Vines Center to receive 3,000-seat upgrade

The planning stage is underway for a 3,000-seat upper deck expansion at Liberty University’s Vines Center, the primary event venue on campus for over 35 years.

The expansion was approved by Liberty’s Board of Trustees in April as one of several campus development projects in the fiscal year 2026-27 budget.

The Vines Center currently seats 9,547. Administrators said the expansion is needed as Liberty’s residential student body continues to grow and audiences increase for the high-profile speakers and performers who are regularly invited to campus.

“The growth of our student body has become one of our greatest opportunities and a welcomed challenge in the Vines Center,” said Liberty Chancellor Jonathan Falwell. “For decades, it has been our main stage venue for hosting campuswide events for all students with dynamic teaching and world-renowned speakers at both Convocation and Campus Community. This much-needed seating expansion at Vines will enable even greater participation from our student body and will serve to enhance their experience and participation at the heart of what Liberty University does best in our worship, teaching from God’s Word, and continuing our legacy of Training Champions for Christ.”

Convocation is held for the entire student body every Wednesday and Friday during the school year. Due to space constraints, the event is currently being simulcast to an overflow crowd in the adjacent Liberty Arena.

“The aim of this expansion is simple: It’s about the students and trying to create a better overall experience for them,” said Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge. “As the student body has grown over these last few years, that experience has been tested — long lines, overflow seating, and other challenges. None of those are quick fixes, but we’ve been progressively trying to solve each of them as a university. And this expansion represents a giant step toward that.”

According to Liberty’s Facilities Planning & Management Department, physical work on the project could begin during Christmas Break and continue through the Spring 2027 semester. The project is not expected to disrupt any regularly scheduled events at the Vines Center.

The Vines Center was completed in 1990. The last major upgrade was the construction of a new roof completed in 2021, replacing the original roof that had exceeded its life expectancy and was in danger of leaking. The new roof was also designed to significantly improve the acoustics.

Before the opening of the Liberty Arena next door in 2021, the Vines Center was home to Liberty’s men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams for 30 years.