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

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

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

. Construction started in 1979 and finished in 1981. A natatorium 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, United States. 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 ...

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 (appro ...

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

. The center is named for Dr. Donald Dedmon, 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 (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. 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), ...

men's basketball tournament and the final of the 2018 and 2019 Big South Conference 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. (Darius) 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 Radfo ...

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 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