CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Among a crowd of current and former men's and women's basketball student-athletes and coaches, university leadership, faculty members, and nearly 300 invited guests, Boston College officially dedicated the new Hoag Basketball Pavilion on Thursday afternoon.
 
"I'm delighted that we can come together on this lovely afternoon.  First, to celebrate the  opening of the Hoag Basketball Pavilion, and second, to join in thanking Mikey and Jay for their critical role in the construction of this facility," said University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.  "Once you are inside, I think you will say it is truly impressive and it simply wouldn't have happened without the leadership and generosity of Mikey and Jay."
 
The Hoag Basketball Pavilion was made possible by a $15 million gift - the largest in BC athletics history - from University Trustee Michaela "Mikey" Hoag '86⁠, chair and founder of Part the Cloud, an Alzheimer's research movement in Silicon Valley that has raised more than $60 million and funds 59 human trials in nine countries⁠, and her husband Jay, a founding general partner of TCV, a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, Calif. Mikey Hoag also is a founding member of the Council for Women of Boston College.
 
"I graduated from BC in 1986 and we still talk about the past and that shared experience we have all had around BC sports," Mikey Hoag remarked.  "At its best, college sports can unite us and give us a sense of shared community belonging and enrich our lives.  It is for that reason we are here today. I love Boston College and my husband and I wanted to make a difference here." 

Located at the northwest corner of Conte Forum alongside Gabelli Plaza, the Hoag Basketball Pavilion features a grand illuminated glass entrance and a new vestibule for greater energy efficiency.  The new glass walls provide a significant infusion of natural light and views to and from the campus. 

"We need recruits to see our facilities on par with what they are seeing throughout our conference and around the country.  We need them to know that when they come to the Heights, not only would they get a world-class, formative educational experience, but that they will be able to grow and develop as a world-class athlete," said Blake James - the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics at Boston College.  "I truly believe that any recruit who visits our campus will see this building and recognize our commitment to excellence in every facet of their experience."
 
The nearly 40,000-square-foot facility features new player locker rooms and lounge areas, a sports medicine center, and a nutrition center on the first floor.  Upstairs, the crown jewel of the Hoag Basketball Pavilion is the renovated 10,700-square-foot practice gym, adjacent to the newly created strength & conditioning center and team video rooms.
 
"Standing in front of this gorgeous new pavilion, I feel like it's really transformed lower campus and it's incredibly exciting to see it finished," Hoag added.  "We are so proud, humbled,  and pleased to see the dozens or so people who made all of this possible."