment.

"There isn't any other place," he said. "It's the place to play basketball."

Bilsky also noted that sharing the gym should benefit Penn as a university and increase its brand name and exposure.

"The Palestra is the landmark college basketball facility in the city and although we think of it as a resource being available to all of us, it is Penn's facility," he said.

"It showcases Penn, it showcases the Palestra and I think the more that happens, the more it reflects well on us."

Penn men's basketball head coach Glen Miller sees the temporary arrangement as a way to help out a fellow Big 5 school.

"I just look at it as, hey, if we can help them out, we should do that. They would do the same for us."

However, when the teams meet on the court, it's unlikely that St. Joe's will reciprocate Penn's generosity off it.

And Quakers fans will have to get used to bumping elbows with hordes of Hawks fans a bit more often around 33rd Street next season.

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