Even without fans, JMU excited for debut in state-of-art arena
When the James Madison University men’s and women’s basketball teams get back on the hardwood this week, no fans will be in attendance, but the Dukes nonetheless will christen a brandnew arena.
The Atlantic Union Bank Center, which began construction in 2018, features 8,500 seats for basketball games and will host other events such as commencement, concerts, trade shows and more.
The $139.5 million arena replaces the 6,426-seat Convocation Center, which was nearly 40 years old. The JMU men host Limestone, a Division II team from South Carolina, at noon Wednesday in the Dukes’ season opener and welcome Norfolk State on Friday in the Spartans’ season opener.
For JMU women’s basketball coach Sean O’Regan, seeing the new building for the first time was “absolutely breathtaking.”
“Everything is such a big upgrade,” he said.
With its myriad amenities, including premium seating with club-room access, a lounge for courtside ticket holders, a student club space, a practice court and training room, the arena was designed with both the fan and student-athlete experience alike.
“It’s just the modern technology and the ‘wow’ factor,” men’s basketball coach Mark Byington said.
“It takes your breath away.” Byington is especially excited for how much the athletes will benefit from their upgraded facilities.
“They just have everything at their disposal,” he said. “They have the arena, … they have a practice
facility, a nutrition station, a film room, their lockers, a huge weight room. … It has everything under one roof for the players.”
Though the Dukes are excited to start a new chapter in their new arena, they still hold onto the memories from the Convocation Center.
“I think the old arena offered a lot of nostalgia and early moments of basketball success for us on the men’s side and more recently on the women’s side,” director of athletics Jeff Bourne said.
“There was a lot of history that transpired inside of that arena.”
After Wednesday’s noon men’s game, the JMU women open their season against Mount Saint Mary’s at 4 p.m. that day.
O’Regan hopes that after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, they’ll be able to fill the new arena with fans.
“The amenities, the scoreboard, the Wi-Fi, all of the interactions for the fans, (they’re all) going to be such an upgrade. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most,” he said. “Hopefully this building is a 50-year building, and I hope that really helps bring more people in the building and stimulate them throughout the game. … As a basketball coach, that’s what I want. I want more fans in the stands.”