 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Mack Sports Complex" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(May 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
"The Mack" | |
 | |
 | |
| Full name | David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex |
|---|---|
| Former names | Hofstra Arena (2000-2006)[1] |
| Location | 245 North Hofstra Avenue Hempstead, NY 11549 |
| Coordinates | 40°43′11″N73°35′49″W / 40.719681°N 73.596865°W /40.719681; -73.596865 |
| Owner | Hofstra University |
| Operator | Hofstra University |
| Capacity | 5,023 (Basketball) |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 1998 |
| Opened | January 2, 2000[1] |
| Construction cost | $15 million ($28.3 million in 2024 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | StanMar Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Hofstra Pride | |
The David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, also known as Mack Sports Complex, or just "The Mack" for short, is a 5,023-seat multi-purposearena inHempstead, New York. Replacing theHofstra Physical Fitness Center, the arena opened on January 2, 2000, as Hofstra Arena and was renamed for Mack in 2006.[1]
It is home to theHofstra UniversityPride men's and women'sbasketballteams, as well as the nationally ranked Pride wrestling team. It hosted the 2000 and 2001 title games of theAmerica East Conference men's basketball tournaments, and also hosted two Postseason NIT games in 2006 (against Nebraska of the Big Twelve, and Old Dominion of the CAA). In 2006, Hofstra Arena was renamed the 'David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex'. Hofstra belongs to the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association). Before an overtime loss toDrexel University in February, the Pride had previously won 28 consecutive regular season home games at the Mack. The Mack was also home to the nation's second longest home win streak (behindGonzaga University) in 2006, before the Pride's NIT Quarterfinals loss toOld Dominion University. Hofstra University Men's Basketball has developed an excellent fan base on Long Island, especially inNassau County, as it continues to have winning seasons year after year.
Mack Sports Complex also hosts other events year round, such as college fairs, graduations and Kellenberg Memorial High School's Blue and Gold Sports Night. "The Mack" also hosted the final presidential debate of the 2008 U.S. presidential election between RepublicanJohn McCain and DemocratBarack Obama[3] as well as the town hall format of the second presidential debate of the 2012 presidential election between RepublicanMitt Romney and incumbent presidentBarack Obama. On September 26, 2016, it hosted the first presidential debate of the 2016 election between RepublicanDonald Trump and DemocratHillary Clinton.
