Ted Constant Convocation Center (Hampton Roads)

The dream of developing a 75-acre University village became a reality on June 19, 1999 when Old Dominion University broke ground for the first time for the new Ted Constant Convocation Center. Virginia Beach resident, Theodore F. Constant, founder of the Norfolk Beverage Co., made a $5 million donation to the university to support their new venture. After announcing Constant’s gift, President James V. Koch proposed that the Board of Visitors name the village’s center the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

The Constant Center is the cornerstone in the University Village project, a 75-acre development that will also feature a shopping center, restaurants, theaters, offices, research labs and residences with high-tech connections to the campus.

Designed by the architectural team Moseley/Rosetti, one of the leading sports facility designers in the nation and a leading multidiscipline firm, the center is approximately 215,000 square feet. It features 7,319 fixed seats in the lower bowl, 862 upper club/priority seats and sixteen luxury box suites. Additional seating on the arena floor can take the capacity to 10,000 for such events as commencement and concerts.

The construction of the facility, was financed entirely by student fees, corporate partnerships and private funds. The center opened on October 25, 2002 and is the new home of the Monarch’s and Lady Monarch’s Basketball programs.

Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly facility management field with more than 50 facilities throughout the United States and Canada, manages the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a regional sports programming network, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, and Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company. Comcast-Spectacor owns three minor league baseball teams - the Bowie Baysox, the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys - all affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure skating spectaculars on NBC.

“Our goal is to provide something for everyone in the Hampton Roads community at the Ted Constant Convocation Center,” said Global Spectrum’s Doug Higgons, Constant Center’s General Manager.

During its 2005-2006 season of operation, The Constant Center hosted many sold-out events, including American Idols, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Urban, Fall Out Boy, and several ODU men's and women's basketball games, making it the most successful season for the Constant Center so far. The 2006-2007 season looks just as promising as the “Ted” invites back the Harlem Globetrotters, American Idols, Sesame Street Live, and Larry the Cable Guy, as well as bringing in several newcomers such as The Cheetah Girls and the Doodlebops. The Constant Center is also home to Old Dominion University Monarch and Lady Monarch basketball, and has twice been selected to host rounds of the Women’s NCAA tournament.