Rocky Mount Event Center closed its July 2024–June 2025 fiscal year with its strongest performance to date, generating an estimated $25,868,579 in economic impact for Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and the surrounding region. With 31 tournaments, 2,387 teams, 159 community events, and 92 catering events drawing 110,937 visitors from across the East Coast and beyond, the venue has solidified its role as one of North Carolina’s most important sports and events destinations.
Backed by The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the facility continues to blend high-level competition, headline-making events, and community service in a way few venues can match.
A Record-Setting Year for Sports Tourism
The 2024–2025 fiscal year saw Rocky Mount Event Center reach new heights in both scale and significance.
- 31 tournaments and 2,387 teams filled the venue’s courts and meeting spaces, bringing families, coaches, officials, and fans into Rocky Mount hotels, restaurants, and shops.
- 110,937 visitors traveled to the city from South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, New York, and Indiana, pumping new dollars into the local economy.
General Manager David Joyner credits this growth to a deliberate focus on service, experience, and operational excellence.
“Our goal is simple: earn trust the first time and make it undeniable every time after. We lead with excellence, we execute with precision, and we guarantee an excellent event experience for every event owner, every athlete, and every family that walks through our doors.”
Marquee Sporting Events That Put Rocky Mount on the Map
Throughout the fiscal year, Rocky Mount Event Center attracted high-profile tournaments that helped elevate the city’s national profile as a sports tourism hub.
Signature highlights included:
- National and regional volleyball tournaments like the AAU Super Regionals filled every court in the building, with hundreds of teams competing over multi-day events. These weekends brought sell-out nights for nearby hotels and steady traffic for local restaurants and retailers.
- Elite youth basketball showcases, including the Big Shots NC Jam, attracted top-ranked teams and prospects from across the country. College scouts, media, and fans converged on Rocky Mount, turning the facility into a central stage for rising talent.
- Adaptive and wheelchair basketball events, such as the annual Old North State Classic, demonstrated the venue’s inclusive design and community-first mission, while drawing athletes and families who often struggle to find facilities capable of supporting their sport at a high level.
“When a tournament owner calls us, they’re not just looking for courts. They’re looking for leadership. We work in lockstep with event owners and our city partners to protect the experience, deliver excellence, and make every event a win for athletes, families, local businesses, and our community.”
Beyond the Court: Non-Sporting Events That Fill Hotels and Headline the News
While sports remain the heart of the Rocky Mount Event Center, non-sporting events played a major role in the 2024–2025 economic story.
During the fiscal year, the Center hosted:
- 92 catering events, including galas, corporate meetings, trade shows, and regional banquets that leveraged the venue’s flexible event spaces and professional food-and-beverage service.
- A diverse mix of concerts, festivals, and large-scale community celebrations that brought residents and out-of-town visitors together under one roof.
Among the most notable non-sporting moments of the year was President Donald J. Trump’s second visit, which drew national television coverage and significant regional activity.
- The visit required extensive coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, underscoring the Center’s capacity to host large-scale, high-security events.
- Hotels across Rocky Mount and neighboring communities saw a surge in bookings, while local restaurants and small businesses benefited from increased traffic in the days leading up to the event.
“Hosting the President of the United States was an honor and a responsibility we met with precision. We led with security, clarity, and hospitality, and we delivered the standard we hold ourselves to every day: an excellent event experience, guaranteed. It proved Rocky Mount is ready for the national stage.”
Stepping Up in a Crisis: Supporting Raleigh After the Convention Center Fire
The 2025 fiscal year was not defined by celebrations alone. When a fire disrupted operations at the Raleigh Convention Center, Rocky Mount Event Center stepped in as a regional partner, providing both immediate and longer-term support.
The Center’s involvement included:
- Hosting displaced events that could no longer be held in Raleigh, ensuring organizers didn’t lose critical dates, revenue, or momentum.
- Sharing operational expertise and resources, including staffing, equipment logistics, and layout solutions that helped keep shows, meetings, and programs on track during an uncertain period.
- Reassuring event owners and planners that North Carolina still had the capacity to deliver large-scale experiences, even in the face of unexpected disruption.
“What happened in Raleigh was a serious disruption, but it was also a moment for leadership. We stepped up to offer our support and assistance if needed, to protect those events, support organizers, and keep the economic impact in North Carolina. That’s what strong partners do, and it’s how you build a resilient events ecosystem statewide.”
This responsiveness not only stabilized short-term economic activity but also reinforced the perception of Eastern North Carolina as a resilient, collaborative destination for meetings and events.
Community at the Center of Every Decision
Alongside large tournaments and headline events, Rocky Mount Event Center continued to deepen its roots in the local community through 159 community events.
These included:
- Youth camps and clinics that introduced local children to new sports and skills.
- School events, graduations, and celebrations that connected families to the venue in meaningful, personal ways.
- Local festivals and cultural gatherings that showcased small businesses, performers, and organizations from throughout Rocky Mount.
“Economic impact matters, but community impact is our true north. When a child from Rocky Mount steps onto the same courts that host national tournaments, it expands their vision of what their future can be, and what their city can become.”
Powered by Partnership: The Sports Facilities Companies and the City of Rocky Mount
The Rocky Mount Event Center’s success is the result of a strong public–private partnership between the City of Rocky Mount and The Sports Facilities Companies, which provides industry-leading management, booking, and operational expertise.
Together, they have:
- Turned a state-of-the-art facility into a consistent driver of employment (about 215 jobs), tax revenue, and visitor spending ($25.4 million direct).
- Positioned Rocky Mount as a must-visit stop for tournament operators, conference planners, and event owners across the country.
- Built a culture focused on guest experience, safety, and long-term relationships with partners at every level.
As the Center looks ahead to future fiscal years, the goal is not just to surpass the $25.8 million economic benchmark, but to deepen its role as a catalyst for opportunity in Rocky Mount and the broader region.
“We’re proud of the numbers, but we’re even more proud of what they prove: Rocky Mount is a destination, our partnerships are strong, and our standards are high. We lead with excellence, and we deliver an excellent event experience, guaranteed. Our best years are still ahead.”
