History was made at the Virginia Beach Sports Center as it hosted its first-ever NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship!
Less than 5 years ago, MEB completed construction on the Virginia Beach Sports Center. Last weekend, March 14-15, the ultimate vision for the sports center was realized when the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship was held at the facility. The event brought over 400 college athletes from across the country to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to compete on one of the biggest stages in indoor track and field.
photo courtesy of Beynon Sports
In 2017, as a design-build team with Clark Nexsen, we submitted a proposal through the Solicited Design-Build PPEA process to create a sports center in Virginia Beach. The goal was to drive year-round tourism to the area and attract top-tier competitions and tournaments. Every step of the design and construction process was thoughtfully planned to ensure the facility could host world-class events like an NCAA Division I Championship.
To achieve this, the design-build process included early collaboration with broadcasting networks, the NCAA, and track and field professionals making sure no important detail would be missed for hosting an event like this. Key features include:
- ESPN-Spec Lighting – Optimized for professional broadcasting
- Hydraulic Track – Adjustable banking for optimal performance
- Media Room / Broadcasting Space – Designed for high-quality coverage
- Stadium Seating – providing top-tier experience for spectators
“It was incredible to see the Virginia Beach Sports Center take the national stage as the host of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. The facility continues to surpass expectations, delivering outstanding experiences for athletes, fans, and stakeholders while making a lasting positive impact on the community.”
// Trip Smith, DBIA, Project Executive
Looking ahead, the Virginia Beach Sports Center will continue to attract premier competitions. Later this month, it will host the Adidas Indoor Track and Field Nationals and the NHSCA High School Wrestling Nationals. These events will bring athletes and spectators from across the country, further solidifying the center as a hub for elite competition.
“When we built the Virginia Beach Sports Center, the City expected visitors to spend around 30,000 nights in local hotels. We are now well over 60,000 nights translating into millions of tourism dollars for the City.” // Nancy Helman, Virginia Beach Director, Convention & Visitors Bureau
Congratulations to all our partners who helped bring this vision to life: Clark Nexsen, Hanbury, City of Virginia Beach, Victus Advisors, Beynon Sports, and many others. We are proud to see this facility thrive and look forward to the future of sports in Virginia Beach!
