Moorpark College to unveil $18M renovations to Raiders Sports Pavilion

Moorpark College will celebrate its $18 million renovated gym with a ribbon cutting before the men's basketball team plays Saturday.

The upgrades to the facility have been long in the making. They're the first since the Raiders Sports Pavilion was constructed in 1967 at the school's opening, according to the college.

Julius Sokenu, interim president of Moorpark College, said in a news release that the college was excited to celebrate the project.

“Our modernized Raider Sports Pavilion will enhance the learning experiences and opportunities for Moorpark College’s talented student athletes, as well as those students enrolled in our kinesiology courses,” he said.

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The renovations didn't start until late summer and early fall 2018, which included upgrades to the gym's interior, locker rooms, a weight-lifting room, learning spaces and more.

The cost also includes replacement of the building's system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. A separate 4,000-square-foot field house was added near the gymnasium as well.

“The renovation has been an overdue project that is going to benefit our student athletes, as well as our kinesiology majors,” said Moorpark College Athletics Director Vance Manakas.

Delays meant renovations took 18 months to complete, which forced staff to double up in offices and make other sacrifices, according to Manakas.

"The staff was fantastic," he said. "Every single member of the support staff, the athletic trainers and equipment personnel had to make do with extremely limited facilities."

Remy McCarthy, former men's basketball head coach and current women's basketball assistant coach, said the final result was impressive.

"You walk in now and you get a 'wow' effect because it’s very nice," he said.

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The project wasn't without its challenges.

“Anytime you go through that process, it’s not painless. But we made it work," McCarthy said. "The people in our maintenance department did a great job of accommodating all the needs we had, which were many."

Before he was the athletic director, Manakas spent 36 years as the athletic trainer. The training facility has been expanded to nearly 2,000 square feet, including exam rooms, two offices, a wet room and air conditioning. 

"I am totally envious that I did not have the opportunity to work out of this facility," he said.

The ribbon cutting will begin at 2 p.m. with tours of the new gym and a reception.

The celebration continues when the men’s basketball team faces off against Cuesta College at 3 p.m. During the game, the college will recognize former player TK Reed by retiring his jersey and the men's 2000 and 2001 Western State Conference championship team on its 20th anniversary.

The gymnasium is located on the Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. This event is free and open to the public.

Staff writer Joe Curley contributed to this report.