Virginia Beach, VA – Regent University is launching Royals Rise: The Campaign for Regent – a $50 million capital campaign to build a 31-acre sports complex, including an athletic & fitness center, NCAA basketball and volleyball courts, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, a soccer field, an outdoor track & field, and more.
"I am pleased to announce that Regent University is embarking on a strategic campus expansion that will advance our mission and vision," said Gordon Robertson, Chancellor of Regent University. "These new facilities are not just designed to support the Regent Royals athletic program, but to give every Regent student a place to enjoy community and excel in their God-given abilities. Furthermore, we look forward to welcoming the Hampton Roads community and hosting sports tournaments in these world-class facilities."
This news comes on the heels of Regent University reporting record-breaking freshmen enrollment and launching its exploratory year with NCAA Division III this fall. With over 13,000 students, Regent University is the largest private nonprofit university in Hampton Roads and the second largest in Virginia.
The new sports complex will feature:
- NCAA-certified basketball and volleyball competition court with 2,000 seating capacity, practice courts, and media and VIP boxes, baseball and softball fields, and tennis courts
- Varsity weight room and fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment
- Atrium with café, student lounge, connected banquet room, and outdoor seating
- A sports medicine clinic for treatment and rehabilitation processes
- NCAA and USATF-certified 400-meter track with designated field event areas
- NCAA regulation-sized sports turf field for soccer and multisport usage
Regent revealed its expansion plans to Regent students, alumni and friends at RoyalsFest on September 20. At that event, Regent also unveiled its new mascot – Rex the Royal – a white horse to represent the values of the Regent Royals athletic program: excellence, innovation, and integrity.
NBA Orlando Magic's power forward Jonathan Isaac announced a new partnership between Regent University and UNITUS, an apparel brand founded by Isaac. UNITUS will sponsor the Regent men's & women's basketball teams and provide basketball sneakers to all Regent basketball athletes.
"I'm so excited the Regent basketball program will be sporting the Judah 1 basketball sneaker, which is the first NBA signature sneaker with visible Bible verses on the outside," said NBA player Jonathan Isaac. "The whole idea is encouraging believers to stand up for what we believe in and be proud and confident about who we are in Christ."
Regent Athletics has 10 sports teams, including Men's and Women's Track, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Soccer, and Men's and Women's Volleyball.
About Regent University
Founded in 1977, Regent University is America's premier Christian university, with more than 13,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the #1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the #1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021), and the #1 Best Online Bachelor's Program in Virginia for 12 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2024).
To support the Royals Rise capital campaign, visit www.regent.edu/royalsrise.
