By Ashley McLeod, staff writer
Mar 18, 2016, 15:27
CHESTERFIELD — Community leaders, alumni, students, and friends gathered together at the Virginia State University campus on Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of the new 167,000-square-foot multi-purpose center, located off Second Avenue in Ettrick.
“Today’s ribbon-cutting represents more than just the opening of a facility, but rather a proud culmination, that honors our university’s rich history, while increasing our capacity and the mechanisms in which we can create a more sustainable future for the commonwealth and for generations to come,” said VSU alum Lashrecse Aird, delegate for the 63rd District.
The center has been in the works for several years, with its conception beginning about 20 years ago. Construction began in the fall of 2013 and was finished earlier this year. The first-ever use of the facility was in February, when the women’s and men’s basketball teams played their first game in the center.
The facility, which is double the size of the Daniel Gymnasium on campus, will be the home to both the men and women’s basketball teams, volleyball, and the Woo Woo cheerleading squad. The facility also includes locker rooms and a weight room. But that’s not all that’s planned for the facility.“This facility is much more than a place to play basketball, or a place to play volleyball. This facility for us has a real educational component to it,” said Kevin Davenport, Vice President of Administration at VSU.
The facility also features classroom space, faculty office space, and is the home to the mass communications department at VSU, one of the largest and most popular programs at the university.
The space also features an audio bay for the university radio station, as well as a television studio, a new addition to the program.
The facility also features a 5,000-square-foot wellness center, which includes a dance studio, and will be open to the public for use.
The facility will also serve as an entertainment hub for the Tri-Cities area, hosting concerts and performances. The first concert slated at the center will be held March 19, featuring Grammy-award-winning artist Lecrae.
“This multipurpose center marks the beginning of a new chapter of VSU for athletics, arts, and other entertainment endeavors for the university and the surrounding communities,” said Student Government Association President Marshawn Shelton.
The center came at a cost of $84 million and can seat 5,200, with a full capacity of 6,200. It contains five concession stands, club level seating, which includes special menus and bar service, and eight suites, which can hold up to 20 people.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were former Sen. Henry Marsh, representatives from House members David Brat and Bobby Scott, Chesterfield Board of Supervisors members, Petersburg Mayor W. Howard Myers, Chesterfield and Petersburg Sheriffs Karl Leonard and Vanessa Crawford, and several VSU officials.
