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The venue for the 2019 Off the Block Grow the Game Challenge presented by MotorMVB will have a new look just in time for the non-conference tournament.
Cumberland University earlier this week completed renovations to the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena that will enhance to game-day experience for fans and players.
Chairback seats are complete. New seating on both sides makes a world of difference @CUPhoenixMBB @cumberlandwbb @cumberlandvb @phoenix_mvb #Empower pic.twitter.com/AipBdFqpTW
— Cumberland Phoenix (@GoCUPhoenix) December 20, 2018
Among the upgrades included installing chairback seating throughout the 2,000-seat facility. These renovations were made after the university earlier this year launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign to its improve athletic facilities.
While the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena is the home court for the Cumberland volleyball and basketball teams, the Grow the Game Challenge will be one of the first major sporting events that will take place at the renovated on-campus stadium in Lebanon, Tennessee.
The Grow the Game Challenge is an annual tournament that brings regular season matches to an area of the country without a NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball team.
Cumberland, which is starting a NAIA men’s volleyball team in 2019, was selected as the host site for the tournament. The three-day event will start Jan. 18 with all 13 matches taking place at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena.
The 10-team tournament field will be divided into two divisions based on each school’s NCAA or NAIA affiliation.
One division will feature seven NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams — Barton, Grand Canyon, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, Lindenwood, Quincy and USC. The other division will have three NAIA or NCAA Division III teams — Fontbonne, Bluefield College and Cumberland.
Tickets for the Grow the Game Challenge are available for purchase online and are $8 for a day pass and $20 for a tournament pass. In addition, people unable to attend but still want to support the event have the option buy tickets that will be donated to the local Lebanon community.