Sports Complex

Sports complex draws thousands to area

By J. Eric Eckard

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In the past 16 years, the Rocky Mount Sports Complex has brought more than 1 million visitors to the area, adding more than $115 million to the local economy.

“The sports complex is a great treasure to this area,” said Joel Dunn, Rocky Mount’s parks and recreation director. “It serves as one of the largest parks in our system and allows our citizens to utilize its playgrounds, ball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts and other amenities year round.

“It also serves as a travel and tourism destination, bringing in (more than) 100,000 visitors each year and (more than) $9 million in economic impact to the area each year. Its ability to host various events gives it great flexibility.”

The 143-acre sports complex includes six youth baseball fields, four interchangeable baseball/ softball fields, one championship baseball field, eight soccer/football fields, the football stadium, a professional disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts, two large playgrounds, picnic shelters and a mile-long walking trail.

It is one of the largest sports facilities of its kind on the Eastern Seaboard, and the 5,000-seat football stadium is the home field for Rocky Mount High School. While building a new stadium on campus, N.C. Wesleyan University also played its home football games there.

Built on the site of the city’s former municipal airport, the sports complex was completed in the fall of 2006. It is part of the city’s 7-mile greenway system, which connects numerous city parks: Stith Talbert Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Battle Park, Sunset Park and City Lake.

Since it opened, the complex has hosted more than 350 youth sporting events that include baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, disc golf and

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football. About 15,000 teams from 25 different states have visited Rocky Mount for events at the complex.

In addition, numerous special events are held there, including the city’s July 4 fireworks celebration, the Down East Viking Football Classic, the USA South Spring Sports Festival, Tackle The Tar Mud Run, Nash County Relay for Life, Down East Music Festival and Top Gun Summer World Series and Winter World Series events.

In 1998, Elizabeth City State University began its first annual Down East Viking Football Classic against Fayetteville State University. The event lasted all weekend with festivities including a banquet, scholarships, prospective student exposure to Elizabeth City State and a golf challenge, all leading up to a football game on Saturday.

Last year, Fayetteville State University Broncos defeated the Vikings 47-6. This year, Elizabeth City will be playing Livingstone College.

“With this year being the 25th anniversary of the Down East Viking Football Classic and its second return since cancellation as a result of the pandemic, Elizabeth City State University has decided to bring a new event included in the festivities, Friday Night Fan Fest,” said Jessie Nunery, media relations specialist for the city. “In the past, they have done a banquet on Friday night where they celebrate all alumni, student athletes, current students and more.”

This year, a concert also will be held at the Rocky Mount Event Center.

“Every year, attendance for the game brings lots of revenue for Elizabeth City State University and the City of Rocky Mount in the form of hotel, restaurant and sales tax,” Nunery added.

Dunn said because most of the events at the sports complex are held outdoors, this was one of the first areas to bounce back while dealing with the pandemic.

“Our outdoor parks remained open to the public during the pandemic, and we saw increased participation in areas like disc golf, walking and biking,” Dunn said. “By 2021, we were able to host travel events again in guidance with CDC recommendations.

“COVID has changed how we operate, and we are excited to continue to provide excellent parks, events, tournaments and activities to our city residents and our out of town guests.”

Earlier this year, opening day ceremonies for Rocky Mount Little League were held at the sports complex. It was the first time since 2017 because of inclement weather and the pandemic.

The city plans to add more lighting on the soccer fields and update the football stadium and track.

In the past 16 years, the Rocky Mount Sports Complex has brought more than 1 million visitors to the area, adding more than $115 million to the local economy.

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