Fairfield University is celebrating the opening of the new Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Friday before the women’s basketball team takes on Stonehill College in the first game on the new court.

Campus officials say the $51 million facility has been a long time in the making.

University Vice President Jennifer Anderson says the project was fully funded by alumni and donors - including the family of Leo D. Mahoney, whose three children and four grandchildren attended Fairfield.

"While [Mahoney] didn't attend Fairfield, the Jesuit values of Fairfield were something he instilled in his children, and so this was their way of giving back,” said Anderson.

Mahoney Arena is 85,000 square feet with 3,500 seats.

"All the freshmen, sophomores, juniors – they all live on campus, they can be here in about two minutes…great for the energy in the stadium and I'm hyped up,” said one student.

During the two years of construction, men's and women's Fairfield University basketball played their games at Webster Bank Arena.