Regent Announces a Historic Campus Expansion
to Usher In an Exciting New Era of Growth.
On Friday, September 20th, hundreds of Regent University students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends gathered on campus for the school’s first annual RoyalsFest. This inaugural fall festival not only celebrated Regent student-athletes and their ten intercollegiate sports teams, but the exciting event also served as the launch pad to announce one of the most ambitious and inspiring campaigns in Regent’s history.
After a welcome message from Executive Vice President for Advancement & Enrollment Claire Foster and an opening prayer by Executive Vice President for Student Life Joseph Umidi, Regent University Chancellor Gordon Robertson stepped to the podium for the first “big reveal” of the evening.
“When I became chancellor a little more than a year ago,” Robertson began, “the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Phil Walker, and I had a wonderful phone call. He said, ‘Gordon, we have plans for a new Athletic & Fitness Center … and we need to have a capital campaign to raise $50 million.’” He continued, “Today, I’m pleased to say we have $43 million now.”
Robertson is confident that with the help of generous friends like you, the university can hit that $50-million mark by the close of Regent’s fiscal year in June. He went on to proclaim, “All praise and glory and honor to God! … What an amazing facility it will be. The plan is to break ground in June, and I’ve been told it’s roughly 18 months to completion.”
As part of this strategic campus expansion, 31 acres of land will be cleared and graded to prepare facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, outdoor track & field, and build a state-of-the-art NCAA arena for basketball, volleyball, and indoor recreation. The Athletic & Fitness Center is intended for use by all students as a place to gather, enhance school spirit, and pursue fitness goals.
But the new sports complex will do more than just support and elevate the Regent Royals athletics program. The impact of the new facilities will extend to the entire Regent community by serving local area schools, churches, and organizations, introducing thousands of new people to the university every year.
When you build a university for God’s glory, you must have athletic facilities. So, let’s be fully persuaded that He who has promised is able (Romans 4:21). Let’s move forward. Let’s keep driving down the field.
Chancellor Gordon Robertson
After Robertson finished his announcement with prayer, a special video from NBA player Jonathan Isaac unveiled a unique partnership between Regent and his Christian, sports-apparel brand UNITUS. Isaac, known across the sports world for his bold, unapologetic faith in Jesus Christ, shared how honored and excited he was to stand with Regent.
“Thank you guys so much for being a part of this. I’m so excited and have big dreams about where this can possibly go,” he told the crowd. “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.”
The third big announcement of the event, made by Regent’s Director of Athletics Michael Allen, introduced the Regent Royals’ new mascot. Months of discussion, design, and even focus-group testing all led up to this highly anticipated moment at RoyalsFest.
“Rex the Royal,” a white horse with a silver mane, wearing a #77 Regent jersey, made his dramatic and historic entrance to blasts of confetti cannons, music, dancing, and thunderous applause from the enthusiastic crowd gathered on the Communication’s Plaza. The university’s first-ever official mascot is the embodiment of the spirit of Regent Athletics and a catalyst for engaging members of the local community.
Following these exciting announcements, “Regent Royals” fans and their families enjoyed a delightful evening of activities that included a chili cook-off, inter-squad soccer scrimmage, food trucks, music, inflatables, giveaways, a special UnChapel, and more. Alumni also attended an exclusive reception on the patio of the Dede Robertson Student Center, where they learned further details on the expansion and had the opportunity to take photos with Rex.
Many of the students attending RoyalsFest will witness the construction of the Athletic & Fitness Center while at Regent. They recognize the significance of the announcement and the “Royals Rise” campaign.
“Things seem to be moving quickly,” noted Jonah Harvey (CAS ’25). “To hear how far along we are in the fundraising for the facilities–it really boosted the morale amongst the student-athletes to see how far we’ve come in such a short time. The vibe on campus is very positive and the reveal of ‘Rex the Royal’ was an extra bonus.”
After the fun and festivities of RoyalsFest ended, the “buzz” created by the revelation of a new Regent Athletic & Fitness Center was still resonating across campus. Many in attendance expressed their excitement and support for the unprecedented, campus-construction effort.
The 2023 Alumnus of the Year, George Thomas (SCA ’93), who attended RoyalsFest with his son and fellow Regent alum Gabriel (CAS ’23), believes that Regent’s “Royal Rise” campaign reflects the spirit, mission, and legacy of university’s founder, Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson.
“This sports complex will undoubtedly elevate Regent University, as it seeks to advance its mission and vision through the athletics programs,” he told IMPACT. “I eagerly await the groundbreaking of this new venture and congratulate Regent on launching this exciting campaign. Go, Royals!”
To hear how far along we are in the fundraising for the facilities–it really boosted the morale amongst the student-athletes to see how far we’ve come in such a short time.
Jonah Harvey (CAS ’25)
Tanya White (CAS ’11), the Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter Leader, agrees that now is the right time to build. She encourages everyone associated with Regent University to support the capital campaign.
“It will ensure students have the necessary facilities, equipment, and knowledge to become world changers who serve God and His people everywhere,” White says. “We must all feel good about giving our time, talents, and resources to enrich the lives of others. That should be our purpose; that should be our mission.”
Building the new sports complex will require a significant investment from friends inside and outside Regent. The goal of “Royals Rise: The Campaign for Regent” is to raise the funds needed to write the next chapter of the university’s future.
“God has a plan, doesn’t He? And when He says, ‘Build a school from My glory,’ He means it,” Robertson insists. “At Regent, sports and faith are well-connected by a pursuit of excellence. Soon, our campus will be home to a state-of-the-art athletic arena roaring with the thrill of competition and victory.”
Regent University’s Athletic & Fitness Center will become a reality only with the support of faithful and generous donors, like you. When completed, the new facilities will not only benefit current students, but they’re also expected to have a significant impact on enrollment growth.
“A lot of students are highly interested in athletics, and we’re losing them to other colleges,” Robertson admits. “It’s part of the university experience. So with the athletic center, that reason not to come to Regent is gone.”
Michael Allen considers the “Royals Rise” campaign a literal “game-changer” for the university. He says this capital campaign is crucial to the future of Regent Athletics:
“We’re being led into a new season. Adding these on-campus facilities is a necessary and critical step for Regent’s athletic program to grow and thrive. … If someone believes in this vision and is willing to invest in it by putting their hard-earned money towards what the university is doing, we don’t take that lightly.”
“Let’s build this. Let’s do it,” Robertson insists. “When you build a university for God’s glory, you must have athletic facilities. So, let’s be fully persuaded that He who has promised is able (Romans 4:21). Let’s move forward. Let’s keep driving down the field.”
