A: In the 17th century, "patroons" were Dutch landowners who held vast tracts of land in the Hudson River area, which was originally the Dutch colony of "New Netherland." Rensselaerwyck was the most successful of the "patroonships," or "deeded tracts, and encompassed what is today Albany, Rensselaer, and parts of Columbia and Greene Counties. When the CBA basketball team needed a name, the name "Patroons" was chosen over other team names like "Shamrocks" or "Leprechauns."
Q: Have the Patroons always played in the Washington Avenue Armory?
A: The Patroons called the Armory home until the 1989-90 season, when the team moved to the spacious new Knickerbocker Arena (today the Times Union Center). In the 1991-92 season, due to scheduling conflicts at their new home, the Pats played a home game at the Glens Falls Civic Center, and another home game at Siena College's Alumni Recreation Center. When the team returned to the CBA in the 2005-06 season, it also returned to the Armory.
Q: Where did the Patroons go after the 1991-92 season?
A: After the 1991-92 season, the Patroons were renamed the Capital Region Pontiacs, and played for one more year at the Knickerbocker Arena. For the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, the franchise relocated to Hartford, Connecticut, and was rebranded the Hartford Hellcats. From 1995 to 2001, the team was renamed the Connecticut Pride, and won the 1999 CBA championship. The franchise remained dormant from 2001 to 2005, until the team returned to Albany and returned to its "Patroons" nickname and heritage.
A: The Patroons won the 1984 and 1988 CBA championships, defeating the Wyoming Wildcatters in the finals of both championship runs. The Patroons have also won six divisional titles, including the 2006-2007 American Conference title.
A: Fritz Walker was arguably the Patroons' most dedicated and beloved fan. He sat along the sidelines and took pictures of the Pats and their opponents; he went on several road games to support the team; and during the fourth quarter, when the song "Shout!" blasted over the speakers, he would dance and boogie on the sidelines, to the delight of the fans. When Fritz passed away just before the 1989-90 season, a white circle with the word "FRITZ" was painted on the Armory floor in his memory. You can still see Fritz at a Patroons game; just look for him during the fourth quarter, when you hear the song "Shout!" on the loudspeakers!
In fact... here are some clips of Fritz Walker dancing during the 1987-88 season.
