Vines Center

{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Lynchburg, Virginia}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = The Vines Convocation Center

| image = Vines Center 2024.jpg

| caption = The Vines Center, seen in 2024

| image_map =

| coordinates = {{coord|37.349068|-79.180998|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| former_names =

| location = 1971 University Boulevard
Lynchburg, Virginia 24502

| broke_ground = 1988

| built =

| opened = October 22, 1990{{cite web |url=http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=lib_fac_pubs |title=Timeline and Important Dates of LibertyUniversity |last=Sattler |first=Abigail |date=2011 |website=digitalcommons.liberty.edu|access-date=2020-06-24}}

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Liberty University

| operator = Liberty University

| surface = Hardwood

| construction_cost = $7.5 million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|7500000|1990}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})

| architect = Haken/Corley and Associates{{cite web|url=http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=13647|title=Facilities - Vines Center Basketball - Liberty Flames|work=libertyflames.com}}

| general_contractor = McDevitt & Street

| capacity = 9,547 (Basketball)
10,000+ (Special Events)

| tenants = Liberty Flames & Lady Flames basketball (1990–2020, plus later special events)

}}

File:Liberty University central plaza, focus on eastern side.jpg

The Vines Convocation Center, also known as simply The Vines Center, is a 9,547-seat{{Cite web|url=http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=38028|title=Athletics Facilities - Vines Center {{!}} Liberty Flames|website=www.liberty.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-10-20}} multi-purpose arena in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was built in 1990 and was home to the Liberty University Flames (men's) and Lady Flames (women's) basketball teams from its opening until the adjacent Liberty Arena opened in 2020. The Vines Center features three practice courts (1.5 each for men's and women's basketball). It hosted the Big South Conference men's basketball tournament from 1995 to 1998, and also all rounds of the tourney except for the first round in 2003 and 2004. In the fall of 2008 the Vines Center underwent a major renovation of all seating.

In addition to sporting events the Vines Center hosts Liberty's Convocations (mandatory meetings which are held on Wednesdays and Fridays of each week at 10:30 AM; attendance at Convocation is mandatory for all students, except for Convocation selects, which are held on Mondays at a different venue.{{efn|Liberty specifically states that Convocation is not a chapel service (notwithstanding the mandatory attendance), as it often invites guest speakers with viewpoints that differ greatly from those of Liberty.}}) and commencement exercises.

The Vines Center was the largest basketball arena in the Big South Conference when Liberty was a member (1991–2018), and before the opening of Liberty Arena was the largest arena to serve as a regular basketball home in Liberty's current league, the ASUN Conference.{{efn|The opening of Liberty Arena also coincided with the arrival of Bellarmine University in the ASUN Conference. While Bellarmine's on-campus arena is considerably smaller than Liberty Arena, that school is now playing its basketball games in the 18,000-seat Freedom Hall.{{cite press release|url=https://athletics.bellarmine.edu/news/2020/11/2/iconic-freedom-hall-to-become-home-for-mens-and-womens-basketball-teams.aspx |title=Iconic Freedom Hall to become home for men's and women's basketball teams |publisher=Bellarmine Knights |date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}}}

In 2020, the Vines Center was replaced as the main home to Flames and Lady Flames basketball and Lady Flames volleyball by the adjacent Liberty Arena.{{cite press release|url=https://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=36963&newsID=23906&TeamID=6 |title=Liberty Arena Officially Opens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony |publisher=Liberty Athletics |date=November 23, 2020 |access-date=November 26, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://newsadvance.com/sports/college/liberty_university/liberty-arena-the-new-65-million-home-for-basketball-and-volleyball-officially-opens/article_bc647d88-e33f-5f16-bfe0-5f1776ce4ebf.html |title=Liberty Arena, the new $65 million home for basketball and volleyball, officially opens |first=Damien |last=Sordelett |newspaper=The News & Advance |location=Lynchburg, VA |date=November 23, 2020 |access-date=November 30, 2020}} Liberty Arena hosts games and events where the attendance is not expected to exceed 4,000, while the Vines Center will continue to host high-attendance games and events.{{Cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=36963&newsID=19932&teamID=6 |title=New Multiuse Arena to be Built Next to Vines Center |last=Liberty University |author-link=Liberty University |date=2018-03-17 |website=Liberty.edu |access-date=2018-03-19}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/lu-planning-new-arena-for/article_45aad2ce-296a-11e8-b11e-63ad8b6bb991.html |title=LU planning new arena for 2020 |last=Moody |first=Josh |date=2018-03-17 |work=The News & Advance |access-date=2018-03-19}}

File:Vines Center.JPG|The Vines Center pictured in 2008

File:Vines Center Convocation.jpg|The Vines Center during a Convocation (prior to renovations and upgrades such as the center-hung scoreboard)

File:Bernie Sanders at Liberty University, September 2015.webm|Senator Bernie Sanders speaking to students at Convocation during the 2016 Presidential Election