EVENT CENTER

The Rocky Mount Event Center features eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, locker rooms, 17 climbing walls, an aerial ropes course, banquet and breakout rooms, an arcade center and concession areas. (File Photo)

By J. Eric Eckard

“The event center was built to be one of the anchors for Rocky Mount’s downtown revitalization efforts.”

- DaviD JoyNer

GeNeral MaNaGer

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In the 1970s, the mass exodus from downtowns across the nation was in full swing.

Malls, strip centers and suburban neighborhoods enticed businesses and residents away from city centers, creating in some cases near ghost downtowns.

By the 1990s, cities were working to bring people back to their downtowns, refurbishing historical buildings and investing in revitalization projects.

Rocky Mount’s efforts over the years have included numerous projects, including the Streetscape program renovations, Douglas Block plan and construction of the Imperial Centre complex.

The most recent effort to bring the city’s downtown back to its glory was the 2018 construction of the Rocky Mount Event Center.

“The Rocky Mount Event Center is a crucial central component of ... Rocky Mount’s long-term strategy to redevelop and reinvent downtown Rocky Mount,” said David Joyner, the facility’s general manager. “Our team’s focus is to make our facility a sought-after state-wide destination that provides a unique and excellent experience for sports, entertainment and corporate and social events.

“The net benefit will be that our venue will be a significant catalyst and engine in spurring growth and generating significant economic impact.”

The 165,000-square-foot, $48-million event center opened in 2018, and it immediately started attracting functions, bringing in $1.2 million in revenue in its first year of operation. The facility features eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, locker rooms, 17 climbing walls and an aerial ropes course. It also has banquet and breakout rooms, an arcade center and concession areas.

Like most venues across the country, the event center shut down operations in March

Left, Brelyn Moses, left, Skylar Moses, center, and Lynn Jones react while playing a video game on Oct. 25, 2018, in the Rocky Mount Event Center. (File Photo). Right, Will Robillard, left, chases Harlem Globetrotter Lucius ‘Turbo’ Winston in an attempt to steal the ball on Nov. 4, 2018, during the Globetrotters’ performance at the Rocky Mount Event Center. (File Photo)

in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dave Pritchett, chief operating officer of Sports Facilities Management, which operates the event center, said plans are being devised to safely reopen.

But before the virus disrupted life around the world, the event center played host to basketball and volleyball tournaments that attracted hundreds of visitors and dozens of teams to the area.

“Our organization, Teammate Basketball, has been fortunate enough to bring youth basketball tournaments to the Rocky Mount Event Center now for two consecutive years,” said Blake Thompson, Teammate Basketball owner. “(It) is a perfect setting for tournaments like ours.”

Troy Helton, director of Ethos Volleyball Club, organized a two-day tournament last year, with 98 teams and more than 1,500 spectators coming to the Rocky Mount area.

“We were really impressed with the management, staff and venue,” Helton said. “The facility is first-class and kept in immaculate condition. The staff was super helpful and kept the parents and players happy all weekend.

“Even the town of Rocky Mount lived up to its reputation as a hospitable historic town, with great local restaurants serving delicious seafood specialties.”

Both organizations are expected to bring their tournaments back in 2021.

“We are anxiously awaiting and excited to safely reopen the venue when it is deemed responsible and safe to do so again,” Pritchett said.

The event center has tentatively scheduled a basketball tournament in September that is expected to draw more than 1,800 attendees, Joyner said.

“One strong positive sign is that there has been a substantial amount of calls to our facility for future event inquiries coming in, even as we navigate through COVID-19,” Joyner said. “Our team has been aggressively working to reschedule events month to month as we follow the state’s pandemic phase updates.

“We also have been aggressively focused and working hard on booking events for later in this year, next year and for the coming years.”

The event center was built to be one of the anchors for Rocky Mount’s downtown revitalization efforts, Joyner said.

“And once we can begin to host events again, we are confident and excited about the thousands of people that we will bring to the ... Rocky Mount area and the positive effect that this will have on the city’s downtown revitalization efforts and our local economy,” he added.

George Clinton performs on Oct. 25, 2018, during the Grand Opening Celebration at the Rocky Mount Event Center. (File Photo)

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