HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Athletics initiated a new era impacting 200 student-athletes across eight sport programs with the completed renovation of the JMU Convocation Center in August.
 
"We're excited for this new opportunity for our student-athletes with the renovation of the Convocation Center," JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. "The building has transformed from one that served 30 basketball student-athletes to 200 athletes across eight sport programs while meeting all of their needs for their success at JMU. I'd like to thank everyone involved with this project and the university for its support. The Convo has been an important part of our past for 40 years, and I look forward to it being an important part of our future."
 
The Convo, as it's known around campus, previously housed the department's men's and women's basketball programs since 1982 before those programs moved to the Atlantic Union Bank Center in 2020. Renovations were announced in March of 2022 and completed late summer of 2023.
 
The renovation transformed the structure of over 110,000 square feet into the new varsity competition space for volleyball (capacity 1,118, and expandable), with an alternate configuration for three practice courts, as well as training space for indoor track & field. In addition, the Convo has been outfitted with locker rooms, coaches' offices, academic advising, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, equipment services and meeting rooms for the sports of cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball and track & field (indoor and outdoor).
 
The new volleyball competition venue will host its first action as the 2023 fall campaign gets underway with the Dukes hosting the LD&B Insurance Invitational on August 25-27. JMU matches include Friday 5 p.m. vs. High Point, Saturday 4 p.m. vs. Ohio and Sunday at 2 p.m. vs. UMBC. Admission to all volleyball matches in the Convo is free. Friday and Saturday matches are also available for viewing on ESPN+.
 
Previously, JMU volleyball competed in Sinclair Gymnasium in Godwin Hall, which also held the locker rooms and coaches' offices for each of the listed sports, with the exception of cross country and track and field coaches' offices previously located under Bridgeforth Stadium. The updates placed each sport in closer proximity and with improved access to its competition venue (soccer, lacrosse and track & field at Sentara Park; field hockey at the JMU Field Hockey Complex on East Campus).