As early as 1970, an effort headed by famed Fordham alumnus Vince Lombardi was made to build a new arena.

This effort ended with Lombardi's death and the move of head basketball coach "Digger" Phelps to the University of Notre Dame.

[citation needed] During World War 2, this gym was used as a U.S. Army barracks to shelter the soldiers and separate them from the general public.

This plan fell through when Lombardi died in 1970, and the head basketball coach Digger Phelps left Fordham for Notre Dame in 1971.

[7] In 2019, Caldwell & Walsh Building Construction Inc. renovated the gym floors from old wood to a modern shock-absorbing material.