Vines Center

The Vines Convocation Center
The Vines Center, seen in 2024
Map
Location1971 University Boulevard
Lynchburg, Virginia 24502
Coordinates37°20′57″N 79°10′52″W / 37.349068°N 79.180998°W / 37.349068; -79.180998
OwnerLiberty University
OperatorLiberty University
Capacity9,547 (Basketball)
10,000+ (Special Events)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke ground1988
OpenedOctober 22, 1990[1]
Construction cost$7.5 million
($17.5 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectHaken/Corley and Associates[3]
General contractorMcDevitt & Street[3]
Tenants
Liberty Flames & Lady Flames basketball (1990–2020, plus later special events)
Liberty Campus at night with the Vines Center pictured in the background

The Vines Convocation Center, also known as simply The Vines Center, is a 9,547-seat[4] multi-purpose arena in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was built in 1990 and was home to the Liberty University Flames (men's) and Lady Flames (women's) basketball teams from its opening until the adjacent Liberty Arena opened in 2020. The Vines Center features three practice courts (1.5 each for men's and women's basketball).[4] It hosted the Big South Conference men's basketball tournament from 1995 to 1998, and also all rounds of the tourney except for the first round in 2003 and 2004. In the fall of 2008 the Vines Center underwent a major renovation of all seating.

In addition to sporting events the Vines Center hosts Liberty's Convocations (mandatory meetings which are held on Wednesdays and Fridays of each week at 10:30 AM; attendance at Convocation is mandatory for all students, except for Convocation selects, which are held on Mondays at a different venue.[a]) and commencement exercises.

The Vines Center was the largest basketball arena in the Big South Conference when Liberty was a member (1991–2018), and before the opening of Liberty Arena was the largest arena to serve as a regular basketball home in Liberty's current league, the ASUN Conference.[b]

In 2020, the Vines Center was replaced as the main home to Flames and Lady Flames basketball and Lady Flames volleyball by the adjacent Liberty Arena.[6][7] Liberty Arena hosts games and events where the attendance is not expected to exceed 4,000, while the Vines Center will continue to host high-attendance games and events.[8][9]

  • The Vines Center pictured in 2008
    The Vines Center pictured in 2008
  • The Vines Center during a Convocation (prior to renovations and upgrades such as the center-hung scoreboard)
    The Vines Center during a Convocation (prior to renovations and upgrades such as the center-hung scoreboard)
  • Senator Bernie Sanders speaking to students at Convocation during the 2016 Presidential Election

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Liberty specifically states that Convocation is not a chapel service (notwithstanding the mandatory attendance), as it often invites guest speakers with viewpoints that differ greatly from those of Liberty.
  2. ^ The opening of Liberty Arena also coincided with the arrival of Bellarmine University in the ASUN Conference. While Bellarmine's on-campus arena is considerably smaller than Liberty Arena, that school is now playing its basketball games in the 18,000-seat Freedom Hall.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Sattler, Abigail (2011). "Timeline and Important Dates of LibertyUniversity". digitalcommons.liberty.edu. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Facilities - Vines Center Basketball - Liberty Flames". libertyflames.com.
  4. ^ a b "Athletics Facilities - Vines Center | Liberty Flames". www.liberty.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  5. ^ "Iconic Freedom Hall to become home for men's and women's basketball teams" (Press release). Bellarmine Knights. November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Liberty Arena Officially Opens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" (Press release). Liberty Athletics. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Sordelett, Damien (November 23, 2020). "Liberty Arena, the new $65 million home for basketball and volleyball, officially opens". The News & Advance. Lynchburg, VA. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Liberty University (2018-03-17). "New Multiuse Arena to be Built Next to Vines Center". Liberty.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  9. ^ Moody, Josh (2018-03-17). "LU planning new arena for 2020". The News & Advance. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
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