Officials will upgrade the Charles E. Smith Center and the Mount Vernon Campus Softball Field for the upcoming 2024-25 season, according to a release last week.
Under their Athletics Facilities Master Plan, officials have partnered with HOK, a global design, architecture and engineering firm, to develop a plan to improve GW’s athletic facilities for athletes and spectators. The campus arena will get a dozen new video displays, an upgraded sound system and three new concession check-out systems.
“Our student-athletes and coaches continue to work to build sport programs that are a source of tremendous pride for all of our GW constituents,” outgoing Director of Athletics Tanya Vogel said in the release. “These investments, including the Athletics Facilities Master planning process, will improve the experience for all of our student-athletes, alumni, families, fans and donors.”
The release states that Daktronics video displays will be placed throughout the arena, with new technology allowing for clearer resolution.
The courtside auxiliary boards in the four corners of the arena will be replaced and screens will be upgraded to higher quality. Two ribbon boards will also be placed at the courtside, upgrading the screen quality of the previous boards.
With an upgraded sound system, the Smith Center will now provide higher-quality sound to all parts of the arena. The seating bowl will hear a drastic change in quality in a range of sounds on all ends of the audible spectrum, the release states.
The three new Amazon “Just Walk Outs” will make it easier for fans to purchase concessions, according to the release. Fans can use their Amazon accounts or a standard credit or debit card to enter the store and will be automatically charged for their purchases once they depart.
The Mount Vernon Campus softball field will receive new lights and outfield wall padding.
Last season, softball did not host a game that started later than their 4 p.m. matchup with Dayton. The release states that the addition of lights will allow the team to play night games on campus and will provide more flexibility for fans to attend.
