LAKE CHARLES — A blast from a few Rockets helped McNeese State give a proper liftoff to it’s new basketball arena and era.

Officially it is known as Health and Human Performance Education Complex, but don’t kid yourself, this is a new on-campus gym that school officials hope jumpstarts a program that really needs one.

With all the pomp and circumstance that can be given such an event, McNeese opened up its new digs with the help of the Houston Rockets, runners-up in the Western Conference in 2017.

It was considered such a big event by some that even Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards stopped by Tuesday to say a few words, though to be fair he was in town for another event that day.

Still, everybody wanted to say something about the new home court for a McNeese team that has received little interest from the locals over the past few years. At old Burton Coliseum, or even in the Civic Center downtown, few fans showed up for Cowboys games.

Didn’t seem to matter much how the team was playing either. But now, with the help of the Rockets, at least the new gym got off with a bang.

“This is an exciting day for McNeese basketball,” said first-year head coach Heath Schroyer. “We are excited to have the Rockets here to help us open this up.”

Houston practiced for a week to start its training camp as the players spent their off time at the Golden Nugget, which is owned by Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta. The team was even given the key to the city at the official greeting ceremony.

“This is huge for us, to be able to showcase this arena with the help of the Rockets,” said McNeese Athletic Director Bruce Hemphill. “We could not have paid for better exposure. To have them here, for the nation to see what we have here, it is just huge for our school and our program.”

The entire building is still not complete but the Rockets were able to play on the practice courts that will one day also host McNeese volleyball games.

There was some question as to if the facilities would be ready in time for the Rockets to practice. When rumors of them coming started to pick up speed in June, the feeling was maybe not. Still, the team was committed.

“We always assumed it would be ready and everything fell into place,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “First we needed to make sure it was safe and that is not an issue. The place looks fantastic.”

For the Rockets it is a chance to get some team bonding before the long season.

“Players enjoy being able to get away from the grind and have some fun while they get their work in,” said Morey. “We think this is a perfect match, just two hours from Houston and with the casino and everything. It’s a great mix for us.”

There has been talk of a game next year between to Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans to kickoff the NBA’s preseason, but that has been said to be down the road some.

“We are floored by this beautiful facility,” Rockets CEO Tad Brown said. “We have been to a lot of places around the world and this is one of the nicest.

“Count on us being here for years to come.”

That is just what McNeese officials wanted to hear. 

They were counting on the new arena to be a showcase for not only basketball recruits but students overall in the future.

“We always wanted this to be a place people in the community, especially McNeese students, can be proud of,” said Hemphill.

For university president Daryl Burckel, it is a time to savor the accomplishment.

“Fifteen years ago this was not in the realm of possibilities here,” said Burckel. “You would have never seen the Houston Rockets here, or this facility on this campus. Now it has come true.”

But will it lead to better basketball and bigger crowds, that won’t be known for a few more weeks. McNeese opened practice last Saturday.

Ironically, they were forced to practice in the old memorial gym, giving way to the Rockets.

Perhaps the last of the growing pains.