Siena and Albany continue rivalry, will play at SEFCU in 2016-17

SEFCU Arena, home to five-time America East champion Albany, will finally welcome Siena as Great Danes get a true home game in Capital rivalry. (Photo courtesy of the University at Albany)

In various interviews this offseason, Will Brown has been asked about the continuation of Albany's rivalry with intracity program Siena, which has been contested on the Saints' Times Union Center floor on a seemingly annual basis. Brown has stated he would like to extend the local showdown, but under one condition, that being the Great Danes hosting Siena at SEFCU Arena.

Today, Brown's desire became a reality, as Albany and Siena agreed to a three-year contract that will see each school's men's and women's basketball programs play one another at the Times Union Center this year, and again at SEFCU in 2016-17. For the 2017-18 season, both schools will return to the Times Union Center, but whereas Siena will host the women's game, the men's teams will be part of a multi-team tournament with the game being contested at a neutral site.

"It has been a goal of mine to get a game in the SEFCU Arena," Brown said, "so to see it come to fruition makes me very happy for our season ticket holders, fans, and alums."

His counterpart, a proud ambassador of college basketball as a whole, praised the Capital Region for its avid fans who have helped make this rivalry what it is today.

"It's one of the greatest mid-major games in the country," Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos declared. "It's important to sports fans in downtown Albany and throughout the Capital Region, our players love playing in the game, and I'm excited to see it continue."

Albany's home game in December 2016, the first for the Great Danes against Siena since joining Division I, will end a 15-year streak of Siena hosting their crosstown rivals, despite Albany having won four of the last five meetings, including the last three.

"After many discussions with our alumni, season ticket holders, and donors, it is apparent to me the importance of playing this game at SEFCU Arena," said Albany athletic director Mark Benson. "Although I've only been here a short period of time, the importance of our rivalry to both institutions and the Capital Region is very clear."