The move this season into a new 3,000-seat events center, home for Sacramento State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, has finally happened, fueling a new optimism by sports fans at the university.

When the women’s basketball team hosted Stanton University on Nov. 3, 2025 at the Hornet Pavilion — and the men’s team followed a day later against Dominican University of California — it marked the first time since 1955 those teams played anywhere other than the cozy 1,000-seat Hornet Gym, known as The Nest, which was considered one of the smallest facilities in the country occupied by a Division I college program.

As a result, bigger crowds and a new home court advantage seems to be emerging, says Mark Orr, Sacramento State’s athletic director since 2017, citing the men’s current 6-1 home record at the Pavilion despite a disappointing 6-11 overall season record.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the turnout,” Orr says on Jan. 20, noting the men’s team is averaging 2,604 fans per game — almost three times more than what was possible in The Nest. “I think our students, our alumni, our season ticket holders, general fans in Sacramento, and our faculty and staff have been coming out and supporting the teams and enjoying a state-of-the-art venue.”

Related: Star Power and Flashy Hires Are Kicking Off Sacramento State’s Sports Season

“It’s really a fun atmosphere, which certainly has had an impact already on recruiting quality student athletes,” Orr continues. “Student athletes want to compete in venues that draw good crowds, so it’s been a game changer for us.”

The new $10 million facility, located inside The WELL, SSU’s on-campus fitness and health facility, is accessed by fans from Hornet Stadium, and boasts significant upgrades other than just increased seating capacity. The pavilion adds to the vision President Luke Wood, an alum of Sacramento State, formulated almost from the day he moved into his new role in July 2023.

Along with the new home comes a new high-profile coach in former Sacramento Kings fan favorite Mike Bibby. In addition to Bibby, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal was brought in to be the team’s unpaid general manager, while his son Shaqir O’Neal transferred from Florida A&M into the program.

“It’s a time of a lot of change here at Sac State basketball, and I feel like it’s a perfect time for a new venue,” says Chris D. Johnson, sports editor of The State Hornet, while covering the Jan. 15 win against Northern Arizona. “The Nest didn’t have the capacity of the Hornet Pavilion and the new pavilion also creates a more intimate environment. It gets loud in here.”

Related: Too Big for The Nest: After 69 years, Sacramento State has outgrown the hallowed sports facility

Upgrades include a new sound system and LED lighting, state-of-the-art Daktronics video boards at each end of the court, and LED ribbon boards along both sides. New scoreboards were installed at court level, while both baselines and the opposite sidelines host courtside seating that brings fans close to the action.

The courts were re-striped to include a regulation NCAA basketball court with a new design depicting the university’s home in California’s state capitol. The new facility includes a premium suite level and telescopic bleachers that, when the Hornets are not using the facility, can be retracted and provide four courts for student use featuring new retractable backboards and baskets.

Related: What’s Next for Hornet Stadium?

The facility continues to be a work in progress, Orr says, with issues such as bathrooms currently located outside the main entrance near the food trucks one of the problems that will be addressed.

“I think we need to continue to invest in making the fan experience better, everything from more premium seating, and providing more accessible restrooms inside the building,” he says.

Sacramento State’s volleyball and gymnastic teams will continue to use The Nest, says Brian Berger, the Hornets’ Associate Athletic Director for Communications.

Though future events are still in the planning stage, the facility is designed to host graduation ceremonies, large-scale campus meetings, and other community events.

“I encourage your readers to come out and check out a game, even if you haven’t been on campus in a while,” Orr says “It’s a great experience. I think people will be impressed and continue to come back. It’s fan friendly, it’s kid friendly, and you’re right on the action. It’s not too big, it’s not too small. I think it’s perfect.”

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