VCU celebrates groundbreaking for Athletic Village that will help ‘change the face of Richmond’

By Tom Gresham

Virginia Commonwealth University marked a major milestone on Wednesday with a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of its Athletic Village development, a 42-acre project that promises to be transformational for both VCU and the Richmond community.

Phase one of the project will feature an outdoor track and field stadium, which will seat approximately 1,500 fans and is expected to be ready for the spring 2026 season, and two practice fields - one with natural grass and one with synthetic grass. Later aspects of the project will include a tennis center with 12 outdoor courts and six indoor courts (phase two), a soccer stadium (phase three) and a multipurpose building with an indoor track (phase four).

The Athletic Village, which will be located off Hermitage Road in the city, will be built alongside Richmond's planned Diamond District development that will feature a new baseball stadium.

"The Athletic Village is really going to be an incredible complement to the Diamond District," said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. "I'm really excited how all of this - when you put it together - is going to continue the transformation of our beautiful city."

Todd Haymore, rector of the VCU Board of Visitors, said the Athletic Village and Diamond District will spur robust economic development with their presence and "energy," and Ed McLaughlin, vice president and director of athletics for VCU, said the neighboring projects together "will change the face of Richmond."

Ed McLaughlin, vice president and director of athletics, said the project offers an opportunity for VCU "to lift up our community." (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

McLaughlin said the project will serve as "an incredible opportunity to help our community, to lift up our community, and to be a great community partner," noting that being a strong community partner is "part of our DNA." McLaughlin said facilities in the Athletic Village will be made available to the public for a range of purposes with the goal of keeping them busy throughout the year.

"I really do believe that this project will be the gold standard of how an athletic department at a premier urban research institution can partner with community partners and civic leaders to make transformational change in your community," McLaughlin said.

Todd Haymore, rector of the Board of Visitors, said the Athletic Village will provide facilities that match the determination, passion and resilience of VCU's student-athletes. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Haymore said the Board of Visitors has long been an enthusiastic supporter of the Athletic Village project. He said the board sees the project as a strategic investment in the university's athletics program that also will bolster VCU's role in contributing to the growth of the city of Richmond and the region around it.

"Every decision that the Board of Visitors makes is tied to strengthening VCU, enriching the student experience and contributing to the Greater Richmond community, which we're proud to call home," Haymore said. "This Athletic Village does all three of those, and so much more."

Haymore noted that VCU's student-athletes are among the university's most visible and influential ambassadors.

"You embody the resilience and determination and passion that defines everything that we know that is VCU," Haymore said, speaking to student-athletes in attendance at the event. "So with this Athletic Village coming online, you're now going to have the facilities that match that determination, that passion and that resilience. Something that you as our top ambassadors deserve."

McLaughlin noted that VCU's soccer teams currently do not have practice fields and must travel to various fields in the area for their workouts - a problem that phase one of the project will solve.

"For our student-athletes to be able to develop and grow and become the best version of themselves in their sport, this project is critically important," McLaughlin said.

Rao agreed, saying "all of our student-athletes deserve the very, very, very best facilities and places to maximize their potential to be the most successful that they can possibly be. And facilities do make a difference."

Rao said the improved facilities and consolidated spaces will strengthen camaraderie among the athletes and enhance their overall experience as students, including eliminating unnecessary travel time from their already demanding schedules.

"Student-athletes are great role models, and they are just incredibly important to the landscape of our campus," Rao said. "This investment in our student-athletes will go a very, very long way. It is long overdue, but we're here now and I'm grateful."

Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., senior vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer; VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.; Todd Haymore, rector of the Board of Visitors; and Ed McLaughlin, vice president and director of athletics, at Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

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