Dedmon Center is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

Radford, Virginia Radford (formerly Lovely Mount, Central City, English Ferry and Ingle's Ferry) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of 2020, the population was 16,070 by the United States Census Bureau. For statistical purposes, the Bureau ...

. Construction started in 1979 and finished in 1981. A

natatorium A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

featuring an eight-lane olympic-size pool with a diving well was added in 1987. The Dedmon Center is home to the

Radford University Radford University is a public university in Radford, Virginia. It is one of the state's eight doctorate-granting public universities. Founded in 1910, Radford offers curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, graduate programs inclu ...

Highlanders

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

team A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working together to achieve their goal. As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson (academic), Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, " team is a group of people who are interde ...

. The center is named for Dr.

Donald Dedmon Donald Newton Dedmon (August 13, 1931 – February 13, 1998) was an American academic administrator and communications consultant. Early life and education Dedmon was born in Wright County, Missouri, and received his undergraduate degree ...

, who served as president of Radford University from 1972 until 1995 when he retired. It was the tenth air-supported roof built in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The air-supported fabric roof was removed during a major renovation in April 2008 and replaced with a fabric roof supported by steel trusses.
The Dedmon Center reopened on January 21, 2009, with a new lights system, sound system, and a new basketball floor. The venue hosted the final of the 2009

Big South Conference The Big South Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. Originally a non-football conference, the Big South began sponsoring football in 2002 as part of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Th ...

men's basketball tournament and the final of the 2018 and 2019

men's tournament. The Dedmon Center also houses the athletic department's new Learning Enhancement Center (LEC), dedicated to student-athlete support services and a state-of-the-art, weight room dedicated to the needs of the university's 16 varsity athletic teams. The complex features several adjoining facilities, including intramural soccer, football and softball fields and intercollegiate fields and courts for baseball, softball, field hockey, Lacrosse, and tennis. In addition the

Patrick D. Cupp Stadium The Patrick D. Cupp Stadium (usually called Cupp Stadium) is a multi-use stadium located in Radford, Virginia on the campus of Radford University. Cupp Stadium seats 5,000 with a roof over the premium seats. The stadium is used by Radford's soccer ...

adds an intercollegiate soccer and track and field complex.

External links

Dedmon Center - Radford University Athletics

College basketball venues in the United States Basketball venues in Virginia Radford Highlanders men's basketball Indoor arenas in Virginia University and college buildings completed in 1981 Sports venues completed in 1981 1981 establishments in Virginia {{Virginia-stadium-stub

See also

External links